Elias Jones doesn’t mess around when it comes to Mother’s Day. The 19-year-old bought his mom, Tawana Jones, coffee first thing Sunday and…
Elias Jones doesn’t mess around when it comes to Mother’s Day.
The 19-year-old bought his mom, Tawana Jones, coffee first thing Sunday and then took her to the Exploratorium.
While a science museum might seem counterintuitive compared to the stereotypical Sunday brunch to celebrate mothers, Jones knew what he was doing.
“I came here when I was young and I almost want to say it’s magical,” he said as he smiled at his mom. “She had never been.”
He wanted to bring her to a magical place on Mother’s Day.
Jones was a clear contender for son of the year, although about 8,000 other people had the same idea.
Families filled the floor of the Exploratorium on Sunday, where kids pulled levels, rolled balls, pushed sand, spun wheels and turned dials while moms — and some dads — captured their children’s curiosity and wonder on their phones.
MORE ON MOTHER’S DAY: Readers share photos of moms and their look-alike children
The Mother’s Day outing at the Exploratorium has become something of a tradition in the Bay Area since the museum’s move to the Embarcadero five years ago, and it’s one of five annual community days, when patrons pay what they want in lieu of a set entrance fee.
Hundreds of people had lined up outside before the 10 a.m. opening, and many were still inching their way inside about an hour later.
“Motherhood is about family and the Exploratorium is about family,” said Liliana Blanco, administrative director and the Latino coordinator at the museum.
The event, celebrating Mother’s Day with a Dia de las Madres twist, included mariachi music and other entertainment mixed in with the hands-on science exhibits.
MORE ON MOTHER’S DAY: Oakland family stranded after mom’s death finally comes home
For Brittany Velasquez, who hadn’t been to the museum since she was a child, it was the perfect place to be on Mother’s Day. She was there with her husband and two children, ages 5 and 1.
“It’s doing something as a family,” she said. “We’re celebrating what makes me a mom.”
Christina O’Donnell was celebrating Mother’s Day not only as a mom, with her 2-year-old son, Lucas, but with her own mom as well.
Lucas was enthralled by a set of buttons that turned lights on and was a huge fan of the Batman Lego zoetrope, which he had insisted on watching through three full cycles. The noise, the crowds and even the headache-inducing zoetrope strobe lights were worth it, O’Donnell said.
“I get to spend the day with my best friend,” she said of her mom before turning her gaze on her son, “and the best thing that ever happened to me.”
MORE ON MOTHER’S DAY: The best bargain restaurants to treat mom to, according to Yelp
Upstairs at the far end of the museum, Steve Wir, 30, sat at a table with his mom, Manti Ng, 55, and his grandma, Sri Ng, 79 to make colorful paper flowers, part of the day’s Latino-themed festivities.
He was giving Elias Jones some competition for son of the year, although he admitted he wasn’t really into the whole Mother’s Day thing.
“I have a pessimistic view of it,” Wir said. “You don’t have to wait until Mother’s Day to appreciate your mom.”
His mom smiled the proud mom smile, the same kind plastered on other moms’ faces across the museum.
“He’s a good boy,” she said.
Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jilltucker
