to make an effort to give a mother's day card that ^doesn't^ comment on their parenting ability?

[Naetha]

Both DH and I have interesting relationships with our mothers - essentially they've both been crap mums and let us down all along!

Is it wrong to spend an hour making an effort to avoid all the cards that say "to the best mum", "you're great" etc and just say "happy mother's day".

Am I just emotionally stingy?

LOL.........

I have been spending hours on MN tonight, posting about the crummy care my mum is getting (dementia), but yet -
I trawled round the shop same as you, looking for a non sloppy card cos she's never actually been a good mum. I am now LOL at how ironic i am being

I think i may be mad

YANBU! I do exactly the same!

YANBU - I have the same trouble with Fathers Day. My Step Dad is brilliant (if a little grumpy as he gets older) but my natural Dad has never been what you would call The Worlds Best Dad etc etc and I have great trouble finding a suitable card for him each year.

Have you though of looking on moonpig where you can make your own card. I think if you do it before 2pm you can get the card delivered to you the next day.

YANBU - I do this!!

The cards I send are rather, um, non-comittal

And I can't spell tonight

Just get a blank one, and wrote on the front - on mother's day. Then inside write something simple like 'all the best, naetha & naetha dh'

ha! yes I know exactly what you mean
I look for something non-committal
otoh I always choose something extremely gushing for my MIL

You could always do what i did for years and make a card - then you have the pride of making something nice, you can choose your own message, and cos it's handmade she'll think you like her more than you really do...

Oh dear i'm really digging myself in aren't i?

YANBU - same here. not that my mum was crap but she just wasn't as good as she could have been...plus she is the most emotionally stunted person i have ever met.

YANBU at all, if you are, then so am I . Every year I struggle to find something that isn't all slushy 'mummy you are wonderful - would feel such a fraud sending that sort of stuff to my Mum. Now I just avoid cards and send flowers...when I remember .