Has everybody arranged their mothers day meal etc?.

The reason I am not looking forward to Mother's Day is that I shall be expected to have MIL round who assumes everything should revolve around her , and I must admit to finding extremely irritating. I will listen to her wartime stories variously embellished and her litany of current complaints. I will not allow her to smoke indoors even if its raining and we will be criticised ( fortunately her DS who can do no wrong agrees with me!). I will be happy to get text messages or phone calls from my children here and maybe a Skype with son in Australia but this would be the same any Sunday. I agree a bunch of daffs and a homemade card from a child is as much as any mum could expect or want.

I know. I could feel you getting upset

Orca Strangely, I am painfully aware of Mothers' Day nowadays although in the past it wasn't a huge event in the family. I always gave my ma a card, some flowers and a little present and, once grown up and independent, invited her to lunch. Absentdaughter made cards as a child and chose a present or some flowers with her dad's assistance. Since my mother's death in 2003 and absentdaughter's emigration in 2000, the day has become a very poignant reminder of "absent family".

Absent chill.

Sadly, there will be quite a few grandfathers who will do the honours for their daughters for all sorts of reasons, such as them being single or widowed. I don't see it as an issue, but yes, we are all different

Dad organising his young children or reminding his older ones to give their mother a card or helping them make breakfast in bed is both common and charming. Grandparents, on the other hand, organising Mothers' Day for their adult daughters is not common among the people I know. I should not like it were it to happen to me and I would not regard it as someone making a fuss of me but as their intruding where they are not wanted at that particular time. Similarly, I think my husband would have found it very odd and somehow undermining. Other people might find it delightful and welcome the attention. Not everyone is the same – thank goodness.

I. Won't Orca.

As long as Mums are made a fuss of does it matter who organises it?

Some people are born organisers. If it gives them pleasure where's the harm? but please don't banish granddad to the shed

And I totally agree with you Ceesnan.

I'm sure if the mums in the family don't want a nice meal out, they would say so.

Tiresome interference? I saw it as a kind act!! Just my opinion of course.

Aren't there lots of dads facilitating young children giving their mums cards and gifts? I don't think many of us would have had any acknowledgement of Mothers Day without some help from dads, so there's a role or them in such circumstances. I have some nice memories of breakfast in bed and lunch out, organised by my children's dad in their name, and my BiL has sorted out a card and flowers for his DiL whilst his grandson's dad is away on business this weekend, as his 7 year old grandson needed a little help.

I simply disagree with the notion that it is a grandfather's responsibility to organise a Mothers' Day celebration for his daughters and daughters-in-law – none of whom, after all, is his partner or the mother of his children. I would find it tiresome interference. I was merely expressing my opinion which, so far as I understand, is still allowed on Gransnet forums. I feel that far too many old people still think of themselves as being the focal point of and the most important figure in their adult children's lives.

My dd has too many worries at the moment. I don't expect she'll remember it!
I'm not bothered. We will probably Skype on Sunday night!

As the two main women in Frank's life, (his mother and his wife) have died, why should he not treat his daughters? Give the man a break, it seems to me that some members are just waiting to pounce in anything he says or comments on.

I get to celebrate on Sunday with DS and DIL and skype DD but will be with DD in Belgium on their Mothers day in May.

I'm having a Mum's Day today, with my dd, who has to work at weekend
We are very rarely on our own together, so it is really nice.

hunt yes, for me, it was the home-made cards and flowers picked out of the garden that gave me lovely lasting memories

Whole family celebrations are good.

Right Absent. I will tell the granddad in our family that he has to eat in the shed. Even if he (and I) will be financing the meal.

As my youngest DD is running in a half marathon on Sunday, my three DDs are taking me out for lunch on Saturday. My grandson will be coming so that he shares the treat with his Mum. My DH won't be coming. Family tradition ( which people seem to find odd) is that Mothers Day treat is just for me and he has his turn on Fathers' day. I Lost my Mum 20 years ago but DH and I will visit MIL on Sunday.

j08 I merely said, in so many words, that in my experience if Mothers' Day is celebrated, it is done so with the mothers' children and partners, not with their father, father-in-law and grandfather who has no particular relevance to that specific occasion. My father would never have suggested such a thing but I would certainly have regarded him as butting in unnecessarily if he had. Going our for dinner or lunch on other occasions is a different matter.

I shall be eating out with my parents in law, my husband, and my daughter and son in law. Daughter is paying for my meal, my husband is paying for his mum and my son in law will pay for my daughter. Because my father in law is a kind and generous man I expect he'll pick up the drinks tab. Sorted - and I don't have to cook!
My sons will remember and buy me a simple gift. I'm not too well again at the moment, so they're fussing over me a little bit, bless 'em.

@Hunt I agree with you on this, keep it simple, just tell your Mum you love her and if you can, give her a hug.

Bit difficult for me to take my Mum out - she lives in Australia where Mothers day is on a different day! She will be receiving a large bouquet on Saturday (I hope!)