What's Better Than Taking Mom to Brunch on Mother's Day?

Mom has always said that humans become less human over time as they get fewer hugs and experience less physical contact.

When I was a kid, Mom would rub me and my brother Lance’s heads as part of our bedtime routine. It was great! Now that Mom’s 77 years old – and has lived alone for decades – she doesn’t have nearly the same amount of physical human touch that older people need.

When my Aunt Dorothy lay on her deathbed, I stroked her arms and head. When my grandpa Gordon lay on his deathbed, I held his hand and rubbed his head. So what about when Mom (or any loved one) is alive and well? What does science say about the benefit of human touch? From Psychology Today’s article 8 Reasons Why We Need Human Touch More Than Ever, scientific research now correlates physical touch with, among other areas:

Decreased disease and stronger immune system; and Overall wellbeing.

In my busy adult life, I rush around getting things done and I don’t alway remember to slow down and pay my Mom back with the same physical touch that she showed me as a child. Tonight I gave Mom a 15 minute back rub, neck rub, and scalp massage. She loved it! She said it made her body tingle. And that’s exactly what I remember when I was a child – the tingle.

You know what’s way better than taking my Mom to brunch on Mother’s Day? A back rub on a regular day!