Mother’s Day is coming up and for mothers of young kids, no one, in my opinion, deserves this day more. When you are in the throes of motherhood - no matter what the stage - diapers and night feedings, potty training and tantrums, or sibling rivalry and endless hours in the car - Mother’s Day is an important day of recognition. My husband is a champ and traditionally takes on all child-related duties for the day (and usually cracks by dinner and collapses into bed by 8pm) and we do something together as a family.
The issue I have run into, however, since starting our own family eight years ago, is how to incorporate our own mothers into Mother’s Day. I have had some years where I go over to my mother’s at lunch time and we have dinner with my husband’s mother. We have had our families over here for dinner, with fathers in charge of the lions share of the meal. How do you balance your Mother’s Day celebration? Hide out at home with your family? Post-church brunch with the extended family? Sunday dinner at your in-laws? Solo spa day (dream come true….:-))?
May 5th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
I also have to share my birthday with Mother’s Day every 6 or 7 years so on those years, for me, I get to be the only “mother” that is celebrated that day. But on other years it seems we do more for Mother’s Day with the in-laws. My mother-in-law is much more sensitive about this holiday than my own mother, so that makes it easier. I do try to get my mom a nice card and sometimes a plant or flower basket, but I see or talk to my mom almost every day of the year so she knows where she stands with me. Things will be changing for next Mother’s Day though. We are moving 2600 miles away, so that will be a big deal to let them both know that we love them and couldn’t live without them!
May 7th, 2008 at 10:01 am
I know where moms that are also daugters are coming from! There are 4 moms for us (both my husband’s parents and mine are divorced and remarried!). We have done the whole gang brunch on Sunday, gotten together on Saturday, and as we could see them. It seems to have worked best for us to let them know individually how we feel and to do something special with them that way. I personally think mother’s day should be an all year event so it is a movable feast in my opinion. My problem now is that I am a mommy…when do I get my time?? My husband thinks it is silly to have one day to tell our parents how we feel…which is great come father’s day! I get left out of the celebrating at times. Any ideas on how to get it across to m hubby that my girls want to do something for me???
May 7th, 2008 at 11:00 am
We have a big family with all the in-laws, step moms, etc all living in the same town. My sister and law and I decide that we would host mother’s day at my house. everyone brought something and we all enjoyed the day together (easier than restaurant because we all have small children and we timed the meal w/naps so we could at least eat in peace and have a glass of wine). Then, on another day (usually the following Sunday) - my husband takes over and gives me 24 hours all to myself. I can spa, or sit and read, or have lunch w/girlfriends, or shop or whatever but he knows he better not call my cell phone unless they are headed to the hospital! So that way, I make the mother in laws happy and I still celebrate. Who said the Mothers Day had to be celebrated on only that one day? Be flexible and make it work out for everyone…it keeps the family much happier in the long run and I still get my time too. Happy Day to ALL!
May 8th, 2008 at 1:08 am
We started a tradition a few years ago where we have my mom and dad and my husband’s mom and dad over for brunch on mother’s day. My husband does all the cooking (and he is a great cook to boot) and I just set the table (which I love to do anyway).
It is a great tradition and all mom’s get to enjoy the meal and each other’s company.
May 8th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Gosh you all seem a little whiney to me. Just because you become a mom doesn’t mean you disregard your mom. After all, if it wasn’t for her… Until recently we had three generations of moms in our family and we all went out for brunch for Mother’s Day. So what if you have young children, everyone is out with young children that day. Pamper yourself some other day.
May 8th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
This year, we’re going to my parents house for lunch (my sister and brother-in-law too) and then for dinner, my husband and son are in charge. Sometimes it feels like Christmas, trying to juggle fitting everyone and everything in, though not quite as bad…
May 9th, 2008 at 10:00 am
Since my mother passed away, my daughter and I spend Mother’s Day together (she is also a mother). We’re just going to hang out, make lunch and play with her little ones. Mother’s Day is not about “what you do”, but “who you do it with”.
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY TO ALL THE MOTHERS OUT THERE!
May 10th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
hello,
we will have 4 generations celebrating mothers day. i am glad i have all my 3 girls close to em.
i have a aunt who had only one son and he died in a terrable accsednt a yr ago. my heart goes out to her.
so call someone or send a card to someone you know who has lost a mom or a daughter/son.it will meen alot to them.
happy mothers day
May 12th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
Seems like a whole lot of complaining about HAVING to see you moms on mothers day, try wanting to but living in another country! I just moved back to the US from 5years in the UK and didnt once see my mom for mothers day or any other holiday,and still dont get to see her often enough.
May 14th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Both my parents and my inlaws live out of town, so I mail a small package to each of them for mom’s day and I get to spend mom’s day with just my husband and son. I have a close friend who started something brillant a couple years ago, that we are going to start. Her and her sister’s families get together with their parents for a “parents weekend.” They spend the entire weekend doing something they all love, like camping, hiking, going to dinner. That way they get to spend an entire weekend with the extended family, and have the actual father’s day and mother’s day to spend with their children and husbands. She said it works wonderful!