I understand MiniGrandma. Our family is a bit complicated in a sense, both my husband and I have been married before, he has 2 adult children from his previous marriage and I have 2 as well. My stepson is married with a DD and because his mum won’t do much to help them I said I would. His mum said she’d do it for half childminder fees. I’ve never asked for anything and I’ve looked after her since she was 6months old, 3 days a week, she’s 6 now. SDinL’s own mum has had her 1 day a week, in her day off from work. But Mother’s Day I never get anything, his mum gets a card and flowers and whilst I aren’t his mum and I don’t expect a Mother’s Day, but I feel a nice £1 bunch of daffodils would be nice in recognition for what I do. My children always give my husband a card and present on Father’s Day, although this year he got a moon pig card from my DS, but that was acceptable due to the circumstances. Birthday’s I get a card and a scarf from stepson and family or a pie dish for Christmas, I suppose the thought is there. I’ve even been asked to have his daughter when his wife goes for her nails doing or a spa day with her mother and sister. I never been asked to go to the cinema with them. Her mum, herself and little girl went to the cinema last year in my birthday to see Frozen 2.
If this lockdown has taught me anything it’s to trust only myself and think of me more and once it’s over to actually say no to having little girl.
I’ve always treated them like my own but we’re family until it comes to certain things. Like the other Sunday her oven didn’t work and she was cooking a roast dinner, she rang to see if I could cook it if they dropped it off and collect it later which she did.
My own DS and DD always get me something and a card for Mother’s Day, birthday and Christmas and I appreciate whatever they get me. In fact this Mother’s Day and because my son works Sunday they came the Thursday before and brought my flowers and a card which was lovely, so they managed to get here before lockdown.