In the recent People Country Special magazine, Gary LeVox and his Rascal Flatts bandmates tell their best Mother’s Day stories and offer some pretty solid advice about what to do to make it special. And what not to do.

Gary’s don’t-do-this story goes like this:

“I got a speeding ticket on my motorcycle at, like, 2 in the morning on Mother’s Day when I was 18. The tags were also expired, so the cop wouldn’t let me drive home. I had to call my mom to pick me up. She got there, and I was standing with the cop and said, ‘Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!’ She was like, ‘Well, this is one I won’t forget,'” LeVox recalled, adding that he is one of the biggest mama’s boys on the planet.

And now that LeVox has two kids of his own, he knows just how to make their mom Tara feel special.

“One of the best things I’ve ever done was make a big card for my wife with my daughters,” he said. “Sometimes, something you can’t buy makes the biggest impact.”

But he added he’s guilty of using his brother — who is his assistant — to get the card he ultimately gives to his wife.

Jay DeMarcus’ Mother’s Day tips involve things like flowers and massages for his wife Allison. And Joe Don Rooney says he’s always on the lookout for hints — photos of necklaces, earrings and bangles — his wife Tiffany leaves around the house for him to find.

Pick up the latest People Country issue today to read more.