Do you have a mom, wife, sister, daughter, or friend who is a dedicated mom with kids still at home? Here’s a fun game you could share with her that will remind her and her family of things that make her job more challenging and ways to “put gas in her tank.”

Most moms are pretty forgiving and overlook their kids’ shortcomings as they mature because they love their families. But kids can make moms’ lives more pleasant by being obedient, grateful, and helpful. Also, Dads can enhance moms’ lives by being loving and appreciative and doing their part. Moms themselves can make their own lives better by being optimistic, not expecting perfection of themselves, and taking time for a little self-care. This make-it-yourself game is a fun way to reinforce those things.

How the Game Works

See who makes the most progress toward making a “happy mom”—one of the kids, Dad , or Mom herself. There are four categories of cards: Kids age 5 through 10; Kids age 11 through High School; Dad; and Mom. It isn’t necessary to have players in all four categories in order to play. You just need at least two players who each fit into a category. The wording on the cards is designed to fit the most typical situation, wherein the mom is the main parent in charge of providing meals and making sure household chores are accomplished.

If the card the player draws names something they are imagined to have done that would affect the mom positively, they will be instructed how many spaces they can move their marker forward toward the “happy mom.” If the card they draw names something they are imagined to have done that would affect the mom negatively, they are instructed how many spaces backwards they must move their marker.

A big thanks to my friend Pam and her granddaughters for helping me test the game. They offered great suggestions for the rules and for the scenarios used on the cards.

A Few Details of the Happy Mom Game

If you plan to print the game components at home, you may need to order some 8-1/2 x 11 pastel cardstock and some 8-1/2 x 11 white cardstock for making the game. Be careful to order 8-1/2 x 11, since cardstock also comes in 12 x 12 and 4 x 6, etc. You will need 4 sheets of white cardstock, 3 sheets each of yellow and pastel green cardstock, and 2 sheets each of pastel pink and pastel blue cardstock. If you don’t have a printer, see the suggestions on the assembly instructions.

This game could be presented as a gift to a mom by placing it in a shirt box (which you might find at a dollar store) with a pretty bow on top. Or it could be a long-distance gift stuffed in a padded envelope. Playing this game would be a special way to spend part of Mother’s Day but it could be fun to play at other times, too. Many families have family game nights.

Getting It Done

Don’t be intimidated by the seven different things to print. Having four colors of playing cards made it necessary to break the card-sheet-printing step into four steps. But if you have a printer and the right cardstock, making the game won’t be difficult. After the printing is done, the rest is very easy.

You just connect the three sections of the playing board, cut apart the cards on the card sheets, and the game is assembled. Filling in blank cards to add some customized cards is just a fun option to add after the game has been previously played, if desired.

Supplies for the Happy Mom Game

To see printable instructions for assembling the game (1 sheet regular printer paper), CLICK HERE.

To see printable instructions for playing the game (1 sheet white cardstock), CLICK HERE.

To see printable copies of the three board sections (3 sheets white cardstock), CLICK HERE.

To see printable copies of the playing cards for Ages 5 through 10 (3 sheets yellow cardstock), CLICK HERE.

To see printable copies of the playing cards for Age 11 through High School, (3 sheets pastel green cardstock), CLICK HERE.

To see printable copies of the playing cards for Dad (2 sheets pastel blue cardstock), CLICK HERE.

To see printable copies of the playing cards for Mom (2 sheets pastel pink cardstock), CLICK HERE.

Hope you decide to make this game– to share some special fun with a special mom and her family. Maybe you’ll even decide to make more than one.