While most of the efforts behind your continued maturity are owed to your unwavering motivation, it is your parents who built the foundation that led to who you are now. You can thank and praise yourself whenever and however you want for your hard work, but always remember that it was your mother and father who provided for you when you came into this world until you could already stand on your own two feet and until the end of time. They deserve just as much gratitude and appreciation as you give to yourself. Here are eight ways you can pamper your mother and father with the acknowledgment that they deserve!

Bring them to places they have always wanted to visit

Your parents must have dreamt of going to Disneyland in Hong Kong in hopes of meeting their favorite princes and princesses when they were young, or to different beach destinations in the Philippines like Romblon and Siquijor since they have never gone to one before due to financial constraints. Once you’ve secured a job and a salary, it would be the best time to start saving money to spend on purchasing tickets and booking flights and accommodations in other parts of the Philippines and the world so you can fulfill your parents’ long overdue dreams. Traveling will not only help them feel calm but also release all the stress that has been building up inside their thoughts.

Cook them their favorite food

Nothing can get simpler than serving your parents the dish they have learned to love ever since they were young. Once your mom and dad share with you about their favorite food, chances are those were cooked by their parents. Now, it is your turn to prepare and serve them their favorite food—hether it be adobo, pinakbet, giniling, or ginataang kalabasa–just like how they used to feed you with the meal that you always drooled over every single day. Even more so, learning to cook your parents’ favorite dish in front of them is an effortful act that might make them feel a sense of kilig!

Give them gifts

Gift-giving is one of the five love languages that have stood the test of time and something that is commonly seen among people participating in special occasions such as Christmas and birthday celebrations. But let us not forget that mothers and fathers still deserve to receive gifts just as much as children and young people do. This time, it does not matter whether a special occasion will be celebrated or not; even giving a gift to your mom and dad in a surprising manner is enough to put a smile on their face. Some gifts you can give to them include jewelry, a set of gardening tools, a collection of books, anything that is of sentimental value, or even money!

Always communicate and establish quality time with them

Communication is one of the most important aspects of a relationship. Your parents’ silence can sometimes be a false representation of being okay and problem-free. Maybe they want to do something that they can no longer do by themselves but refuse to share with you for fear of putting a burden on you who is already busy at work, school, and the like. Regardless of all that, communication is as important as constantly gardening your crops every single day. Do not be afraid to talk to your parents and ask them about their day or if there are any problems bothering them. You can even offer to do something for them even if they are not open about it. Of course, you should also not forget to share with them your personal problems; they also have to be aware of your well-being. Communication is all about knowing how to give and take. Gestures like these, when performed consistently, are ways to assure your parents of your love.

Buy them the things they want

Do you remember the times when you used to beg your parents to buy the toys you see in the malls and that your friends own? Sometimes, they would purchase it for you, and other times, you would cry because they could not afford them. Much like bringing your parents to other places, buying them the things they were never able to grab hold of when they were young is another way to pamper them with appreciation. Spend your days by taking your mother and father out for a shopping spree. Bring them to malls and the stores of their favorite brands and have them pick out whatever shirt, bag, gadget, appliance, and jewelry that captivate their eyes!

Keep on achieving achievements

Perhaps the best way to pamper your parents is to make them feel proud of you time and time again. Ever since you were born, all they dreamt of was for you to grow into a disciplined and successful individual. Now that you have partially fulfilled it, it is your duty to keep on pushing your luck in living life to the fullest—life full of fortune and achievements—and have your parents witness it so that you can imbue within them the most significant pride and love they will be able to feel from you.

Regardless of whether your parents spoiled you when you were a child or not, pampering your mother and father after years and decades of being cared for and loved by them can be a wonderful idea to surprise them and make them feel all the more appreciated. Remember, these acts can be done either with the intention of giving back to them or because you want to!