Mothers Day 2026 Disappointment Thread

[Tinklapo]

Starting a thread for those of us who feel disappointed, unappreciated and let down this Mothers Day.

I’ll start. DH went away to stay with his mum this weekend (2 hours away, nice thought as she’s elderly and unsure how many more Mother’s Days there will be). He said he would be home at 12 so I (stupidly) assumed we would do something as a family but this morning he has told me that he won’t be home until this evening as he’s going to a football match local to his mums.

He’s left me no card, no gift and now I need to spend today doing what I do every day and look after the kids, do all the cooking etc. Feeling totally unappreciated.

We had a conversation last week about Mother’s Day and I said one thing I would love is some time to myself to recharge my batteries. I’ll be making sure I book myself for a long spa weekend next Mother’s Day!

Cynical side of me would be asking did he arrange trip so he could watch the football game? Is it last minute ticket or you’d have to plan in advance?

How old are your kids? If they’re too little to arrange something, it’s pretty shitty imo.

Happy Mother’s Day from me, hope your day gets better.

I've had a one line text from DD21 at uni. She told DH that she had sent a card, but nothing has arrived.
Nothing from DS24. He is currently on holiday, but is still living at home after uni. On a decent wage, trying to save for a house deposit. I thought he might at least have left a card with DH to give me, but no.
This is after last year when I had nothing until DS eventually woke up very hungover at about 4pm and gave me some half dead flowers that had been hanging around in his room without any water for a day or two. I was very hurt and upset.

I m not sure where I've gone wrong. I think I need to change something though. One day a year isn't much is it?

Happy Mother’s Day from me too and I’m sorry you’ve not been able to enjoy the day as you wanted to. Are your children too young to just order a takeaway and lounge about in the garden if you have decent weather? I know this will be impossible if they’re little. Definitely book yourself something nice for next year in advance but it’s still pretty shit that you have to do this yourself, I hope you mention it to your husband when you see him

I think this is one of the worst cases of selfish prick husbands I’ve read about.

Why are you minimising it by joking about it OP? Why not tell him he can move in with his mum if you matter that little to him?

Honestly this would be a divorce for me.

Forget booking a spa booking next year - do it this year on Father’s Day.

Bloody useless dog didn't get me anything again.
I know he spent his pocket money on biscuits for himself and he doesn't have any fine motor skills to write a card, but still.

👏👏

Me too. Feeling so sad as I’ve not heard from DS (23) I’ve been hoping all week for a card but nothing. We spoke on Friday but there was no mention of it. I’ve given up on making excuses for him so I’ll just have to accept he’s forgotten.

I wasn’t joking about it in my post. I’m feeling totally let down.

The kids are 1.5 and 2.5 so both too young to even understand it’s mother day.

I don’t expect lavish gifts or anything but I want to feel appreciated. I also want to teach the kids how to show they love and appreciate their partner when they’re older.

Sorry to read about the others who have equally rubbish partners!

I'm feeling sad today. I'm split from my ex, kids do 50:50 with each of us. ExH has not coped will with the split.
DD (13) has had a horrendous week as her dad has been displaying some very odd behaviour, borderline emotional abuse I would say (SS are aware) so she's been coming to me a lot on ExHs days this week.
Anyway, nothing from the kids today. Not even a card. DS is 7 so not really old enough to do anything by himself. DD is but she's had such an awful week she just hasn't had capacity.
Anyway, I've done all the lunchboxes for tomorrow so at least that's done and I'm gonna take them out for a fun activity and pizza.

It kind of feels like, this is another thing where we rely too much on men to reward us for being what they deem to be a "good" mum and wife. And if we don't comply, that's it. No prize.

im pretty annoyed really. Got a small box of chocs. A card. If a fivers been spent that’s being generous. Woke up to be told I was going to be taken for breakfast (surely everywhere would have been booked up?) but I had a fry up yesterday. Was going to be taken out for lunch but some other shitty excuse. To be then told the in laws are coming round later for basically the whole day so no time to do anything or go anywhere. I did have a cuppa and some toast made for me this morning. Maybe I’m expecting too much? Can’t wait for Father’s Day for pay back though. Tempted to just go out with the kids and leave him here to deal with his pain in the arse in laws.

Oh I absolutely love this idea!

Why are you waiting a year for another arbitrary date to book a spa? Do it next weekend, or in a month or whenever is convenient for you. You don't have to wait for the calendar to treat yourself

I have 4 kids. All adults. 1 phone call and a text, no card. I lost my dad in January so I'm going to see my mum today and they can bugger off!

Woke up to kitchen still a complete mess and nothing from either kids. And I couldn't help it, I just burst into tears. Kids are 12 and 17. They are currently tidying kitchen.

I spoke to a colleague yesterday who hadn't realised it's Mother's Day. He is a sensible, kind, middle aged man but it's just not on everyone's radar.... if you're busy working, not trailing round shops etc, it's easy to miss. It doesn't mean anything if you have to push and shove someone into sending you a card/flowers. Why not just enjoy the relationship on the other 364 days of the year, as that's surely more important?

Sorry to read about those with adult children who have made no effort whatsoever. Did they grow up seeing their dad make a fuss of you on Mother’s Day? Or do you think because their dad didn’t bother they now don’t bother either?

I’m sorry op, but like a op suggested I suspect your husband knew about the football already. How can he possibly think this is ok?

I know I’m being unreasonable because I got more than usual, and my kids did their best, but I’m still sad. Dc have autism and adhd and one has really poor mental health and never leaves the house. So dp bought dd2 a gift to give to me. She woke me with it at 6.30 and a croissant- she’s just unable to resist but I would rather have not been woken up early on a Sunday. Dd1 gave me a gift which was thoughtful and kind but it’s now 10am and I know that’s it for the day. They’ve done their duty to the best of their abilities and I appreciate it but I’ll be going to a garden centre on my own and because of their restrictive diets I’ll either make boring food they eat or get a takeaway that’s a pizza. I’d just really love to have a family that could go to a cafe or pub with me or even a walk.

For those with teenage/adult children who’ve done nothing, how did it get to this point? If Mother’s Day is important to you, was it not ingrained in them (and your DH) every year when they were children to get their mum a card/do something to acknowledge it? When the children were tiny, did you not lay out your expectations to DH for what you expect so he could organise it and then repeat the same thing every year?
When I was younger I would make my mum breakfast in bed every year (with my dad’s help) so it was just the ‘done thing’. Now as an adult it’s been so ingrained that I wouldn’t dream of not getting her a card, even if I’m not seeing her.

I had a panicked text from DD (11) yesterday saying her dad wouldn't buy any chocolate as my present was too expensive. I'd asked for something that was £40. I did get some chocolates this morning but DD said daddy didn't want to buy them as I hadn't spent £40 on him last Father's day. I think I did. I didn't know we were keeping score since he earns over double what I do.

I love my presents, I love being in my own home and waking up without miserable, miserly exH. I wouldn't mind but the last week, I made him dinner, helped him with his suit for an important event, he then asked me if I had chocolate that he could take home. Yesterday I helped him with a water leak under his sink, agreeing to take washing for him until he can call a plumber. I walked in to drop DD off and found him standing in a flooded kitchen.

Then I find he begrudged me a box of Roses chocolates. It leaves a taste.

I’m not how someone can miss that it’s Mother’s Day. My iphone’s calendar tells me it’s Mother’s Day, every supermarket has displays, when you walk in the shop, I have been receiving emails for weeks about Mother’s Day from every online shop I’ve ever bought from. I don’t think there’s an excuse for an adult to not realise - unless they never visit a supermarket or don’t have a smart phone.

We were meant to be having a lovely family day out at a really nice play area and national trust type place. Was looking forward to spending the day with everyone. Instead the youngest dc has chicken pox and im alone with the big two at the day out. Its not too bad. But im missing adult company and feeling guilty about my youngest missing out on the fun. It's just not what I had envisioned.

But just because the dad doesn’t make an effort doesn’t mean adult
children can’t. I don’t recall my dad ever helping us do something for our mum growing up and certainly never made a fuss of her (he wouldn’t even know if it was Mother’s Day).

If anything, that’s made me more aware of treating my mum well, today and all year round.

Unless there’s any back stories of abuse, adult children not acknowledging their parents on Mother’s/Father’s Day are just selfish arseholes in my humble opinion

My husband forgot. He also forgot our wedding anniversary and my 40th birthday last summer, so I wasn’t expecting anything. But it still makes me sad. My kids are too young to remember independently.

hopefully I’ll be able to get my ducks in a row for divorcing soon. There is a health crisis in the family just now so I need to get to grips with that first.

Woke up no mention of mothers day until my nephew mentioned it to my son whilst they were playing computer. My son said 'ow is it mothers day today'. OH said he's got son a card he just needs to write it! Gave it to me after 5 mins. I think my elder child has bought me something but she's over at her nans at present so will find out later.