FOR MOTHER'S DAY this year, how about trying something a little different? Instead of the usual flowers and store-bought card, try giving mom the feeling of total contentment.

For starters, make it her day all day. Being a mom is a full-time job 24/7. Nothing shows how much you appreciate that than giving her an entire day to herself. For Mom: no chores, no worries, no work of any kind today. It's her day to relax and enjoy herself, however she chooses. Treat her like a queen -- and mean it.

Next, you could clean the house. We mean really clean it. Brooms, mops, dusters, vacuum cleaners; deploy the whole arsenal. Mom will be speechless, assuming she isn't injured in the process. Best to send her out to brunch or a movie for a while, just to be safe.

Now, what do you do with the kids? That's the tricky question. Does mom want to spend the day with the young-uns, or would she rather have a break? Better let her decide that one. Just have a plan either way. Whichever she chooses, she'll feel cared for, and that's what's important.

If you do all of those things, mom will be so overwhelmed she probably won't know how to react. It might be something like the sensation you had when your mother kissed your boo-boos, cut the crusts off your sandwiches, made you warm cocoa with marshmallows on top or tucked you in at night. It's the feeling you get from knowing without question that you are loved, protected and appreciated.

If you can make mom feel like that today, it will be a good Mother's Day.