Mothering Sunday

Actually I think it should be called Bad Mothers Day. (I always feel so guiltywhen they bring stuff ) Don't they realise they brought themselves up?!

Just one of the many "Hallmark holidays".

Exactly, harrigran, No-one needs a special day to know whether their offspring appreciate them.

Here are Joanne Harris's thoughts on the subject. Refreshing, as usual.

I know that DC care about me and I don't need a specific day to be reminded. I would be happy not to see DS if I thought he and GC were pampering DIL. Last year I was with DD in Brussels, their mothering Sunday fell on my birthday in May so we had a double celebration.
I do worry that children are spending money, they can ill afford, on expensive bouquets.

About twenty years ago an old friend of mine recommended a book called "Pulling Your Own Strings" by Wayne W Dyer. There is some good stuff in it about situations like the Mother's Day disappointment mentioned on this thread.

That link again from The Daily Mash

My daughter is bringing younger grandson to see me whilst son in law takes older grandson to see his mum (other gran). I think it's a bit odd. Sort of, sharing the kids out.

Doesn't bother me. I shall still cook, and eat and enjoy, a nice Sunday roast.

(When did food get to be the be all and end all in life?

I am always at a loss as to what to do about Mother's day. I think the fact that I too am a mother is somewhat forgotten. My mum would be very huffed if I didn't go to see her "on the day" even though I see her 3-4 times a week every week. My mum will not go to see grandma (her mum) so I will feel obliged to even though I make a point of having Sunday as my day off from seeing my grandma.

Sometimes I feel like my life is not my own.

Bags your link doesn't seem to work - can you post it again please?

It's the same for me Ariadne I would love to have the chance to spoil my mum

I went to see my Mum yesterday. Both my brothers are going on Sunday so it seemed to make sense to spread it out a bit.

like this 'take' on Mothering Sunday My attitude? Just another day. I shall not be upset by there being no evidence that anyone in my family has even thought about it. It's just commercial nonsense nowadays regardless of its history.

One can be nice to one's mum any day.

And I am always reminded that I don't have a mum any more...

for you, trendygran with love.

Mother's Day completely passes me by though I am constantly reminded of it by all the hype surrounding it.
My DCs both live abroad and my mother 70 miles away. We have always done what we can for each other throughout the year so one day is neither here nor there.
My SiL always sends my mother a very sloppy sort of card but NEVER goes to see her (unless it is mother's birthday and there is a bottle of wine or two!).
I know which I prefer.

Forgot to say I will be thinking of the mums on their own

I am very lucky that DD is local and neither her or DS forget but we do not go out usually we just get together at one house. At Christmas DD bought tickets for Horrible Histories for DGS' and DS before realising it was Mothering Sunday so I will be celebrating with lots of children!. I will always regret that I missed my own mother's last Mothering Sunday. She lived 70 miles away and the DC had some sort of activity going on so I relied on my brother, who had just returned to live locally, to take mum out or to his house. When I rang mum for a second time later in the day I found he had just made a flying visit and gone to watch rugby! I felt so guilty mum had been on her own and she died suddenly six weeks later

Received a package from DS1 today containing a cheeky card, a generous Amazon voucher for Kindle books and, sinfully, a small box of chocolates. Tomorrow I have to go to JL to pick up a gift the other DS has ordered for me. All very mysterious!

Another occasion where we can either set ourselves up for heartache and disappointment or see it as just another day. Easy to say but like Christmas or other designated " family days" there will be many of us who will be glad when it is Monday. They don't realise that a couple of hours in their company or even a surprise phone call is worth a hundred cards or flowers but one day they will and in the meantime we can suffer and feel neglected or smile and treat it like any other day.

Good that they rememberthe date, gally,
Mine usually remember the Australian one, which is May I think!

I hope the day goes well for you and gally - I am sure you will be in touch on the phone. Enjoy opening your parcel - let us know what it is!

I will be on my own too but I know the DDs will be in touch. I have already received a wee parcel and an envelope. I know they would love to be with me but if they could. for all of you who will be alone or lonely and a too.

Yes there are lots of us who don't get remembered let alone spending time with offspring - my sons are both are in the southern hemisphere and mothers day is a different time of year. But they don't think of sending cards then either. But for years before that mothers day was very close to the birthday of the younger one and it is no fun getting together with someone with a hangover. Hey ho. It is bloody hype.

Sometimes when people grieve they don't share their feelings with their family members trendygran and she may not realise that as a mother there are always going to be difficult times.

Mother's Day is a bit of a nightmare, isn't it. How do you do the right thing without offending someone if you can't be everywhere at once? Those of us with living mothers and grown children can see the problem - it's our day too and there are often in-laws in the picture to consider as well.

However, there are several of us GN-ers who have sadly lost children - I lost a 24 year old son nearly 10 years ago - but something mentioned here made me wonder if our living children (just one in my case) might feel an unspoken burden? I hope not but you never know...

Thanks for all your comments everyone. I never want a fuss, or a meal out (ridiculous prices anyway) but would just love to spend some time with my family for once on a Sunday. I think she realised I was upset, but as she was on her way out to work a hospital night shift, no more was said. I have no wish to fall out with them , so will not say anything else about it. I really appreciate the bunches of flowers in some of your messages -thanks a lot!

It's ridiculous, isn't it, all this pressure? We muddle through the rest of the year as best we can, don't we? Families are often so extended these days that it must be hard to decide which 'mother' has priority.

(And not forgetting those who are estranged from their children for whatever reason - it must be a very difficult time for them, too)