With Mother’s Day this weekend, it’s only natural to wonder if you’re allowed to visit your mum to celebrate.
Perhaps you’d just like to pay mum (or another special person in your life) a quick visit, or drop off a present in person.
Alas, the UK is still under lockdown restrictions, even though the roadmap out of lockdown begins soon – so what are the rules?
Here’s what you need to know about visiting your mum on Mother’s Day.
Are you allowed to visit your mum on Mother’s Day during lockdown?
Most lockdown rules will still be in place on March 14, so for many of us, a visit to your mum’s home will be out of the question.
In England, the official advice to ‘stay at home’ remains, unless you’re going out for permitted reasons or are facing exceptional circumstances.
That means we’re still not allowed to socialise indoors, nor are family gatherings to celebrate the special day permitted.
However, we are allowed to meet one other person (who is not in our household) outdoors.
So, one child could meet their mum in the park for a stroll or takeaway cuppa – but social distancing has to remain in place, so you can’t hug or kiss.
If you’ve formed a childcare or support bubble with your mum, then those rules will still apply on March 14.
Mothers living in care homes are permitted one regular visitor with whom they can hold hands – though a negative Covid-19 test must be provided.
If you aren’t the regular visitor, however, sadly you still won’t be able to visit.
In Scotland, the ‘stay at home’ advice is similar to in England, though the Scottish government website says a reasonable excuse to go out is to ‘visit an extended household’.
In Wales, some limited Mother’s Day celebrations can go ahead, as up to four adults from two households can meet up in a private garden. The stay-at-home rule has now been replaced by a requirement to ‘stay local’, according to the Welsh government website.
And in Northern Ireland, the advice remains to ‘stay at home’ – though if your mum is in your bubble, you can still see them.
Can you hug your mum on Mother’s Day?
Unfortunately, it’s still advised to maintain social distancing from those who don’t live in your househould.
That means keeping at a distancing, wearing a mask and avoiding touching.
Fortunately, there are ways to celebrate the day without being in physical proximity to one another.
How can you celebrate Mother’s Day 2021 given the restrictions?
There are a number of ways to show your mum, or another special someone in your life, how much they mean this Mother’s Day.
Where possible, video chats and phone calls are great for having a chat.
It’s possible to buy and send beautiful cards online, via sites like Papier and Thortful. Better still, why not send a handwritten letter?
Gift, cake and flower deliveries are readily available online, and can be sent straight to their address.
Family photographs in frames, or a personalised hamper of treats, are ideal gifts given that we’re all missing our loved ones – and spending more time indoors.
Some are choosing to mark the occasion with a virtual activity – such as completing a virtual 1km, 5 km or 10 km walk at the same time in different locations.
You could go beyond a normal video calls by throwing a mini-party on Zoom, or by playing games together online.