Coronavirus in Australia: How to celebrate Mother’s Day in lockdown
It will be an unusual Mother’s Day on Sunday as COVID-19 lockdown rules mean a serious change in plans. Here’s a guide to the restrictions and how you’re allowed to celebrate.
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Mother’s Day is normally the busiest day of the year for restaurants and cafes across the country, but with the COVID-19 lockdown there are different restrictions in place about how we can celebrate together.
So this year the ultimate way of pampering our mums is set to be picnics and homemade hampers dropped off while abiding by social distancing rules.
The first consideration is location, according to professional picnic merchant Ashleigh Ernst.
Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory
If you live in these areas and are allowed to visit a park think about the basics, Ernst says, such as access to public toilets, taps and shade.
“For my business, always my No. 1 is to look for somewhere that has shade,” she says. “Somewhere that has a nice view as well is great. By the water is always beautiful because there’s always kayakers or jetskis going past.”
New South Wales
You can bring a picnic basket to mum’s door or host her at your home, as long as you stick to the two adults and children rule.
Victoria
With restrictions still in place, visits are not an option so you could make a lovely hamper for mum, to leave at her door, and kids living at home can host a picnic in the backyard or indoors for mum.
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Of course, crucial to any picnic is the weather.
“My biggest tip is to make sure it’s a nice weather day and have a back-up plan if it’s not,” Ernst says. “Even if that ends up being a veranda or your living room, there’s plenty you can do with a few flowers and candles.”
While Ernst’s picnics often look like they are designed for a magazine shoot, she says creating an elegant, comfy setting is simple.
“I always make sure I’ve got a beautiful bunch of flowers and some candles — and then with our settings we have picnic rugs, a low-set table and a lot of cushions,” she says.
“I normally have the cushions set out so people are sitting on them — being able to sit up and enjoy something to eat; but then they can lie down and push all the pillows behind their head and get snugly.”
Composing a playlist on your phone is another top tip for creating ambience, Ernst says.
As for what to put in the basket, start with cutlery, crockery, cups and glasses so you don’t forget, then think about food.
For an afternoon picnic, Ernst recommends snack-style food, with her go-tos being a soft or hard cheese, salami, dip, crackers or a French baguette, olives, strawberries, grapes and chocolate.
A lunchtime picnic might have more substantial items such as finger sandwiches, fruit and muffins.
Breakfast picnics are also set to be huge, replacing traditional brekky in bed, with a hamper loaded with pastries such as chocolate and almond croissants, yoghurt and muesli, fruit and tea, coffee or juice from your favourite local cafe, Ernst says.
Soft drinks, kombucha, kefir or cordial are other non-alcoholic options.
SPARKLES FOR MUM
If you want to truly spoil mum this Mother’s Day, wine guru Tyson Stelzer says there’s no better way than with a bottle of bubbles. His top pick for those wanting champagne on a budget is the Piper-Heidsieck non brut vintage, which sells for just under $50 a bottle.
“It’s available everywhere and superb for the more affordable end of the champagne market,” the wine webinar host says.
On the other end of the scale, Stelzer suggests the Krug Grand Cuvee for about $300 a bottle or pick up some Veuve (left) while Tasmania sparkling hits a happy medium with House of Arras offering top-notch wines from $27 a bottle to about $80.
Or for something rarer try the 2018 Bellebonne sparkling rose from winemaker Natalie Fryar. “She makes the best sparkling rose in the country,” Stelzer says.
Popping a little gift into Mum’s picnic hamper is also a good idea.
Ernst recommends a body scrub or box of chocolates.
Mum Jess Kashanchi will be enjoying a picnic with her one-year-old daughter Liana and husband Amin this Mother’s Day, and said it would be a great way to celebrate.
“After being inside our house for so long with lockdowns, it will be so nice to go outside and really appreciate the fresh air and nature,” she said. “You don’t realise how a simple picnic can be so special until you can’t have one.”
Originally published as Coronavirus in Australia: How to celebrate Mother’s Day in lockdown