As his mother ran a hot bath for him, pouring in Epsom salt to ease his sore muscles, a young Ray Rice stared out the window at the New Rochelle, NY projects he lived in.

“Ma, I’m going to the league,” said Rice, then in 11th grade. “I’ve got to make it to the league. I’ll be glad when I can tell you, ‘You don’t have to work no more.’”

Janet Rice, a single mother, worked two jobs trying to make ends meet raising Rice and his two brothers and one sister. But her primary job was spoiling her children.

Now that he’s one of the NFL’s burgeoning stars, Ray is doing his best to return the spoils. Thus, Mother’s Day takes on a whole new meaning in the Rice household.

“It’s a real special day,” Ray said. “I know she gets it all year, but I try to surprise her with different stuff. I can’t spoil her too much. Gotta keep her guessing.”

Two years ago around Mother’s Day, Rice tricked his mother into thinking she was needed to sign papers for Ray to purchase a new Acura. Only after signing did she find out the car was actually for her. Last year, Ray upgraded her to a new red Lexus. After all, she always wanted a red car.

Rice has moved his mother out of the projects, where she had spent her entire life. The next phase, he says, is making good on his childhood promise of allowing her to retire early if she wants.

But don’t feel too bad for Ray either; the luxurious treatment goes both ways. When Ray comes home to New York, Janet wakes up at 5:30 a.m. and has his special-diet breakfast waiting for him by 6.

Since Ray is busy with a morning minicamp practice Sunday, Janet drove down from her home to Owings Mills, Md., to celebrate Mother’s Day a week early last weekend.

“I always tell him, ‘Ray, I just want you to be with me,’” Janet said. “‘That means more to me than anything. Material things mean nothing compared to having you here with me.’”

But just because they’ve already hung out for Mother’s Day doesn’t mean Rice doesn’t have a trick up his sleeve. (I know what it is, but who am I to spoil the surprise?)