No one ever tells you that the hardest thing about parenting is that moment when they do something so completely hilarious it’s impossible to stop laughing. You know the one. In an effort to avoid embarrassing your gauche children in public, you rearrange your face into the very model of decorum and frantically try to avoid looking at the other adults in the room because you KNOW they are laughing on the inside and if you make eye contact all hope will be lost. In most households, this is a daily event.
So. Damned. Hard.
And so it is with Mother’s Day. It is a supreme effort of will between mother and child which runs the emotional arc between faking unfettered joy at yet another macaroni necklace and masking the horror that comes with forcing down cold cups of tea and toast with a centimetre thick layer of vegemite on it.
“Oh darling,” you say, choking back the tears of joy that are actually barely disguised tears of pain brought on by the onslaught on your taste buds and the urge to fight the gag reflex. “It’s the best breakfast I’ve ever had.”
But of course, the torture doesn’t end there.
You are forced to listen to the CD of the Ten Tenors, no doubt rescued from the Mother’s Day stall at school or the remaindered bin at K-Mart while eating said breakfast. Your face strains as you smile enthusiastically at their cleverness in choosing such a unique gift. How thoughtful!
Seal
Truthfully, the commercialism of Mother’s Day irks me more than just about any other commercial event in the calendar. More than easter eggs in the first week of January, more than red love-hearted Valentine’s day schtick that pollutes my eyesight, more than the hysteria leading up to Christmas: children are compelled to make unwise purchases based on what someone else has told them their mother will like. Don’t believe me? I actually saw an ad for Harris Farm markets this week that suggested mum might like a 5kg bag of ONIONS as a present. To go with the pot of chrysanthemums presumably.
Enough already. I don’t want another awful CD of warbling eunuchs. If I see Andre Rieu in my house I shall commit murder on the next unfortunate passer by. Likewise, natch to the smelly votive candles, sandwich toasters, the service station bunch of flowers (seriously, who does that?) and fluffy slippers in the shape of a labrador’s head.
Bring me a strong macchiato, perfectly prepared by an oiled, shirtless and hunky barista of my choice. Bring me oils and foot scrub for a foot massage.
And for god’s sake, bring me Seal to apply both to my weary body.
Now that’s a mothers day present worthy of my efforts to keep a straight face the next time you make me laugh at an inappropriate moment.
Known to MM readers as La Petite Chou, Sandra Reynolds started writing a blog called The $120 Food Challenge . You can buy her first cookbook here.
What would be your ultimate – oh alright then, fantasy, Mother’s Day present?
Comments
121 Comments so far
I had a lovely day. I was given a collection of things handmade by my 2 year old. A painting, a paper plate handbag with choccies in, a decorated butterfly postit thing for the fridge and a poem with her handprints on. She was super excited giving them to me and showing me what she’d made. That is what I got, and I was stoked. Then I opened FB and saw many people had arranged their presents on the table, taken a photo and commented on how ‘spoilt’ they were with tiffany jewellery, expensive spa vouchers and perfume. I have told my husband I don’t want anything the kids have not made for me for mothers day, except for the coffee in bed that is, he can make that!
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Nicest Mother’s Day in a while – looked after a little bub. My three are grown up and 1 adolescent in the mix. It was nice to sing silly little songs and have someone smile up at you in wonder? confusion?
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I’m not a Mum. But my Mum and younger sister came up from the country and stayed with me on Saturday night. Then my younger brother joined us on Sunday morning and we had a big breakfast outside in the Perth sun.
I buy for my brother a sister (who are 18 & 15 and both at uni/school so have no money), so decided to get Mum some Peter Alexander PJs as she’s bought me numerous pairs of these over the years.
She was super excited because she has never owned a pair of P.A jammies before. So a win from me!
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I had the best mothers day. Husband took miss 15 to work at 5.50am. Husband cooked magnificent gourmet breakfast. I went to church with master 12. Returned from church to find house SPOTLESS. Went for a drive with husband to pick up miss 15 from work (and a nice bottle of red). Had croissants for lunch (did not have to clean up). After lunch I had gifts presented to me. A hand drawn card from master 12 with vouchers for infinite hugs, and automatic argument stopping. A power point presentation from master 14, including a poem. A basket of goodies from miss 15 (which she had selected herself – not a generic buy the basket with all the stuff in it). The afternoon was spent relaxing, I read, watched some rugby (Reds won – Yay!), and enjoyed said wine with husband. Children made dinner, children cleaned up from dinner. Enjoyed more of said wine while watching television and having feet massaged.
Gold.
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I lost my beloved mum a couple of years ago and was of course thinking of her (as I do every day). The truly sad part of the day however was my sister. She has struggled with major depression since the death of our mum, and has resorted to drugs and alcohol. The worst part? She’s a mother of 3. Her youngest and I cooked breakfast for her and in to mum’s bedroom she went, a gorgeous little 4 year old carrying a tray of toast, juice and bacon/eggs. My sister was hungover (as always) so barely opened an eye, muttered “I’m not hungry thanks anyway” and went back to sleep. It broke my heart. This is one of many examples since the death of my mum. I’ve tried everything to get through to my sister and while she promises she’s off the drugs, alcohol features in her life every single day. It’s common for her to be drunk on a Monday night. I don’t know what to do anymore
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this really resonated wth me as it was me a few years ago. not due to death but becasue my partner left me and the children.
I struggled for years to cope and not to hate the world.
Your sister needs professional help, she must know it is not ok to do this but she needs help now. take her to her GP perhaps or a counsellor?
she needs to know that someone cares and also a reminder of how things could be with her children ( both the good and the bad scenarios )
if she isn’t already on medication then it sounds like she needs to be!
good luck, you are a great sister. I have one too!
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I agree that the commercialisation of mothers day is wrong. I’ve always hated that part of it.
I remember being really excited when my first mothers day was approaching as I was so proud to be a new Mum – unfortunately though it was also the first mothers day after my mother-in-law died and it was awful. My husband was miserable, angry and sullen (not surprisingly but I was unprepared for how hard it would be for him to hide it). He didn’t even think to get me a present, flowers or anything and we ended up spending the day with some other members of his family and his grandmother who, like his Mum, is put on an extremely high pedestal by him. No one even mentioned the fact that I was a new Mum or wished me a happy mothers day.
It’s been ten years and I kind of thought beyond that first year that things would improve, but they haven’t really – every year it is about us spending time with his grandmother and making it special for her as he no longer has his Mum. It is never about me – AT ALL. The only thing that has improved is that my girls are now old enough to tune into it more and they usually bring something home from school or pre-school that they have proudly made or purchased – that is the part that warms my heart. My eldest girl wrote me a poem yesterday which was beautiful.
Don’t get me wrong – I don’t begrudge my mother-in-law or grandmother-in-law at all. I love them both and I know we are blessed that my girls have a great grandmother that has helped to fill the gap left by the grandmother they never met. I do get joy from seeing my girls with their great grandmother – really I do.
I just wish Mothers Day could be my day – at least some of it. I know one day it might me but I’m guessing it will be further down the track when my girls are old enough to organise it themselves – they get such a kick out of making me feel special so I want them to enjoy it too.
As for yesterday, it was miserable for entirely different reasons. Our beloved cat died and we were all devastated. In between taking great-grandma out for a picnic lunch we were dealing with our grief – our cat was a huge part of our family – she’d been around way longer than our girls have and they have always had her in their lives. We buried her at sunset, concluding a very sad mothers day.
I would love to defer mothers day to another day down the track where we do something special although I’ve learned to lower my expectations dramatically and think this would be very unlikely!
Glad to hear stories of so many happy mothers day celebrations out there. Also thinking of those that no longer have their mums who feel sad on mothers day.
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I am sorry that Mothers Day wasn’t the day you were wishing for. It sucks. I am sorry about your cat, that is heartbreaking for your little ones too.
It is only now that my sons get excited about doing something for me, They always do something from school, but the boys were really excited about giving me a card and their poems. The 9 year old wanted to do housework as a present, which was a nice thought.
Husband is pretty hopeless in the occasions department. He thinks it is all just a ploy to get gullible people to buy stuff they don’t need to keep the economy pumping along. He is a cynical tightarse, but he thinks it is cute that the kids are excited about it all. We don’t do anything special, just note the day and ring our mothers. I don’t bother to give my mother a card or present unless I go over to see her. I do make sure I call and have a chat.
Sounds similar to my 9 years of mothers days, but my husband is too slack to do special things for his own mother, so at least I know he isn’t bypassing me for her too. He just isn’t a grand gesture, gift giving sort of person. But sometimes he will bring he a truckload of hand-shovelled manure or a bale of lucerne hay and he knows it makes me pretty happy usually!
Here’s to better future mother’s days!
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Thanks HM. I love the description of your husband as ‘cynical tightarse’ – that pretty much describes mine too and gave me well needed giggle! xx
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Mine started with an 8am footy game (who schedules these things!!!) and the kids alternating turns at being monster-brats all day.
But… mother’s day celebrates motherhood. And early footy and tantrums are part and parcel of motherhood. No escaping it really. So I suck it up and relish every little opportunity to stick the guilt knife in (why are you whingeing, its MY special day lol).
But one cute thing – my son made me a poster with the letters of my name and a thing he likes about me starting with each letter (poor kid getting lumped with a Mum with a 9 letter name!!). The T stood for “The Amazing Curry” (yep, I’m racking my brains as to which one he means but hey, obviously was good lol)
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I had the best mother’s day ever! We made Saturday ‘my’ mother’s day, so hubby took the kids out in the morning and I had a WHOLE 4 HOURS to myself. Bliss. Then I had a sleep in the afternoon and my favourite dinner! My daughter bought me a present with her own money (well, her pocket money which I give her, but hey). On Sunday after Church we had lunch with my Grandmother, mum and MIL as well as a lot of other family. I didn’t get any ‘present’ as such, but time off? THAT is a gift.
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I got up before everyone so I could do the 7.5 km Mother’s Day Classic run so I missed out on brekkie in bed and a sleep in. But when I got home the kids gave me beautiful hand drawn cards and a book of vouchers that I can cash in whenever I want. One voucher is for a silent car trip (no fighting etc) and another voucher is for a shower with no interruptions! Very cute.
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The absolute best thing I got for Mothers Day, my 15 year old son had his first day at work, so proud, a 3 hour shift at Bakers Delight.
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Mum had been talking about doing a cake decorating class for so long, I finally took her to one on Saturday and she hasn’t stopped raving about it all weekend!! Yay!
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That’s a great present!
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I had a perfectly average Mothers Day until I went to mum’s to cook dinner and I ended up teaching her how to YouTube! it was loads of fun and she was amazed that she could watch videoclips of her beloved Beatles on the laptop.
she was also suprised that I knew all the words to the songs but I reminded her that I had grown up with her albums.
Apart from that I ended up with 4 boxes of chocolates which isn’t bad considering I only have two children!
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I have enjoyed Mother’s Day Week! I took myself to the hairdressers and got a cut, color and treatment. When I got home I thanked my teenage sons 17 & 14 for My Mothers day gift. I then kept coming home all week after buying myself something I wanted and saying “THANKYOU my beautiful family for my Mothers Day Pressies! ” I have learnt to just get what I like and let them know :0) It is nice to be appreciated (which I am) but I know that They enjoy seeing me spoil myself and I just tell them that they had better spoil the future Mother of their children when the time comes. Remember that if the family doesn’t acknowledge you on the day that you should go and spoil yourself :0)
Even a cup of coffee at the beach can be nice.
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I also did the mothers day event, 8k walk in wet windy melbourne – it was absolutely brilliant and I would not have wanted to be anywhere else. This year was tough as first year without my groovy mum – decked out in her track suit and number pinned on beside me. A few sad moments but what great memories of my mum who only ever asked for a mothers day present was ’8 good km’s!!’
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My first Mothers day away from home, and was usually the one who organised the occasions. But my 19 year old brother really stepped up to the plate and did tea in bed and an orchid and movies. And my mom and I had a long chat over the phone.
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My Mother’s Day involves never getting a shop-bought gift because my mother-in-law thought Mother’s Day was a commercial enterprise and boycotted the whole idea. Now her son also refuses to participate on a commercial level. He doesn’t want anything for Father’s Day either, might I add, but it’s a little disheartening when I spend time buying thoughtful gifts for my mum and 2 grandmothers.
In fairness, I do usually get a sleep-in (husband usually works weekends so this is a BIG DEAL) and a cuppa and toast. But not this year. My husband’s car was involved in a rear-end collision on Saturday night and he spent most of the night not sleeping with whiplash and back pain. So I got up at 5.30am with our youngest (the rest of the household was up by around 8am) while he snored his head off after finally falling asleep around 4am.
He woke up in time for lunch with my family, which I cleaned the house for and had a hand in the catering for (we all brought something to contribute) and then I was left to solo parent and clean the house again after they left while husband had a lie-down with his excruciating back pain.
He did take them to KFC to get dinner.
BUT I did get a good couple of hours on my own before dawn with our youngest before anyone else stirred. We watched CBeebies and he told me I make the best hot Milo ever. Win. Maybe I’ll get a sleep-in next year.
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SUCH a wonderful mother’s day – my sister and I took our mum to see Beauty and the Beast 3D – so lovely for us all to get to share the magic again, all those years after she first took us to see it as children
<3 Hope you all had a fantastic day, wherever you are in the world
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I had such a lovely mothers day, perfect weather and great times spent with my family.
Took our little boy to the playground with my inlaws in the morning and he had a ball, at least until he fell over and ended up with a massive egg on his head, but a cupcake and some cuddles (but i suspect, mainly the cupcake) helped to ease the tears!!!
then had my family over for dinner, got beautiful cuddles with my 3 month old baby niece, and my 16month old son kept trying to hold her hand, it was absolutely heart melting.
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Are you in Perth Anna? We had such great weather here today
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My sister and I are both students so we did a joint present of a book and some hand cream & a nice card for mum – we have a standing unspoken agreement since moving out of home (and cities) that we do the ‘present’ and dad takes care of the flowers and chocolates. Had a chat with her on skype and sounds like she had a lovely day at lunch with some family friends. Dad always has to work on Sunday’s, but I’m so glad that someone always seems to invite her out to lunch on mother’s day! One year I’d love to suprise her by showing up on her doorstep though!
On a side note: my boyfriend (and his sisters) don’t seem to ‘do’ mother’s day – he would have forgotten if I didn’t remind him, and even in the past week when I mentioned “are you going to send your mum a card?” he seemed not fussed, and didn’t buy one. This kind of bothers me? It’s hard because I don’t know if it’s just the way his family is (they aren’t particularly big on birthdays etc) or if it’s just him being a shit. He’s not a ‘card’ person (he’s never given me a card with birthday/ christmas/ valentines pressies), and she seems like a very low-key person who doesn’t mind not getting a big fuss, but I feel like surely every mum would appreciate the gesture or a card in the mail? I don’t know how to bring it up because I feel like it’s not my business but it’s been seriously irking me all week. AND NOW I feel like “well, where is this going? If I’m mother to his children is this what I can expect?” Blerg!
Anyway. Happy Mother’s Day to all the lovely MM mum’s out there!
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I asked my mum about a week ago if she would like anything in particular for Mother’s Day and she replied “All I want is my family at church with me on Sunday morning at 7:30am.” (To which I thought, “Sheesh mum, can’t I just get you some flowers or a massage voucher??”)
But the look on her face when I slid into the seat next to her just as mass was starting was SO WORTH getting up early on a Sunday and was better than the expression when she opened her presents later that day. Actions really do speak so much louder.
Disclaimer – I appreciate that a lot of mums would love to be able to sleep in every Sunday morning and me getting up for 7:30am mass is NOT a big deal at all in this forum…
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I’m a mum and I don’t think you needed to put that disclaimer in at all. Getting up early to go to Church with your mum is a lovely thing to do. Imagining the look on your mum’s face has made me feel all warm and fuzzy.
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beautiful
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I got some cute prezzies from the boys (School-made cards and photos) and my boys stickytaped flowers to the cards which was cute too.
Big son wanted to make me brekkie, but I ended up making Bacon and eggs for everyone. Not too much to report. A bit of housework, painting windows in undercoat, laundry.
We don’t really get into it as it is all commercialism but husband brought home an orphan calf which we named Bruiser. So now I have another “baby” to feed. I will be a calf mother forever I think.
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aww thats lovely that you are looking after the little orphan calf, and what a cutie!!
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That calf is so cute!
But if you don’t mind me asking… is he a “food” cow?
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I have not checked yet if Bruiser is a boy or a girl!
If she is a girl – she will be a great cow
If a boy – we will grow him out and when he is a bullock he will be sold. I usually get on average 4 poddies a year to raise. If in drought I get heaps more.
Yes, this one will eventually make it to the dinner table. If he survives. He would of been flat out to get his first drink from his mother, and he seems strong….. so signs point to yes!
Husband found him crouched down in the grass. And when he tried to “mother” him up with some of the cows they sniffed him, and he ran in to steal a suck from them. But they booted him away – poor little baby!
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Well I’m glad s/he’ll have a happy life and be cared for before being eaten
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Happy Mums Day Happy Mum!! Bruiser is just gorgeous – what a lovely find on Mothers Day. I had a very similar ‘pet’ calf that we used to show at the ag shows and at ‘Calf Day’ at school. His name was Nervous – not sure what became of him though – try not to think about it!
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Happy mum’s day to you too CA! I love that your pet calf was “Nervous”. I try not to think too much about the selling of my “babies”. Husband remind me all the time that our pets are hopefully worth something in the end so I try not to get too attached. Ditto for calves that die too.
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I have had the worst mothers day on record. Eventually crawled out of bed at 7am after listening to hubbys snoring all night. 10yr old daughter greeted me with the obligatory mums day stall gift (stationary items that she cld use). Then followed by, mum can you make pancakes today…um yes I guess so..hubby eventually rolls out of bed at 8.30 by which this time 12yr old son arises too & hands over dodgy gift no.2 (mandarine soap). Hubby announces he’s off out for the morning, we need fire wood today & he forgot to get when he had time off this week at work. So I do all the breakfasts, cleaning up, washing, housework & so forth. Hubby gets home at 12pm, just as kids ask mum, what’s for lunch. So I make lunch, clean up again, just in time for hubby to go to work as he volunteered today as nobody else offered to go in…that’s because they value their lives! So I cried all day on and off, right up until I cooked dinner, cleaned up & sank into my chair. Hubby now home…I’m waiting for his apology…may as well just go to bed and cry…
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I’m so sorry that you don’t feel appreciated by your husband and kids. Hope it helped to share.
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Sooo sorry you had a crap day. Maybe take yourself out shopping and buy something nice?
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Did he forget it was Mothers Day? That’s awful!
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I don’t ever worry about Mothers day. Years of infertility have changed the meaning of it, and I hate the commercialisation of it. But then, I feel special and appreciated alot so one day isn’t going to change that.
So today I asked for a nice lunch. I got a card and some chocolates (spoilt). Husband cooked lamb with pesto sauce, fried potatoes and roast tomatoes. I made a chocolate meringue gateau with white chocolate mascarpone and raspberries. (which the 3 year old eventually decided was delicious after a minor meltdown). It was lovely.
But big hugs to everyone who didn’t have a good day, for whatever reason.
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Thanks oopsyboops – definitely fall into that category! That food sounds amazing and just reading it has made me very hungry. Have a good week x
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I’m not a mum, but I do happen to have one of the best mums around
I had to work 7-12 this morning and I felt quite guilty until I got home and found she was still asleep!! All she wanted was a quiet day doing nothing, which is what we gave her (and a few actual pressies).
I work in a nursing home, and it was actually really nice to see so many visitors around today, the atmosphere was great.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the mums out there, you all deserve it!! RIP to my dearly departed grandmother who I wish I had of had more time with xo
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Croissants and coffee in bed. Kids were thrilled to give me presents they picked out from big w. jamie Oliver cook book, pjs, nail polish and a laminater. Hubby took my oldest and youngest to church. My 5 year old stsyed home and helped me laminate his sight words. I’m lame like that. We went for a picnic and big bike ride. Came home and sat the kids in front of a dvd while I had a wine. Amongst all of this hubby did 5 loads of washing and folded half of it. We got take away for dinner and now relaxing watching a dvd.
My mum is away caring for her very terminally ill brother and I haven’t been able to reach her all day:(
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I’m wearing my mother’s day present – a necklace made on plastic rope with beads on it from 4-year-old. We have re-hyrdated the soil stuff in the pot of corriander bought at the school stall by my 5-year-old, and somewhere there was meant to be a straws-threaded-on-to-string bracelet from the 3-year-old … but he could only find his card covered in glitter and coloured patty pans …But I did get a lovely breakfast and coffee made for me by husband and children (not in bed as I was already up feeding 3 month old)
I spent the day in the most insanely freezing wind cooking on a stall for our school P&C at a mother’s day market at our local community. Lovely day seeing loads of people and kidlets were immaculately behaved considering we got there at 9am and got home at 7pm and their dad was also cooking on the stall.
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Schedulers of Sunday sport, I detest you. My 12 yo son had a kayaking competition from 8-12 then a footy game from 1-3… clearly MEN are doing these rosters. Apart from that (and that my hub had to accompany son to both) I had a lovely day with my daughter, mum, sis and her daughter- we had lunch out at a gorgeous place and dad paid
Best bit though was a card my 10yo daughter made me: “Mum, I love you so much that it makes my head feel strange when I try to think about it” (she told me later she meant “you know, like when you try to think about infinity”). And my son yelled “Love you mum!” in front of his team mates as he bounded out into the pouring rain in his wetsuit. I would take both those things over Tiffany any day*.
*Which is lucky, as it turns out
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Haha aww your comment gave me the warmfuzzies
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Was stoked to be told to stay in bed. Got a beautiful hand made card from my kindy boy & a pressie from the mothers day stall at school. He was so proud & so was i that he picked it himself & kept it a secret until he gave it to me.
Snuggled & laughed while my 2yo pumbled said kindy boy. Never laughed so hard!
Was blessed by hubby staying up until after full family lunch even though he’s very sick AND he helped Mr Kindy clean his room. It took almost 2 hours – yes it was bad & I’d been avoiding it.
Love my family.
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Got up early (tricky, when mum is up at 6) to make mum waffles and bought her new portable digital radio so she can listen on her walks, then we took mini-road trip to visit her mum for lunch/amazing cake and takeaway for dinner while she teaches me her amazing spag sauce recipe for tomorrow’s dinner.
Definitely the fave child at the moment, my sister made zero effort and dont even think she said happy mother’s day which is ludicrous considering she is still living at home and mum does so much for her. Makes me so mad the lack of effort she puts in sometimes!
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I hate being forgotten, or an after-thought on Mothers Day…..it’s up to my husband as our children are young…..and he’s a selfish bastard who doesn’t really care. ps all i want is a homemade card and a macaroni necklace!!!! I’ve been waiting 5 years now……
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Happy Mothers Day from me!
I am sure when the kids are older you will get that macaroni necklace!
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thank you
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You are not alone. Hopefully one day we will be treated the way we should be.
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Hugs. Go and buy yourself something gorgeous this week. You deserve it.
My first Mother’s Day was crap. Hubby bought me nothing because – and I quote ‘You’re not my mother’. We went to HIS mother’s for lunch, she asked him what he gave me and he said nothng – so she made him go down to the corner shop and buy me a card. Ironically, the day before Father’s day that year, he came in with baby and gave me a giftwrapped cd – ‘because we forgot Mother’s Day’. Bastard.
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We don’t ‘do’ mothers day. I am completely ok with my kids not making me cards, or buying me gifts, or doing things that say “this one day of the year it’s about you, mum”. I expect them to step up to the plate much more often than this – and they do!
Today I did about four loads of washing (perfect weather in Sydney for it); lazed about in peace and quiet till they woke at 11-ish (late teens!); then my daughter and I shopped – for her, plus groceries. My son brought in the washing when dry, it will be folded while I cook dinner.
For all those doing it tough, whatever the reason, my thoughts are with you. x
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Same. I worked today and had the usual day. Love being a mum everyday (mostly) and don’t see any reason to feel differently about it today.
Happy mothers day to anyone who finds it really meaningful though
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PS I also had a patient today who miscarried for the umpteenth time and I felt that was pretty f*&^%ing rough for her
Love your writing too, Sandra.
Lol, why are we all using the F word so much today?
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so sad about your patient.
we are use the f word a lot because sometimes it is f%*#ing necessary
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Ha! Bless you, Rainbow … it *is* such a great word
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My hubby only asked me late last week what I wanted. I said money for a necklace I want. So he promptly forgot about it an didn’t even take the girls out to get me a card. As a result I got nothing. Girls saved the day with home/school made cards. I yelled at hubby, then had to do housework and make f*^king salads for family coming over. I only truly calmed down after a couple of wines. His birthday was o Wednesday and he got pressies and we went out for dinner.
I’m just over always organizing everyone’s pressies (including my own) and wish I got a day off.
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I hear you! I went to a lot of effort for husband’s birthday recently. He kept asking me what I wanted to for mothers’s day so I gave him several ideas. Instead I got a cheese slicer (he does the cooking) and a headphone-sharing thing which is actually for the kids when they use the iPad. I got my own breakfast, and we had leftovers for tea. My kids are too little to take care of anything themselves. Unimpressed!!
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My day started when I woke at 9 and husband and son still snoozing, watched Time Team (bit of an addiction). They came in with kisses, hugs and presents, being a matching kettle and toaster – dark blue, coffee mug and Lindor balls. I then whipped up coffee and tea in new kettle, made toast in new toaster, had a shower and went to Gold Class at lunchtime. We were going out for dinner but still full from lunch, we will grab a takeaway shortly. Apart from both our mums gone, I have had a lovely day and I hope everyone else did!!
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What movie did you see? I’ve never been to Gold Class. What’s it like?
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We saw the Avengers 3D – I have a 13 year old!! Action packed so it was good. Gold Class is really nice for a treat – comfy recliners, good bubbly and the food is fine. I love it!! You must give it a go.
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I had the worst mothers day ever. My husband and I had an argument last night (at 2am, about my daughter waking up crying…he was mad that I woke him up for help) and then I went out early this morning to buy my MIL a gift (a foot massager and a heated neck massager) only to be told ”When would I ever need to use these?” (She complains constantly of neck and foot pains!)
Oh well, there’s always next year.
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Get your husband to buy his own mothers gifts from now on. I know I would refuse to do it after that response. Hope you at least have a better evening.
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Your mother in law sounds like a pain in the neck herself. Keep the neck massager for yourself!
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I’m sorry you had such a crappy day. I think I would’ve snapped back at MIL that I’d take the presents if she didn’t want them and enjoy them myself!
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Gee what an awful day, hope it got better for you.
That was really rude of your Mil. My partner is responsible for buying all the gifts for his family and me for mine. Makes things easier.
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Thanks everyone. It sure was a crappy day. I actually prefer to get the family gifts as my husband goes all out and will splurge a ridiculous amount on his parents even when we can’t afford it so I do the shopping and keep it on budget! I thought she’d love them, but I think she was expecting something ‘more’ (expensive maybe?).
Felt crap after she said they were useless to her. I’ve said I’ll return them and I almost feel like getting her nothing now!
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Return them and give her cash – if she’s so fussy she can pick for herself..
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Or just make her a macoroni necklace.
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Ha!
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We did brunch for our Mum and bought her a voucher to have her two ovens professionally cleaned. She LOVED it. The look on her face was brilliant.
I also wrote a blog about the many reasons that my Mum is just awesome. http://blithemoments.blogspot.com.au/
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I wonder what professional cleaners would make of my oven, cannot remember when it was cleaned last!
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Apparently they can make anything look like new. They actually unscrew the wall panels and take apart the whole door to clean them in a giant bath type thing. Takes about 2 hours per oven. The Canberra guys (Oven and BBQ Clean) charge about $140 an oven, although of course that is oven size dependent etc.
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Great Mother’s Day – Mezi earrings and necklace, beautiful Zoe scarf and a divine print for the house as gifts. Then off to the Art Gallery of NSW to see the Archibald and lunch in the Botanical Garden restaurant . Am feeling tired, stuffed and a teeny bit hung over, as I’m lying here listening to my husband play chess with my 2 precious boys (6 and 10). It’s been a long , hard road to get here, but I feel happy and content.
Happy Mother’s Day to me – my boys are my greatest and proudest achievement
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Woke up this morning with our bulldogs slobbering face breathing on me, as my husband decided that it was to cold out side. Got up changed the sheets (they smelled of dog), cooked everyone omelettes for breakfast while I had toast. Recieved another plant and pot, I would love a book, chococlate jewellery ANYTHING but a plant (hubbie works in a nursery). Met my inlaws at a local club for lunch, where their were only two things on the menu I could eat (vegetarian) stir fry veggies or spinach pie. Food was overpriced, over cooked and tastless,Inlaws loved it. Came home Hubbie and son on the couch sound system blaring while they watch Star Wars while I try to finish two assignments due next week. Eldest tween just asked whats for dinner.
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Ripped off Blossie.
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It’s 5:04pm and thank God it’s nearly over. My husband hasn’t mentioned “mother” or “happy” or given me a gift. I’ve done housework all day (though refused to make the bed this morning – it remains unmade). My husband took his mother and family out for a lovely meal. My two gorgeous sons (both adults) did well though – and that’s what motherhood is about. It’s about our offspring. So thanks Jamo, for the “song” you emailed thru – it brought a tear, and thanks Dan, for the metal lizard that now hangs in my sewing room. I love you both. And husband, oh husband, you remain a huge disappointment. Have any other mothers had a similar day?
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Linda loved that. My husband has been challenged by birthdays, christmas and valentines day for 17 years. Why did I think mothers day would be any different? I’ve done this for 4 years in a row now- where does the undying optimism come from?
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Why do you put up with this?
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Read above…..you’re not alone.
My husband is really good otherwise, but couldn’t organize a pub brawl, even though he used to work in one.
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Yes I had a similar day. He wouldn’t wake up when the little ones asked him to to help them make me breakfast in bed, I washed the sheets, i made the kids breakfast, he threw a temper tantrum after lunch and slept for an hour, when I made a remark about his man flu he threw another temper tantrum and shouted at me iin front of my mum which was has humiliating and embarrassing as always. Now he is in bed while I am putting the kids to bed…Oh and of course he couldn’t be bothered to buy me a present, even for the little ones to give to me.
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that totally sucks. he needs some major training. does he have a decent excuse or is he always like this??
seriously i would get some counselling if this is normal.
if it is any consolation, once the kids are a bit older they make their dad organise things as they get so excited. not to mention the beautiful things they make at school. there are some seriously lovely teachers who make SUCH an effort for mother’s day.
a big shout out to all those teachers! i really appreciate it x
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Thanks rainbow. He has anger management issues which needs to be addressed. Thank god for my girls who are gorgeous and seem even more so now after just watching the video on the post about what “I wish had known”!
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This SO resonates with me!
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Linda,
You deserve much much better than this. But clearly, YOU are going to have to reclaim this day for yourself.
Begin today. Take your children to school, or arrange an extra day’s daycare and book yourself in to a spa treatment, a yoga retreat, a fancy restaurant with girlfriends or a Gold Pass cinema. Drink the good champagne.
If possible, use hubby’s credit card to pay for it all.
Then make plans, 12 months in advance, to have lunch with YOUR family and mum next year.
And never EVER let a man stand between you and the adoration you have rightly earnt.
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My older son is at a music festival in Canberra and my youngest is playing PS3 on line….so I took my own mum off to lunch at a gorgeous restaurant overlooking a vineyard only 20 minutes from home. We ate all three courses, including a massive dessert, and I’m now about to throw ‘When Harry Met Sally’ in the DVD player and just relax.
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It’s taken 10 years, but I finally got to spend Mother’s Day with my children AND my mum. Very blessed this year.
Plus, my husband took over the breakfast making (while the 10 year old filmed it) so that was perfect too! And, just to round out the day, my oh-so-funny 7 year old made me a card where I was being eaten by a dragon – love it!
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What an awesome-sounding card!!
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mother’s day is still going here. baby lottie has a horrible cold. maybe it’s a flu as she is very warm and dry-reaching (wretching?) too. poor thing.she has been asleep for the last 3 hours, the last 2 in my arms. i am about to wet my pants!
Happy Mother’s Day!
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I had the best mothers day ever. My sister in law and I took my girls (5 & 7) on the Bris Mothers Day Classic. I am so proud of them for finishing, we had such a great morning but am now completely buggered! My girls will sleep well tonight…
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My daughter and I were just talking about how we would have done that if we were more organised. We have made a date for next year!
We did go to Mt Coot-tha though and dropped into the rose show.
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Apparently we are dressing up as fairies next year (5 year old was in awe of all the pink fairies). It was great fun and very organised and easy. Great way to spend the morning.
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A photo of my sister in law just came up on FB and they were all wearing tutus! I didn’t know about that side of things. Looks and sounds like fun.
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My mum would give me $10 for the mothers day stall at school every year (she was single). It seemed so natural at the time, I thought nothing of it. And my lord, the amount of soaps and hankies she received over the years!! She was always SO impressed, I totally believed it.
It’s only looking back now I see how hilarious the whole routine must have been …!
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What an amazing lady your Mum sounds like. You are very blessed.xx
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Lovely present and going out later. But very sad – this is the first year my kid has had a job & paid for it all herself, and the first year she has bought me a card – I teared up a bit realising this was the end of the homemade cards.
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Yep. I hear you. I was reminiscing today about the beauty in the hand made gifts, and the gorgeous expressions on the faces of the children that made them. They are indeed special times, and I guess you, like me, will need to wait for grandchildren to experience this again. Happy Mothers Day to you!
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Best mothers day ever! (although I’ve only had 2 so far) Received a photo frame with photo’s of my beautiful one year old in it. Love it. Had a beaufiful breaky with us three and my parents at a cafe. Happy Mothers Day to all Mummies, Grandmothers, Step-Mothers, and anyone mothering in general :O)
xox
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I for one would love the traditional Mothers day questionable breakfast. My kids arent with me today, as theyre not for most special occasions.
However, my eldest son rang up, told me he loved me and said he has my present for me when he sees me next week, before handing the phone to his sister, who wished me happy Mothers day. My little boy hugged me through the phone and told me he loved me, also mentioning hes made something for me.
Those to me are worth more than anything they could have bought.
I also remember my angel baby today who I didnt get to meet
Happy Mothers day, all.
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Not a mum yet, hopefully in the future, but just want to say Happy mothers day to all the MM mums out there! This one is tough for me in a few ways, firstly because I’m on the other side of the world away from my mum (just spoke to her before writing this comment but not the same as in person!), also today marks the anniversary of my grandma passing away even though it was over 20 years ago, still remember her all the time and the fact that she passed on mothers day I know is tough for my mum. Also on this day my cousin passed away 4 years ago in a motorbike accident, he was only 23 I can’t imagine what my aunty goes through every mothers day now.
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Mother’s day doesn’t fall on the same date every year…
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is your comment really necessary? are you suggesting she is lying about these dates?
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Thanks rainbow! I just meant these events occured on Mothers Day, not referring to a specific date.
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If you want to be so pedantic you should take note of the fact that she said ‘day’ and not ‘date’ throughout her post.
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Thanks Miss much appreciated
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Cold much, Anon?
my heart goes out to you Cinnamon
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Thanks Deanna appreciate it
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Anon I said Mothers Day not the exact date! I am well aware that mothers day doesn’t fall on the same date every year!
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Oh Cinnamon I so understand this.
Unfortunately for me, my husband decided to walk out on our marriage on Mother’s Day nine years ago. I think it was the 11th May but I always associate it with Mother’s Day regardless of which day it falls. To have such an event happen on this or any other celebratory day (Christmas for example) is a special kind of undeserved hell.
That said, time helps. Time and a sheer bloody mindedness that tells me that life is worth celebrating every chance you can. I was in a different state from my children and Mum yesterday, but was with them earlier in the week, so we had an early celebration including a lunch with my Mum that was wonderful (and not just for the food.)
HUgs to you all xx
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Sometimes people deserve to be walked out on, even if it is a special day. My ex deliberately tried to abort one of my babies on christmas day years ago, so I left that night. As a parting gift, he broke the present he’d given me. Nice. DV stats are always worse on special days.
I guess you mean if it’s unexpected, which I guess is your experience.
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Oh Sandra, I am so sorry to hear that, I can’t even imagine how you must have felt when that happened. But yes what I meant in my comment was that I associate those even with Mother’s day and not the specific date.
You are right about time helping, I’m glad to read you had a nice mother’s day
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I’ve had a great morning- ran in the Mother’s Day Classic (4km) & had a beautiful breakfast watching the beach in Surfers Paradise. Now I’m on the couch for the rest of the day & might just waste some time on pintrest
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I don’t know…as a part-time stepmum (we have them 50/50), who does all the “mum” things in our house (cooking, cleaning, washing, cuddles, homework, soccer practice), it would be nice to get any kind of acknowledgement. Any at all. I’d take cold tea and crappy toast any day.
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Happy mothers day!! You do truly deserve it. I am not a step mum, but I would always acknowledge one on mothers day! Enjoy.
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Oh gosh, i really hope you do. My husband is a man of VERY few words, so i try to find his acknowledgement in the things he does instead. I don’t get much in the way of presents or sleep-ins, but he usually cooks dinner, does a few extra jobs around the house, and takes the toddler off my hands a bit
I hope your partner and kids express appreciation for you in their own ways for you to see sometime today 
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I have had a wonderful mothers day (morning). We celebrated last night with my mother and MIL. They all stayed over (inc FIL) and we had breakfast together this morning.
For me, it is usually a flowers and chocolate, low key affair, but this year I was out of fragrance, so I bought some for me, my mother and mother in law.
It has been lovely. Now I am going back to bed!!!
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