Hey, y’all. It’s Amie.

Nowadays, when I tell folks being a mom didn’t come naturally to me, they give me that look. The “yeah right” without saying it. Which, I’m glad. Because if they would’ve been there the day Colton was born, they’d likely nod in agreement instead.

See, he came into the world via emergency c-section. And I was so heavily medicated, I hardly remember a thing. Thankfully, my husband was right there—and he swore to himself, as he saw me lovingly look at our son, that he’d remember the first words I said to him. Besides, being a writer, it was almost certain to be the most profoundly meaningful phrase ever uttered.

“You are being so rude, screaming in my ear.”

That’s the magical Mother’s Day moment I’ve got. Because no, motherhood didn’t come easy. It started off loud and messy and nothing like I pictured. But loving him? That part was always effortless—and maybe that’s what mattered most all along.

To all the moms out there, whether it came naturally or you figured it out along the way, Happy Mother’s Day. I’m so glad you’re here, soaking up the chaos, the beauty, and yes, the little ones screaming in your ear.

Here’s what you need to know: Virginia boasts a variety of charming tearooms, each offering a unique atmosphere and delectable menu options, making them ideal destinations for a memorable celebration.

Our top picks:

• The Queen’s Library Tea Room in historic Richmond is a woman and Hispanic-owned business, the only Hispanic-owned tea room in Virginia. Through May 17, guests can sip in a special setting, featuring Fortnum & Mason Tea Flight and Richmond’s Favorites Tea Tower Experience.

• Lady Camellia recently relocated from Georgetown, Washington, DC to a waterfront location in Old Town Alexandria. The tearoom offers a Light Tea option featuring five pastries of choice and one tea selection.

• Draper Blooms Tea Room in Draper offers an enchanting Tea Garden. The high tea service includes a five-course experience with appetizer, soup, finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and seasonal jam, and miniature desserts.

Slots are filling up quickly. Be sure to contact the tea room of your choice to inquire about upcoming availability. 

Question of the Week: What’s your most special memory with your mom? Be sure to write to me at amie@couriernewsroom.com—I’d love to hear all about it.

Photo by Tamara Malaniy on Unsplash

Searching for a Mother’s Day gift can be terrible. Yup, we said it.

Odds are that your mom—like ours—is hard to buy for. Either she has everything she needs, or she doesn’t ask for anything. To make this search even more nuanced, it means a lot to us to give her something she’ll like.

So when we started to put together a Mother’s Day gift guide, we decided to do something different. Something that would give us a better shot at getting the perfectly unique gift for our perfectly unique mom. Something tailored to the mama figure in everyone’s life, based on how that person shows up in their lives.

We shopped by love language.

If you’re not familiar with love languages, the TL;DR is this: Every person expresses love and care according to their own “love language.” There are five: words of affirmation, quality time, physical touch, acts of service, and receiving gifts. And we’ve got ideas for all of them.

Today, we’re taking a quick break from the typical news cycle to highlight some fun experiences you and mom might enjoy together this weekend. We’ll be back to the grind on Monday.

• From Richmond to Virginia Beach, explore where to indulge in these chewy, crispy treats that blend Japanese mochi with classic donuts (SEE MAP HERE).

• There’s nothing that transports you back in time quite like an old mill. Visit these historic places for a glimpse into the past—and some stellar photo ops (SEE MAP HERE).

• Ready to road trip? Map the most delicious stops for your next Virginia adventure with stops along US 29 (SEE MAP HERE).

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