To not understand going out for lunch on Mothering Sunday?

[Sparklingbrook]

I couldn't think of anything worse that sitting eating lunch in a packed restaurant/pub with lots of other people doing the same just because it's Mothers Day. And paying over the odds for it as well. Treat? I think not. My own Mum would hate it too.

What am I missing?

And can I point out that we are going to a gorgeous fish restaurant on the beach that has never disappointed me regardless of how busy it is?

No idea, having worked in restaurants before I know it will be a nightmare, too many customers not enough staff, lots of complaints!

We go to a local cafe, it's nothing fancy so it's no busier on Mothering Sunday than it is any other day but it's good food and somewhere we can all relax.

we go out for a nice meal, in order to give my mum a break from cooking, and now I am a mum too, so it is nice to all be together. we go to a lovely local place, that does a great carvery, not a chain pub. the price is the same as all other weekends.

it's not too crowded, the food is home cooked and tasty and my mum really enjoys a day off!

I would love it.

This year I am working but when I get home I will have a roast dinner waiting for me.

I think it has evolved from rare treat i.e. 'let mum have a break' (which may have lost its relevance in this day and age) to the expected thing to do.

All good and fine but the whole set menu thing - which many, many places seem to default to on high days and holidays (Mothering Sunday, Valentine's Day etc etc) - smacks of rip-off merchanteering. Surely this is for the restaurant's convenience? Who the hell wants a limited set menu?

Do most people still have Sunday Roast dinner (in or out) then? I don't know anyone who does any more. I thought it was old fashioned.

I contacted my mother to see if she would like to meet for lunch with me and my dd. I thought it would be a nice thing to do. I have never done it before, it just seemed opportune this year. I hope she didnt feel obliged to accept.

What a bunch of miserable bastards! I suppose none of you have turkey at Christmas or buy your kids birthday presents.

What's that got to do with anything Spoon? Not wanting to get fleeced on Mothers Day- crammed into an eaterie with everyone else doing the same has bog all to do with Turkey at Christmas or Birthday presents.

We don't usually have a Sunday roast, & if we do it's more likely to be in the evening. This is one of the many aspects of our life that my MIL feels the need to make regular "what a shame" type comments about.

She doesn't understand why we like going out for meals either, as they can't possibly be better than a home-cooked roast, apparently. It's probably a good thing we live a long way away or there might be some conflict about how to spend Mothers Day!

Sparlking just becasue you don't want to do it, doesn't mean it's hell on earth. It seems like lots of MNs have got some lovely plans to treat their moms to a nice meal out - I don't see what your problem is tbh. Lighten up!

FWIW I have never taken my mom out for lunch on mother's day. But I would if she lived closer

So, in short, yes, YABU

I thought it was an older generation thing, a roast dinner at Sunday lunchtime Loon
There wouldn't even be time to cook/eat it with our Sunday routine. My Mum and Dad don't have one either though. Mum says she CBA.

Sparkling I think spoon was saying that to diss something just because it's a tradition (like turkey at Christmas) or because the price is hiked up for the occasion (like turkey at Christmas) is a bit rich if you, indeed do other things that are, in fact either traditional or more expensive because of the season (like turkey at Christmas)

Sparkling YADNBU - we've just had exactly the same conversation here.

Mind you, we avoid restaurants around Valentines Day too, for the same sorts of reasons.

We'll just go out for a meal at a different time.

Don't see the problem with restaraunts using something like Mothers Day as a marketing ploy, they are a business at the end of the day.

I never said I wouldn't go out for Mothers day, birthdays, valentines or whatever, just that I would rather go on a different day near to the event, where the experience and food would be better, just like if your birthday is on a Tuesday, you might go out the weekend before, as more people would want to come and drink then.

I do cook roast dinners, probably 2-3 times per month not always on a Sunday though and have turkey at Christmas, and my ideal quick lunch out is a carvery.

We have a Sunday Roast because its what the kids and DH like. Also its easy, normally there are guests on a Sunday so I like that I can whack things in the oven and get on with chatting or whatever. When its hot it does become a BBQ roast.

Also I do not like to cook and so we have quite scheduled meals. Beans on toast on Mondays, eat out Wednesdays, Takeaway Fridays and Roasts on Sundays. DH usually helps out with the roast and its just a nice crowd pleaser.

Lots of people I know have a roast or a 'special meal' on a Sunday.

I haven't got a problem Bit. it's just something that loads of people do that I don't really get why.

Talking of hell on earth I don't want to go skiing or to Centre Parcs/Disneyland either. I must be weird.

"Talking of hell on earth I don't want to go skiing or to Centre Parcs/Disneyland either. I must be weird"..........well if you're weird Sparkling, then so am I because I agree with all of that!!

...I'll be your friend

Here's our sign Norbert.

I'm weird with you Sparks.

Although I do cook Sunday Dinner (at 6.30)

The way you describe sounds horrendous. Nevertheless, that's what we'll be doing with my MIL - we do it because she loves it. Crappy pub food and overpriced. I'd much prefer an afternoon to myself in a spa as my Mother's Day treat. Or an hour or two uninterrupted to read a book!
I can also join the bench for thinking Disneyland and skiing sound awful, but I love centerparcs!