Mother's day dos and don'ts - we need yours!

Was talking to my friend today who has two Dc's. She has a live in partner(not the Dc's dad, but he's the reason I didn't consider doing this with her before)so not technically a single mum, but apparently he doesn't do cards etc and hasn't a clue as regards gifts. The exh wont bother because he's an arse, so I suggested we each get a card and small gift for each others Dc's to give and she was thrilled with the idea, so that's what we are going to do! Thanks for the idea R and R!
Now to find something nice and wanted for a fiver!

Daffodils works for me. Afternoon in a garden centre for Mum and me with coffee and a cake in the cafe

Dont buy your dw a tacky fairy for the garden and before you give it her drop it and then superglue the wings on upside down .

Don't buy a card, flowers etc.

Do make a card, own present.

It means so much more than shop bought stuff.

Anything hand made, however mangled, does it for me.
And a tray of stone cold toast cut wonkily with marmite an inch thick is also good.
I have come to accept that having some time to myself won't happen and that's OK - I'd rather hang out with ds and dh anyway!
Nice bath with candles in the evening scores highly as does coming downstairs wrapped in warm towels and finding dh's speciality chilli supper on the table.

I would love to sit on the sofa watching a Doris day film under a quilt with Ds next to me! Unlikely

A 99p bunch of daffodils is far superior to any flowers you can buy in a service station.

No unfortunately Red. I even had to buy my own Christmas card for mum and dad from mum and dad as dad is terminal and they can't get out. Mind you, I have told mum that I refuse to buy my own birthday card(in a jokey way), but she'll have forgotten by now.

Ruby, you are right of course. Unfortunately, I'm the only single parent I know.

My Ds is 10, but I really don't want to be handing over money or hints to him to do something for me.
Maybe he'll surprise me? Time will tell.

solowitch - definately not!
Do you have parents about that can get you a little something from DC's - you could drop a hint to them about your DC's not able to buy you anything etc.....

I know this may sound corny....
but....
I'm happy knowing that I have a healthy family and that my boys are fit and well. I have a friend who should be celebrating her first Mother's Day this year, but her beautiful angel passed when he was only 8 weeks old after an exhausting fight . I am thankful for every day that I get with my boys - that's my gift. I get a card, but thats about it - my DH is wonderful all through the year and for that I am very grateful. Maybe this year DH will change all the nappies that day for me? Would be nice - oh and wash them all too - or is that asking too much?

To all you first time Mummy's this year (and all the other Mummy's) - Happy Mother's Day!

Well, I definitely wont be getting a card this year as Dd's dad is definitely history. Mother's Day is on the day after my birthday this year, so I expect it will be nil cards all round from the Dc's sadly so I'd say definitely don't disturb me because I'll definitely be GRUMPY.

Did I say 'definitely' too often?!

seriously i'd say don't bother. i always get flowers for my mother because it's expected. It really is a commercial gimmick. If kids/dh feel they need to do something it should be cost free and involve some relief of 'duties'. Don't get me started on valentines day!

Please do not tell the children what to buy, the most important thing is that they choose to buy or make whatever they feel I would like within limits...I do not want a transformer! I have had some lovely bright pink lipstick that I wear around the house only!
Do encourage the children to make me breakfast in bed, I will eat it. But do not let them jump on the bed whilst I manage a cup of tea.
Please get me a card to say thank you for raising our children, I willingly gave up my career to do so but I still would like a thank you for it.
A lie in is a must, until at least 7.30am as is a walk in the fresh air.
Although I accept it is your DMs mother's day it is mine too and would like at least half the day without her, mine is abroad.
The best gift was a voucher for a divine relaxation centre, too fat to enjoy it right now but the last time I went was the most relaxing four hours since dcs arrived!

Love the idea of afternoon with a book on the sofa!

Please don't have the children make breakfast in bed when a) mother in question hates having breakfast in bed and b) kitchen is an almighty mess that mother than has to clear up.

Even if you think that the whole mother's day palaver is a commercial gimmick, and would ideally like to ignore the whole thing, please disregard those feelings and get your dw a lovely card anyway.

If you have friends who are single parents, buy a card for their dc to scrawl in, (secretly) especially if the kids are young, or the divorce is still raw or if the birth father is awol....

And please, if anyone sees my DH and DC out shopping will you tell them so they'll listen that:
I DO NOT ACTUALLY LIKE CHOCOLATE VERY MUCH AT ALL. SO STOP BLOODY BUYING IT FOR ME. THEN EATING IT YOURSELVES.

Don't spend the weekend with your mates in Southend and then roll up on Sunday afternoon bearing a tea towel with "Greetings from Southend" on it.

I will never forget that - my first mother's day. Ten years' on, I'm still grrrrr-ing.

My low (apart from the one we don't speak of - the one where DH and all offspring managed to forget and I stropped out of the house in a mature fashion) was as a child -

DB and I thought it would be nice to do the breakfast in bed thing, and dropped the tray en route. We then used a carpet sweeper to get the combination of coffee, glass and marmalade out of the 1970s shag pile carpet. The coffee/glass/marmalade combo seemed to just keep growing and spreading - it was hideous .

And here's the tip I trot out on a regular basis but which remains true - be sensitive to people who have lost their mothers. It can be a bloody hard day to get through.

My list was for dh not dc!!

Don't make me a card using glitter at 7.30 the night before and then saunter off to the x-box leaving a gluey glittery kitchen table to deal with the next morning.

Do not on your dw's first mothers day buy her a Happy birthday card by mistake

don't set too much store by it - Mother's Day if you are both a mother and have a mother is always going to be is bit disappointing if you want to be pampered and do exactly as you want.

Bliss for me is escaping to a coffee shop with the paper for an afternoon on my own - but that's not fair on the DSs who want to "do things" for ...

Don't jump on my head to wake me up - i mean you Baby Slippers!

erm, that is it

DS is only 2.5 so a bit young to bring me a cuppa

Like morningpaper says, end up spending Mothers Day visiting my Mother and MIL when all I would really like to do is spend a lovely day at home with DH and kids......

As for presents, I'm a sucker for the DCmade-glittery-slightly crumpled from being stuffed in the school bag-type offering - I've a box upstairs with every single one they've ever made me