To not spend Mother's Day with my one and only child?

[TangoPurple]

My mum's offered to have her for the full day, and I've accepted.

She's 5yo and so far i've spent every Mother's Day, every Christmas, every birthday and every Hogsmany with it being just me and her. This will be the first 'big calendar event' that we're not together for. She's getting picked up at 10am and being brought home at 7pm.

I feel really guilty though! It's my mum's Mother's Day too, and she's got a house full of people already, and now my daughter's being added into the mix. So i'll have a nice day to myself, while she won't.

But she did offer/insist.

AIBU? Should all mothers spend the day with their children on Mother's Day?

[StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes]

I am just wondering why you and rest of family don't all get together and do something nice for your Mum, yanbu to have a day on your own I just don't think I would want to not be with my mum too on the day and make it special for her. DD would surely enjoy having all her family together and your mum could have some treats like you all doing the lunch for her etc.

[footphobic]

My views are also different but I understand people feel differently about the day.

Because I lost my mum when I was a young girl, I remember vividly every year through primary school the class making cards for Mothering Sunday and me being the only one who didn't...I was very but it was the 70's so no one thought to worry about it.

Now I have 5 dcs, it's a very poignant day for me but now it's all about enjoying my family. I wouldn't want to be on my own - I can't imagine (even without the background) wanting to spend the day without my children.

I know some mums might not want a fuss, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't be a bit spoiled for a day or have a treat. It also depends how much appreciation might be shown to her during the rest of the year, it doesn't necessarily come down to just one day, but still, it is a special day and she shouldn't be running around after everyone else as usual...are they all happy to let her?

I take the point about crowded restaurants, but as you say there is a houseful, I would plan with them to cook a lovely meal (and get those who live there to do the housework!), all do a course each.

You say it will be an average Sunday for you mum, but does it need to be? Have a quiet morning by yourself if you like but if it was me I'd go over later with a bunch of flowers and some chocs, and spend a lovely afternoon with your mum and dd.

[footphobic]

Sorry, x posts with StepAway

It's a generational thing though surely? You and you dd and your mum?

[TangoPurple]

I have 7 siblings, so my mum and dad have 8 kids together in total. She admits it would be too much stress to have everyone together for a meal, and too expensive to go out, especially since my older siblings are married and have children themselves. The house would be bursting at the seams!

My dad and brothers that live there work a lot during the week, so will probably just lounge around the house on the Sunday. My sister will be there though, which will be nice for my mum.

I see my mum 2-3 times a week already with dd, but she likes to have time on her own with dd if you see what i mean? When i'm there, my mum feels as if she has to take a step back, ask my permission to do stufff, sit down and chat rather than get on normally.

[mrsjay]

I am just wondering why you and rest of family don't all get together and do something nice for your Mum, yanbu to have a day on your own I just don't think I would want to not be with my mum too on the day and make it special for her. DD would surely enjoy having all her family together and your mum could have some treats like you all doing the lunch for her etc.

I just came back to suggest tango why dont you go round for a while spend some time with your mum

[Snowflakepie]

I will be at work on Mothers Day and my mum and MIL both live 2 hours away. It's no biggie in any of our lives, I will send a card as I have done since I left home. If it bothers you then by all means go too, but otherwise if she has offered to have your DD and there's no pressure or issue, enjoy the peace! Equally, my family have often held celebrations on days other than the 'official' one, owing to travel, work, etc. This year we had Christmas on the 28th dec, my birthday 2 days late and DDs 3rd birthday a day early as it was the only way we could have family time and make it special. I hate the insane commercialisation of family and the guilt that seems to go with it all.

FWIW, my idea of heaven would be a day to myself away from my toddler. Best Mother's Day gift ever. Get her a nice gift to say thank you and lots of appreciation when you see her. She sounds a lovely mum x

[MyNameIsAnAnagram]

YANBU. My first ever mothers day was spent with a friend doing my sport, which is quite a timeconsuming one so not one I had had a chance to do much with a small bfing baby. Did I feel guilty? not one bit! I had a lovely day, ds had a lovely day with his dad. Everyoine won.

[lubeybooby]

Enjoy! I'm away on a work trip for mothers day. Though thankfully that particular day no actual work needs doing. I'll be 400 miles from my DD though!

[NumericalMum]

That would be heaven on Mother's Day to be truly spoilt! Tbh Mother's Day is a total non event in our house. DH is away this year and previous years have involved no special celebration. It isn't Mother's Day where I am from but if it was I would spend the day with my mum, although that would probably cause mil to throw a strop so in reality I would carry on as if it were any other Sunday!

[Jenny70]

If my children had some great event and it fell on mothers day, we'd do it the weekend before/after, no problem.

But this sounds to me like everyone is having a mothers day lunch with your mum, except you.... then I'd feel left out.

Why exactly aren't you going too, and your mum can have DD another day?

Picturing your family giving presents to your mum, but you not there, picturing a toast to "all our mums" at lunch, with you not there and your DD not having a mum to say thanks to....

If it's just a regular sunday, then why not go along and create some things to make it a special mothers day lunch?

[Summerblaze]

Did I miss the memo that said Mothers Day was a big calendar event. Do what you want to do.

You say that you are a single mum and obviously don't get the chance to do what you want to do a lot of the time. Last year MD fell on my daughters birthday. She did give me a card and a present but really that was the only time it was mentioned. The rest of the day was hers. Was I bothered. Not at all. Its just a day. My mum has been on holiday for it quite a few years and gets her card when she gets home.

[Calabria]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mothering_Sunday

For those that were asking if it were a religious event

[2rebecca]

My kids are with their dad on mothers' day. We never remember it when working out the weekends. They often forget to send a card or text, largely because my ex never bothers with it for his mum and they're usually doing stuff.
I know they love me though and that I am their mum.

[DaveMccave]

Yanbu. My dd goes to her fathers at the weekend, an he always tried to bring her back early on Mother's Day and makes me feel guilty if I say the normal afternoon time is fine. I'd rather have the break!

[rainbow2000]

Whats the big guilt trip on the op she has her dd every day she is entitled to have one day to herself.
When my mother was alive i brought her out dp had the kids.Same when it was Fathers day he had his day out.

Im going out for dinner and drinks on Sunday that oesnt mean i dont love my kids,it just means a bit of me time

[ArbitraryUsername]

Wikipedia suggests that it once was a religious event (that had little or nothing to do with mothers) that was turned into what we celebrate as Mother's Day in the 20th century for entirely secular/commercial reasons. So not a religious event.