When did Mother’s Day become such a big deal?

[Merryoldgoat]

I’ll start by saying my mum died when I was in my teens nearly 30 years ago so I get it might be me comparing Mother’s Day as a child to Mother’s Day as an adult.

However all we did was get her some nice spring flowers, a box of chocolates and a card.

We might have gone to my grandmother’s but it was pretty low key, no big build up. Same for all my friends.

I have two boys and DH will facilitate two homemade cards, a nice breakfast and some simple flowers which is perfect for me. DMIL is coming over so DH can make her an afternoon tea.

When did all of the big events that trouble people for weeks start happening? The number of people on here being given so much hassle has really surprised me - I always thought it was a really low-key day.

[Devoutspoken]

Laketiticaca, I have lovely mother's days, not put anything on social media once

[Toddlerteaplease]

I was wondering the same. I've sent my mum some fliers abs I'll ringer her on the day. But that's it. I'm at work!

[TheWorstWeek]

I don't expect much for Mothers Day, except time with my kids. I know DH will buy me a small gift on behalf of our young kids and they'll give me cards but I don't even need or expect that. What I'd really love is a lie in as the kids are early risers but they are also ridiculously noisy and I'm a light sleeper so it's unlikely to happen!

Both DH and I have bought a little something for each of our mums and we'll see mine in the afternoon and his for takeaway for dinner. Nothing crazy or out of the ordinary but it's nice to treat them and spend some time with them. Same happens at father's Day.

[Xtraincome]

@Tittyfilarious81 that's a great guess but far too pricey for a Mothers Day gift. I want Hogwarts so bad!

It's actually a dinosaur figure! I love the Jurassic series so much my eldest insisted I would love it.DH didn't buy it a while back as he thought it unnecessary. I begged him to get it for Mothers Day so it can be on my desk at home.

It's the Dilophosaurus specifically, my fav ever!

[thismeansnothing]

When I was younger in the early 90s my grandma would take me to church on mothering Sunday and we'd make a cars and get a small bunch of daffodils to give.

Even now i still give flowers/chocolate and a card.

Now I have my own kids it's usually a home made card and a token gift they've picked out from supermarket.

[JudgeJ]

@Merryoldgoat

I’ll start by saying my mum died when I was in my teens nearly 30 years ago so I get it might be me comparing Mother’s Day as a child to Mother’s Day as an adult.

However all we did was get her some nice spring flowers, a box of chocolates and a card.

We might have gone to my grandmother’s but it was pretty low key, no big build up. Same for all my friends.

I have two boys and DH will facilitate two homemade cards, a nice breakfast and some simple flowers which is perfect for me. DMIL is coming over so DH can make her an afternoon tea.

When did all of the big events that trouble people for weeks start happening? The number of people on here being given so much hassle has really surprised me - I always thought it was a really low-key day.

Since it became another almost Olympic style competitive event, whose children love them the most, who can post of 'cutest', ie vomit-inducing, pictures on whatever they use etc etc, just like weddings and babies. All have existed for years but now are just another way of trying to show-off and up-stage the next person. I doubt that Fathers' Day gets half as competitive!

[DrMeredithGrey2023]

The concept that put only put effort in to things because of social media is wild to me.

I'll be going out for dinner with my children and DP, and will no doubt get some lovely cards and gifts, along with a lie in and breakfast in bed.

Not one of those things will end up on social media.

A few years ago maybe a picture of a homemade card I received would have been posted, but since the loss of my own mum at a relatively young age, I avoid social media like the plague on Mother's Day.

My partner will help my children to make a fuss of me (as I do to him on Father's Day) because we appreciate each other as parents - not for likes on Instagram

[JudgeJ]

@JudgeRudy

I think it's ridiculous to expect a present from your 1 year old who'll have no understanding Even some mums to be expect a present....from a fetus!

But they're soooooooooo special, no-one in the history of the Universe has ever managed to get pregnant!

[Tittyfilarious81]

@Xtraincome I love that it's a dinosaur that your eldest thinks you will love, 1 of my mother's day present years ago was Gizmo from gremlins and my DS told my dh mum would love the Gizmo more than some flowers 😁

[OverHereTryingToFigureItOut]

I agree it's a social media thing. Same as all the extra Christmas stuff like elves, north pole breakfast, Christmas Eve boxes.

We don't go in for any of that here. DH helps the DC buy me a small gift and either we go for a pub lunch if we've remembered to book it in time or we get a takeaway if not.

[Xtraincome]

@Tittyfilarious81 that is one amazing gift and Gizmo lasts forever, the flowers would be long dead by now. You got some smart kids right there.

[Doublevodka]

@lieselotte

I was going to say the same. People have got to post photos of their perfect lunch with their perfect #famalam and say how #blessed they are to be with such wonderful humans.

Completely this.

[Jellycatspyjamas]

I think it’s a nonsense that people get so precious about it, all the “I want my kids with me, and my mum and MIL has no right to expect to see grandchildren, husband can go on his own” outrage. It’s like a competitive sport.

I’ll be happy with a card and some flowers, and if it were possible my kids would see both grandmothers.

[TeenLifeMum]

usually dh helps dc make breakfast. They give me a little gift - flowers, candle, silver jewellery max. Then, we spend the day together - just a nice dog walk, nothing major. This year we’re going for a pub lunch but that’s unusual. I wouldn’t expect a dyson hairdryer for my birthday but then I’d rather spend the money towards a holiday.

[MrsAvocet]

@Tittyfilarious81

@Xtraincome I love that it's a dinosaur that your eldest thinks you will love, 1 of my mother's day present years ago was Gizmo from gremlins and my DS told my dh mum would love the Gizmo more than some flowers 😁

I got a cuddly Porg from Star Wars from my kids a few years ago - much better than flowers or chocolates! This year my youngest bought me some heated insoles. He gave me them early when it was snowing last week as he, quite correctly, decided it was more important to warm my feet up when it was freezing than to make a big deal of a fairly arbitrary day.

[MatLeave]

Your Mother's Day sounds absolutely perfect and its what's normal to us. Enjoy the time with your family x

[bridgetreilly]

Mine gets a card. Sometimes we’ll have lunch or a phone call but not always. Everyone is fine with that.

[thereshewasshewasjustthesame]

I just want to be left alone.
Leave
Me
Alone.

[Sugargliderwombat]

When I was growing up the church used to give us a daffodil to give our mum and we'd make a card at school. I think maybe the generation that did this grew up into adults that want to see their mums and then this causes drama between families once babies are involved etc.

[Keeween]

Honestly, from my point of view, it’s the same now as I ever remember it. When I was a kid, it was a card (probably homemade but maybe bought), a bunch of tulips or daffs and a carvery in our local. It’ll be that for me on Sunday as it was for my ma back in the 90s. I don’t know many people at all who go bigger than that, and the ones I do are the ones who make a song and dance about everything, so I don’t think it’s Mother’s Day, per se.

[Feckthelotofthem]

Mothers Day, Christmas in general and esp Christmas lights, Halloween, Valentines Day, Baby Showers, 'Proms' (ie school leaving parties given we are not in the USA!), baby 'reveal' parties, massive hellium balloons etc for birthdays, huge parties for babies too young to know what is going on, World Book Day costumes, the list goes on... lots of things that are now totally over the top, with many consumers like sheep falling for it when most of it is a pure consumerist, wasteful tat fest. Just because the shops start sellng it doesn't mean we, like mugs, have to start buying it. And no, I'm not being a kill joy. We just don't need all this shit to be happy.

[dutysuite]

I hate it. My mother hasn’t been a great mother but if I don’t send her a card then I feel guilty for potentially making her feel bad, I also don’t want my kids feeling the pressure on Mother’s Day so it’s kept low key. I try to stay off social media as much as I can nowadays so avoid all the posts.

[mondaytosunday]

Is it a big thing? None of the mums I know are expecting more than maybe a card and a nice lunch.

[Tittyfilarious81]

@Xtraincome Did you get your dinosaur? If you did can I be cheeky and see a pic please 😁

[VioletLemon]

@Dropzonefourpleaseben

It’s a marketing exercise, just like the Easter Bunny (when did that become such a big thing - the Easter Bunny bringing chocolate eggs?), Valentine’s Day, Christmas and let’s not forget everyone’s (in America) favourite ‘holiday’ - Happy Halloween, everybody! All designed to part you from your money. The only reason Bonfire Night hasn’t gone the same way is because it’s specific to the UK. It all brings out the grump in me!

I'm with YOU! ✌️