AIBU to regret that all our local restaurants/hotels/pubs are doing

[grovel]

Mothers Day "specials". Typically £30+ for three courses. No a la carte on the day. We simply can't eat three courses at lunch time (well, DS could). I don't particularly blame the establishments, I just wish we could find somewhere to go and have a Sunday roast for £15 (not cooked by me). This is prompted by DS wanting to pay. He graduated last summer and has got a proper job but hasn't got much spare (living and working in London).

Just don't. Let DS treat you on the Saturday if you/he want but avoid all restaurants on Mothers' Day. Not only are they overpriced, the service will be poor and you will be rushed through to free up your table.

Same applies for Fathers' Day, Valentines....

Technical, I think that's what we'll do (we've never gone out on Mothers Day before). It's just that it's DS's idea to treat his Mum (and Dad) for the first time and I'm sad that the market makes it so tough for him.

go on a different day!

NEVER go on the day for these over-hyped events unless you are made of money.

good commercial awareness for your son as well. He can treat you, just on a day when a different number is on the calendar.

Yes definitely go on a different day, or he could cook a roast for you.

Get a takeout and have a film-binge...make the men sit through the DA box-set or whatever else is your choice? That would be my perfect Mothers'Day.

Yup, he could cook for you. I'd prefer that tbh - as long as he also cleared up after.

I think in all honesty you would prefer it on the Saturday - nicer food, more relaxed, less likely to be kicked out... more of a treat?

That is the line I'd take with him anyway... or get him cooking as Worra says!

We too never go to anything on the designated day. It's not just about cost, everywhere is busier than usual so more crowded with poorer service.

Saturdays are crap everywhere on Mother's day weekend, too.

Why not suggest that he postpone and take you next weekend? I had a miserable mother's day, one year, when both boys were poorly, so I had a do-over on the American date, in May.

If he wants to cook, M&S do a Mother's day dine in, which is a meal for 4.

Thanks, everyone.

I think you'll understand that a 22 year old "boy" had a lovely idea/mental image of how he wanted to treat his parents (Mothers Day lunch) for the first time and will feel thwarted. He has very occasionally cooked for us but I sense he wanted to pay a bill in front of us! It's not a huge issue.

Yep, the MandS mothers day dine-in is what we have here too! Feeds four for £15 and tastes grate too.

Ah, what a lovely lad. Saturday would be better - apart from the price, on the Sunday there's likely to be lots of small OPKs around. Give him that as a reason rather than the price.

All of them? I find that hard to believe, it would be very bad business sense. There must be somewhere you could go?

Go the week before or week after! It ll be much quieter. You are a mother 365 days of the year, so you can celebrate it on any one of those days! It s allowed. Or fish and chips and a nice bottle of wine!

Are you saying he can't afford 60 quid or that you won't think it value for money if you don't eat 3 courses?

If the latter, you sound a bit uptight....why not just go out for a long lunch, have a chat with your boy and you may find that, over the course of 2 hours lo and behold. a light starter, a sensible sized main and a small dessert are not the marathon that you are fearing!

We are going to a wedding the day before so my feet will be killing on Mothering Sunday so I am expecting a foot bath and a yummy roast cooked by my husband! We usually go to harvester for Mother's Day as the kids love it there and it's cheap!

We normally go for a curry on valentines, Mother's Day etc because they don't inflate their prices.