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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Mother's day promotions

30 replies

GogWhoIsAgog · 26/02/2024 20:40

It's that time of year!

Discount tickets for farms, zoos, adventure playgrounds and soft play.

Mum's eat free.

So, the one day where mums get a chance to feel appreciated and treated, they are taken out to places fun for the kids or somewhere where a penny hasn't been spent on them.

I'm all for a bargain and to be frank if t be happy for a card and the housework being done.
Overcrowded restaurant full of kids? No thank you!

AIBU to be annoyed that these promotions are being sold as a treat for mum?

OP posts:
edwinbear · 26/02/2024 20:46

Presumably the mum’s can say no thank you though if it’s not their thing? I chose to spend my birthday weekend at Legoland one year with a 3 & 5 year old. It was bloody awesome! We had a great weekend.

missmollygreen · 26/02/2024 20:49

YABU, its takes a certain kind of person to turn a free meal out into a negative thing

BeakyBlinders · 26/02/2024 20:52

You honestly see promotions and free meals for people who might be struggling into something negative? Honestly this place!!

Queenconsult · 26/02/2024 20:52

YABU as they are a treat for some

Jesus wept how have you made it through life without quite understanding not everyone likes the same things

StopTheBusINeedAWeeWeeAWeeWeeBagOChips · 26/02/2024 20:53

Yabu, as a single parent often these promotions gave me a chance to do something fun with the kids, and have a little treat myself with it being less of a financial stress. Not everyone has someone else to 'do' mothers day when the kids are little.

DeedlessIndeed · 26/02/2024 20:53

Surely DP will know you well enough to steer the children away from choosing something that isn't your cup of tea!

Bkjahshue · 26/02/2024 20:54

To be honest I just laughed at the idea of going free to a farm; probably be better if they said the dad could go free and I can send DH off there with the kids and get a lovely peaceful afternoon.
Also the restaurant ones don’t necessarily mean mums of young kids; it’s more likely to be for adult children and their mums.
Times are hard and businesses need to try their best to get customers

justasmalltownmum · 26/02/2024 20:55

I haven't seen a free offer for anything.

takealettermsjones · 26/02/2024 20:56

Well, it's better than nowt?

I suppose the companies are recognising that a lot of mums will take the opportunity for a day out with their family regardless of it being mothers' day, and all else being equal would appreciate a few extra quid in their back pocket!

TeaKitten · 26/02/2024 20:58

I’m a single mum with kids too young to buy me things, these deals make a day out affordable and I don’t want a day off from parenting on Mother’s Day so it works great for me! They do the same for Father’s Day too. You sound like a miserable sod.

Original poster
GogWhoIsAgog · 26/02/2024 21:04

I grew up cleaning the kitchen on mother's day. I'd pick some daffodils from the garden, make a card and when I had my own money if buy a gift (but still clean etc). Dad and I would cook dinner and make my mum endless cups of tea.

I'm not knocking a free meal or that promotions make it possible to do more, it just seems that so many are not altruistic.

I guess this is another 'different strokes' debate.

Thank you for the varied perspectives, I appreciate the different viewpoints.

OP posts:
Queenconsult · 26/02/2024 21:05

GogWhoIsAgog · 26/02/2024 21:04

I grew up cleaning the kitchen on mother's day. I'd pick some daffodils from the garden, make a card and when I had my own money if buy a gift (but still clean etc). Dad and I would cook dinner and make my mum endless cups of tea.

I'm not knocking a free meal or that promotions make it possible to do more, it just seems that so many are not altruistic.

I guess this is another 'different strokes' debate.

Thank you for the varied perspectives, I appreciate the different viewpoints.

‘Back in my day mothers were given a cup of tea and were thankful for it’

Get back to bed old dear

DaisyHaites · 26/02/2024 21:06

GogWhoIsAgog · 26/02/2024 21:04

I grew up cleaning the kitchen on mother's day. I'd pick some daffodils from the garden, make a card and when I had my own money if buy a gift (but still clean etc). Dad and I would cook dinner and make my mum endless cups of tea.

I'm not knocking a free meal or that promotions make it possible to do more, it just seems that so many are not altruistic.

I guess this is another 'different strokes' debate.

Thank you for the varied perspectives, I appreciate the different viewpoints.

It’d be about the worst day in our house if my kids started picking my precious flowers out of my garden!

AutumnCrow · 26/02/2024 21:07

Some of these responses to the OP are unnecessarily unpleasant.

StopTheBusINeedAWeeWeeAWeeWeeBagOChips · 26/02/2024 21:08

GogWhoIsAgog · 26/02/2024 21:04

I grew up cleaning the kitchen on mother's day. I'd pick some daffodils from the garden, make a card and when I had my own money if buy a gift (but still clean etc). Dad and I would cook dinner and make my mum endless cups of tea.

I'm not knocking a free meal or that promotions make it possible to do more, it just seems that so many are not altruistic.

I guess this is another 'different strokes' debate.

Thank you for the varied perspectives, I appreciate the different viewpoints.

You can't see how cleaning the kitchen as some sort of gift to your mum is problematic, but you think a free meal or ticket somewhere is?

edwinbear · 26/02/2024 21:09

Last year, DD woke me up earlier than I would have chosen, with breakfast in bed. I never eat breakfast, I can’t face it until mid morning, but dutifully munched through toast & tea (I prefer coffee). She’d tried really hard and was so chuffed with herself, it was really sweet. That was definitely better to Mother’ Day March 2020, just as lockdown was starting, and I had to have my appendix out!

Dogdilemma2000 · 26/02/2024 21:09

some Mothers just want a day with their kids. Don’t judge if that’s not you.

Original poster
GogWhoIsAgog · 26/02/2024 21:11

And yes, I am a miserable sod.

It'd be nice to have one day to FEEL appreciated. Days our like this night be fun but it's not how I feel loved.
Each to their own.

OP posts:
Dogdilemma2000 · 26/02/2024 21:11

GogWhoIsAgog · 26/02/2024 21:04

I grew up cleaning the kitchen on mother's day. I'd pick some daffodils from the garden, make a card and when I had my own money if buy a gift (but still clean etc). Dad and I would cook dinner and make my mum endless cups of tea.

I'm not knocking a free meal or that promotions make it possible to do more, it just seems that so many are not altruistic.

I guess this is another 'different strokes' debate.

Thank you for the varied perspectives, I appreciate the different viewpoints.

It’s not altruistic to take a mum out for a meal or trip to the zoo? Maybe some mums actually like the zoo?

Merryoldgoat · 26/02/2024 21:11

FFS

BeakyBlinders · 26/02/2024 21:12

So you only feel loved when someone is spending money on you? That's an issue in itself that you probably need to work on.

puzzledout · 26/02/2024 21:12

GogWhoIsAgog · 26/02/2024 21:04

I grew up cleaning the kitchen on mother's day. I'd pick some daffodils from the garden, make a card and when I had my own money if buy a gift (but still clean etc). Dad and I would cook dinner and make my mum endless cups of tea.

I'm not knocking a free meal or that promotions make it possible to do more, it just seems that so many are not altruistic.

I guess this is another 'different strokes' debate.

Thank you for the varied perspectives, I appreciate the different viewpoints.

Why wasn't the kitchen cleaned by someone in the house anyway, how the hell is a clean kitchen a "gift" for your mother?

MsSquiz · 26/02/2024 21:13

When I grew up, I did similar to you but that was because my DM was a single parent and I didn't have a dad to help me take her out for lunch.
It was one of the first things I did when I started working (a Saturday job in a pub kitchen aged 13) was use my savings to buy her a gift and take her for lunch.

I would've been devastated if I'd booked something with an offer attached and she looked down at it.

londonloves · 26/02/2024 21:14

Honestly I'd be happy if someone organised something for me, anything at all, but it won't happen.

notthatkindofFatCat · 26/02/2024 21:17

Ooh people are a bit harsh on here tonight aren't they?

I don't mind these things and today agree they're a proper treat for many. I do see your gripe though, and ime these sorts of promotions aren't as common on Father's Day.