By BRENDA Mother’s Day — what a beautiful day!
A day specially added to the calendar to celebrate every woman who carries the title “mum”.
On this day, many people post heartfelt tributes on social media, sharing what their mothers mean to them.
But the older I grow, the more I realise that celebrating our mothers is rarely about one perfect day.
It is found in the collection of ordinary and extraordinary moments we choose to share with them over time.
For my siblings and I, some of the most meaningful memories with our mum have not happened on Mother’s Day itself.
They happened in laughter-filled car rides, spontaneous outings, unfamiliar adventures, and conversations over food.
Mother’s Day simply becomes the icing on the cake and a reminder to pause and appreciate the woman at the centre of so many beautiful memories.
When I think about celebrating my mum, I think less about gifts and more about experiences.
Don’t get me wrong, gifts do have a way they speak to the recipient about how special they are to the giver.
But experiences have a way of becoming stories we return to again and again.
They become part of family language.
Someone mentions one small detail and suddenly everyone is laughing over a memory from years ago.
And honestly, those moments feel more lasting than anything wrapped in a gift bag.
In this blog, I share 7 experiences my siblings and I have had with our mum — moments that turned into beautiful celebrations of her.
1. Dinners and Conversations That Stretch Into the Night
Some of my favourite memories with my mum are the cozy ones.
The kind where we get together over warm food in a serene environment away from home.
It’s from these that Malakai Eco Lodge became our dinner spot.
Its green scenery and cozy atmosphere create the perfect setting for quality family time.
There is something about beautiful spaces surrounded by nature that encourages people to soften and open up.
Conversations flow differently when nobody is rushing.
You begin talking about childhood memories, family stories, dreams and funny moments no one has mentioned in years.
And just like that, a simple dinner becomes a doorway into that deeper connection.
It’s at these dinners that we have strengthened the relationship we have with our mum.
We stopped seeing our mother only as “mum” and began seeing her as a woman with her own personality, humour, ambitions, and stories.
2. Community Runs and Shared Movement
There is something beautiful about moving together.
Whether it is a community run, a walk through the city, or participating in sports activities as a family, these moments create a unique sense of connection.
Community runs especially feel powerful because they bring together people from different walks of life while encouraging wellness and togetherness.
Running side by side with family creates opportunities for encouragement, teamwork, and shared accomplishment.
And honestly, there is something deeply heartwarming about seeing mothers embraced within joyful community spaces instead of only being associated with responsibility and sacrifice.
These moments remind them and us, that joy and playfulness still belong to them too.
3. Gardening Together
Not every meaningful experience needs an adventure to make it worthwhile.
Some of the most grounding moments happen without the need for a rush in adrenaline.
Gardening together became one of those unexpectedly peaceful experiences for us.
Visiting mum’s gardens and eucalyptus plantations, harvesting food, pruning plants, discussing which flowers or crops to grow — it all creates a kind of connection that is difficult to explain unless you experience it yourself.
Gardening teaches patience, care, consistency and nurturing.
In many ways, it mirrors motherhood itself.
And perhaps that is why these moments often feel so comforting and experiences worth celebrating.
4. Movie Nights
Family movie nights may sound simple, but sometimes simplicity is exactly what creates closeness.
The first time I went for a movie with my family, it felt magical.
It was less about the film itself and more about the shared reactions and emotions.
Laughing at the same scenes, debating favourite characters afterwards, sharing popcorn and replaying funny moments on the drive home.
Life becomes busy so quickly as everyone grows older.
Coordinating schedules alone can feel like an achievement.
So intentionally making time to catch a family movie in the cinema matters more than you realise.
It is, without a doubt, quality time spent with family — a chance to simply be present together.
5. Dancing, Live Music, and Letting Loose
One of the most unexpectedly fun experiences was going dancing together at Kyadondo Rugby Club — a spot in Kampala popular for good pork, live band and great vibes
Experiencing good music, live bands, laughter,
grilled pork and people dancing freely is one certified way of witnessing life’s simple pleasures.
There is something deeply joyful about watching parents relax and simply enjoy themselves.
African parents are often portrayed so seriously that moments of carefree dancing feel almost magical.
This wasn’t the case while at Kyadondo Rugby grounds.
Music has a way of dissolving stress and bringing generations together.
For a few hours, everyone forgot about work, pressure, responsibilities, and adulthood.
And just danced, ate, laughed and existed together.
And honestly, those moments stay with you.
6. Picnics at Entebbe Botanical Gardens
Some places naturally invite connection.
Entebbe Botanical Gardens feels like one of those places.
Established in 1898 on the shores of Lake Victoria, the Entebbe Botanical Gardens are a tranquil 40-hectare, biodiverse sanctuary featuring a tropical rainforest zone, diverse plant species, and rich birdlife.
Picnics there carry a tranquility that is difficult to replicate elsewhere in central Uganda:
- the sound of birds,
- wide open greenery,
- Lake Victoria’s breeze nearby,
- sunlight filtering through trees.
They create the perfect environment to simply spend time together.
They create room for conversations that busy environments often interrupt.
They also allow families to slow down enough to actually notice one another again.
In a world constantly pushing people toward productivity, moments of slowing down together with someone as important as my mum begin to feel luxurious.
7. Family Adventures Beyond Uganda
Travel has also become one of the ways we celebrate family togetherness.
Traveling to Dubai as a family created memories that still come up in conversation long after the trip ended.
Shared travel experiences have a unique way of bringing people closer because everyone steps into unfamiliar environments together.
While in Dubai, we navigated new places, tried new foods, took lots and lots of photos and laughed at unexpected moments.
Travel reveals different sides of people and with my mom as one of my travel buddies, I couldn’t agree more.
We created stories that became woven into family identity.
And perhaps that is why family trips remain so special long after the suitcases are unpacked.
Mother’s Day as the Icing on the Cake
When I reflect on all these experiences, I realise that Mother’s Day itself is not the entirety of celebrating our mothers.
It is simply a reminder.
A reminder to appreciate the woman who has quietly existed at the centre of so many beautiful moments.
The real celebration happens in the accumulated memories:
- the dinners,
- the dancing,
- the adventures,
- the gardening,
- the travel,
- the conversations,
- the ordinary days made meaningful through presence.
Sometimes we think love must be dramatic to matter.
But often, the strongest expressions of love are built gradually through consistent moments of togetherness.
That is what I want to remember most.
And while just one day dedicated to mothers is a great reminder of how special our mum is,
a life filled with moments where she feels celebrated, included, appreciated, and deeply loved works more magic.
Because in the end, those shared experiences become the real gift.