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Mothers' Day long distance

(18 Posts)
specki4eyes Sat 05-Mar-16 07:28:42

Hello to all Mums out there who will not be seeing their offspring owing to distance. I find it one of the hardest days of the year because, when I lived in the UK, my sons used to make this day so wonderful for me.

Pampering myself doesn't work so I find the best way to get through it is to plan a big project for the weekend. This weekend I've filled my fridge with ready meals and I'm going to redecorate the bedroom where my grandchildren will sleep when they visit at Easter,

Any other Mums/Grans out there missing their brood? How are you going to get through it? Lets talk through the weekend!

Martha350 Sat 05-Mar-16 07:40:19

Morning specki4eyes, just wondered where do you live now?
It must be sad not to see your sons as they always made a fuss but I'm sure they'll be in touch, send cards etc so don't be too upset. Great idea to have a project, sounds fun and Easter is so close you'll have loads to look forward to!
It's always better to make a plan rather than wallow so well done you!

ninathenana Sat 05-Mar-16 07:43:00

We've never really made much of Mothering Sunday.
I used to have mum to traditional Sunday lunch but she's gone now. When DD lived 1 1/2 hrs drive away, a card in the post and a phone call was fine. By coincidence she is moving back in today for the foreseeable future after being in Scotland for 8mths. So we will have lunch tomorrow.

tiggypiro Sat 05-Mar-16 07:51:32

Like ninathenana I have never made much of it and to be honest if my off-spring (both abroad) sent me a card/flowers etc I would fall off my perch in shock. I doesn't bother me one iota.
On the other hand if they forget my birthday coming up soon ............. !!

Imperfect27 Sat 05-Mar-16 08:25:15

I'm a mixture - won't be seeing DD as she is a new mum and will be busy with her own family. Will, unexpectedly be seeing DS1 and possibly DS2.

DD lived in France for a year and I was totally fed up on that occasion. I have lost a daughter and I just like to have my family nearby for this day as inevitably I think a lot about her at this time and need distracting from the sadness.

For us as a family Mothering SUNDAY has been very important - I used to be married to a vicar and for years and years I have prepared the church flowers and been part of wonderful celebrations. I've never wanted a lot of fuss, but a simple posy of daffodils and a home-made card work wonders for me!

Having a project, especially one that I so forward thinking and linked to enhancing future visits sounds like a great idea specki4eyes. I think I may have to buy my own bunch of daffodils ... here's some flowers for you! x

kittylester Sat 05-Mar-16 09:06:36

Hi specki, not seen you for ages. Hope things are going well.

I won't see any of mine tomorrow but will be going to see mum with my brothers.

granjura Sat 05-Mar-16 12:45:27

Not helped by the fact Mother's Day is on very different dates in different parts of the World! I don't really care- all those days have become so phony and commercial. My own Mum hated it too- and the only present she would accept would be a bouquet of wild flowers (easier when it is in May...) - we have had 3 ' of snow in last 2 days!

granjura Sat 05-Mar-16 12:46:48

This year in France and most of Europe will be 29th of May- our 45th wedding anniversary.

Alea Sat 05-Mar-16 13:17:17

Mothering Sunday has always been mid-Lent and the custom of going to the "Mother church" or cathedral and of girls in service going home to visit their mothers goes back hundreds of years to pre-Reformation times. It is also sometimes called "Refreshment Sunday" when you could have a sneaky little treat of the things you had given up for Lent! smile
Mothers' Day in its commercial form was "revived" in the US where it is the 2nd Sunday in May.
As the feast of St Hallmark, it is another thing altogether.

Smileless2012 Sat 05-Mar-16 14:06:19

Mother's day has always been a special day for me; as a child with my own mother and grandmother and then when I became a mother myself. It is now a day tinged with sadness as we've been cut out of our youngest son's life for more than 3.5 years. There is no contact even though he lives just 15 doors down the roadsad.

So mother's day has to be long distance for me now as our only other son lives in Oz. The postman delivered a card yesterday with Ozy stamps and my son's distinctive handwriting, it's been left un opened until tomorrow and it's simply been addressed to 'mum'smile.

specki4eyes Sat 05-Mar-16 19:28:10

Hi Martha - I still live in France - just moved 4 kms down the road to my own place. Hi Kitty - we met at an East Midlands link-up in 2013 and my life was imploding at that time - its been a roller coaster but I'm resettled now and everything and everyone real and important are still in my life,

I know Mothering Sunday has become over-commercialized but it remains the one celebration that can be truly meaningful, so long as no-one feels that its about how much is spent but rather how much love can be expressed.

i will remember my own Mum and a lovely friend (who I adopted as a surrogate Mum after she had lost her daughter and I had lost my Mum)

As I type, I am enjoying the scent of the beautiful flowers which arrived today from my eldest son and looking at two (as yet) unopened envelopes on the chimney piece. I am blessed and I hope all you Mums out there are too.

tanith Sat 05-Mar-16 19:42:19

I have a card and flowers from DD2 , another flower gift from DD2 who is taking us out for dinner tomorrow. No card from overseas DS but he usually sends a gift of flowers on the day but as long as I at least hear from them all thats all I care about, they show me they love me in all sorts of other ways throughout the year so Mothers Day isn't a big date in my calendar.

Pippa000 Sun 06-Mar-16 13:21:47

I have had an e-card from DD, as she like me does not trust the Cyprus post to get one to me on time. DS will Skype this evening as they are out all day. Mothers Day has been spent cleaning out kitchen cupboards. At least the sun is shining and the birds are singing.

Happy Mothers day to all of us who are in distant lands away from our offspring. flowers wine

dorsetpennt Sun 06-Mar-16 16:07:08

I'm lucky . My DD had me around hers for lunch, flowers and a card. As her :-/friend was seeing his Mum we were able to watch a girlie film. My son sent me a card and followed it up with a phone call this morning. My only sadness is that Mr mother died at 47 years old so I've missed all those Mother's Days.

specki4eyes Sun 06-Mar-16 16:47:02

tanith is right - as long as you just hear from them..that is key. I had early morning call from Eldest son and Skype call from his brother, who had also sent a great personalised card. also had Grandmother's Day card from the DGCs - today in France.. I know..its commercialized but hey, what is wrong with celebrating a relationship.

AND! I finished painting out the GCs bedroom - so all good. Now watching Andy Murray lose his rag.

HAPPY MOTHERS' DAY TO ALL OF YOU flowers

suebrocklehurst Sun 06-Mar-16 18:32:45

I treated myself to a duvet day! It was raining outside and so I thought I would pamper myself!

VendyThomas Mon 14-Mar-16 11:54:55

Mother's day really a special day and i am going to order a big hamper for my mother living long distance from me. The hamper would consist of chocolates, nuts, wine and candles and a special note in it.

nonnasusie Mon 14-Mar-16 17:16:03

My mothers day card and small present arrived today despite the fact DD posted it with a week to spare and airmail! I had given up hope of receiving it and assumed that somewhere some one had "helped themselves" to it! I was so pleased and rang her immediately to let her know it had arrived1 I knew she wouldn't forget!!! Better late than never!