Has everybody arranged their mothers day meal etc?.

Last year my daughter took me out for a lovely English afternoon tea, salmon sandwiches, cakes the lot. One year my son and his wife took both grannies out for lunch. Some years its just a card! Which I think will be the case this year as no one is saying anything about eating out or even popping by!

DD is not well enough to go out for lunch as she is still recovering from bronchitis and doesn't have the strength to knock the skin off a rice pudding!! My brothers are going to be visiting mum and as she can only manage visitors for an hour at the most they'll be needing lunch after a long drive. Guess who's going to be cooking for eight??

(Going back a couple of posts) You suddenly realise that you don't have a mum any more, and it is, as [when] says, a fleeting sadness.

But being a mother and grandmother does compensate! DG3 and her sister will be here, and as it was her birthday this week we are having a "Bideford Birthday" for her, on Saturday, with DD and her family (and the dog!) here.

absent my children are in the USA and have been for the last 7 years. My son is flying to the UK and lands on Saturday morning. This is the first time that either one of them have been in the UK since that time on Mother's Day. He is staying with his dad during this time and due to an acrimonious divorce 2 years ago I will not see him on Mother's Day but will have to wait till the Monday to see him.

So not so good for us. As you said in your posts though memories of the other Mother's days both with our children and mums are very special and we can look back on them with love. Doesn't help though much, does it? Anyway onwards and upwards as my Mum used to say!

kind action frank x i will be going to the cementry to spruce and tidy mam,s plot, take her some lovely flowers and have achat! but dont know if any of my children intend to feed me! x

bookdreamer It will be lovely to see your son and it doesn't matter if he's not there on some sort of artificial celebration day for mothers. I hope you have a lovely time with him.

Of course, I shall not see my mother again but I am only 66 sleeps away from seeing absentdaughter. She and my grandchildren are counting the sleeps too. By coincidence, I shall also be with her on Mothers' Day in New Zealand, but then once I am there, every day will be Mothers' Day for me.

how lovely absent, the time will fly by x

absent That's lovely.....a countdown to happiness

My husband and I are taking our daughter, her partner, and their baby out for Sunday lunch, also our son, his wife, and their newborn. It makes sense to all go for one big lunch, rather than separate lunches. It doesn't matter to me, who pays for it (us!) I just want us all together on a special day.

We are looking after 2 GSs so that DD can go out for a nice lunch with her OH in peace for a change! We will not doubt be making a Mothers' Day cake while they are out!

I wanted to buy the whole family a take-away so no-one would have to do any cooking but my DD and my son in law insist on cooking/preparing a buffet meal for us and bringing it round.He is not particularly drawn to his own mother who put him into a children's home when he was a child and who very rarely makes contact with the grandchildren so he is more than happy to be with us. One of my sons will provide the dessert while his pregnant wife will visit her mother who lives only 4 miles from us.My unmarried son will provide the wine.At least I believe that is what is happening !!

I am in Australia with DD2 and they don't 'celebrate' Mother's Day until June so I don't expect anything to happen tomorrow. I may get a Skype or a phone call from DD's 1 and 3 back in the UK which would be lovely, especially if I can see or speak to the gc's.

I have received my mother's day cards, to be opened tomorrow but do not expect to see either of my dearly loved and loving children. Nor do I want them to take me out for a meal. I loathe meals out on commercially important feast days, whether Mother's Day, Valentines Day or any other such day, the rampant commercialisation of the event and the schmalzy way restarurants are dressed up and offer a red rose or other 'gift' makes my flesh creep.

However DD and I did have a spa day together on Wednesday, a 'Mum & Me' treat. courtesy of Gransnet and Eden Hall Spa, we had a fantastic time. I will see DS and family on Wednesday when we go north for a short break and visit them.

A little acknowledgement on Mother's Day is nice but it is all the little things we do for each other as we go for through the year that matter.

I'm sorry but I.m not going to be organising my DD or DIL Mother's Day that is up to their partners although I have texted my son to remind him. Are grandmothers not mothers too? After all the free child care I give Im not running around paying and organising meals after all I do it on birthdays and Christmas. I don't think we should be interfering with their Mother's Day.

Why do you regard it as interfering? I'm sure Frank knows his family well enough to be able to know what they regard as acceptable and what is off limits.

I agree with others that Mother's Day is a painful reminder when you no longer have a mother. I am fortunate to have a lovely day planned, lunch with DD her partner and DGS, younger son has been organised by DD and will also be coming. Then a meal cooked by DS at 4 at his home for me, OH, DOL's mum and family. D stepGS will also be there. I don't care what they buy me but I love time spent with them.

I will be thinking of my mum all day, I feel guilty that I have not visited her and dad's grave today as there will be little time tomorrow. It's 45 miles away but I will make time next weekend. I would give anything to spend just an hour with both of them again.

Happy Mothers Day (tomorrow)for past, present and future Mums.
These are for everyone who will be experiencing mixed emotions tomorrow.

I have just texted my son and asked where my card is hidden (ha ha!). Post has been. Nowt!!! #gutsforgarters

jo8 nowt from my dear 3 daughters either I so hoped they might relent a bit but...no. So to all the other mum's on here that are feeling very hurt at the moment

Nothing from son! That's normal, he's a dedicated pagan and doesn't be
I've in Christian festivals!
I note that doesn't mean he refuses a Christmas cheque from me!

Mine have only remembered because DD will not let them forget. Where would I be without her?

to all those who are feeling sad and forgotten tomorrow

Goose [cake] [sun]

try again with that !

Goose, I do know how you might be feeling . A good few years ago, on the morning of Mothering Sunday, I sent a text to my daughter, something along the lines of, "No Mother's Day messages?". That was the catalyst that estranged us for nearly 7 years. Everything's sorted now, but it did break my heart. She had her reasons - none of which we have discussed since we've been reconciled. Tomorrow I shall receive a card, a visit and a hug from my eldest DD, a text from DS, and a hug when I see him next, and a hug when I next see her, from my lass who felt she had reasons to break away from me for all those years. They will all tell me they love me. That is all I'd ever want from them all.

Off tomorrow with both DDs to take a first look at 'wedding' dresses, which should be fun as not only are they both unconventional but also the 'bride' is only 4'10" and size 16 and the bridesmaid/registrar is looking for an outfit that suits both roles. Although I loath 'shopping', this expedition has been presented to me as my Mother's Day treat - I have been promised coffee and cake at some point.