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Mothers' Day

41 replies

echt · 10/05/2014 22:58

And a splendid day to all the MNers abroad who are being waited on hand and foot today. Smile

OP posts:
Bunbaker · 11/05/2014 12:10

Youare I admit that did cheat a little and lift some of the explanation from another website. But I knew that our Mothering Sunday (not mother's day) is part of the Christian calendar, not an artificial construct like father's day.

AcrossthePond55 · 11/05/2014 13:42

Mother's Day in the USA wasn't a product of the card companies but has a history as far back as 1868 as a method of trying to reunite families torn apart by the Civil War (ours, not yours). It became an official holiday in 1914 when a proclamation was issued by President Woodrow Wilson.

As for me, my boys are grown & all I've asked them for today is to meet at my own mother's assisted living for chinese food & cake. I've told them that Granma (91 & slipping into dementia) should be the focus of our Mother's Days for as many of them as she has left.

Bunbaker · 11/05/2014 13:44

That's interesting Acrossthe Pond55. I didn't know that.

drinkingtea · 11/05/2014 15:20

Not interested in a Christian celebration - Mothers Day for me, thank you. Just as Christmas is a mid winter celebration and Easter a spring one - plenty of non Christian reasons to celebrate all 3, and the card companies may as well appropriate Mothers Day for their own uses, just as the Christians did the winter and spring festivities that long pre-date Christianity :o :)

drinkingtea · 11/05/2014 15:22

Ah that is interesting Acrossthe Pond55 - I'll celebrate for that reason :o

Fathers Day is a bank holiday in Germany, so I'm all in favour of that artificial construct too :o

drinkingtea · 11/05/2014 15:33

I ended up in sole charge of 4 children at the Kindergarten festival today - amid a sea of one and two child families with both parents and most with at least one, often 2 or 3 or all 4, grandparents in attendance... A neighbour I know slightly (who was there with her husband, but about the only other one without grandparents) asked me to watch her 3 year old as she felt unwell but her DD was still having fun, so her DH was going to drive her home and come straight back to stay with the DD... An hour and a half later there was no sign of him, and I really, really wanted to take my own kids home as my own 3 year old was trying to fall asleep in my arms and crying if I didn't hold him in a newborn cradle carry, and I was having to rely on my 8 year old to babysit the other 3 year old as she ran about ... and I realised I had no way of contacting them erm.... Finally the dad turned up on his bike, saying their car had broken down ... Shock By which time I had had plenty of chance to ponder why the only adult on her own with the largest number of kids was the one they'd picked out to be free child minder... Ah well... My older 2 kids were brilliant though, rose to the situation without a murmer and were excellent babysitters...

giggly · 11/05/2014 15:35

Ha ha ifink I got nail clippers last year. This year a variety of school bought and made lovelies and woken up at 6.30 to celebrateHmm

It's been a lovely sunny autumn day here in WA.

PacificDogwood · 11/05/2014 15:36

Happy Mother's Day Thanks

I am in the UK, but my mother has every right to expect a Mother's Day treat today - I hope my brother has stepped up to the mark.
It's a card and phone call from me and some photos of her PGC (precious grandchildren) - she'll like that, honestly Wink

Personally I hate Mother's Day as a commercial invention, so don't bother with it myself, but I know it means a lot to my mum who I love dearly, so virtual hugs to her Smile

MummyBeerest · 11/05/2014 20:38

My mother's day has been absolute balls.

On my own with DD as DH is out of town on business. Woke up at 5 a.m. here, I called my mother and she said the present "DD" made her (me) is ruined because I forgot to spray the painted vase with sealant. Then she wished my childless sister a Happy Mother's Day on Facebook for being "the best Dog Mummy ever!" Hmm

My Dad called me and asked me to wish my stepmother (whom I am not at all close with) Happy Mother's Day. While she was in the room. Because that's not awkward. At all.

I have to pack this whole fucking house myself as we move next week. Called MIL and wished her Happy Mother's Day, she told me her gift DD made was ruined (SEALANT, PEOPLE!) I asked her if she'd be able to watch DD this week (she works 2 days a week) for a couple hours so I can pack without a toddler getting into everything.

Her reply? "Pack while she sleeps."

So, uh, no? No? Thanks.

Happy fucking Mother's Day, me!

gregsageek · 11/05/2014 21:30

Ah, Beerest, sounds awful, poor you!
My DH has been away for the last week on a booze filled vacation with his college mates, which he does every year, while I have looked after the kids. Before he went, he left the webpage for the equivalent of Interflora up on the computer which, I now realize, he used to send flowers to his mother... DS2 vomited this morning!
However, have just seen my lovely neighbor and her H, although physically present, has completely ignored Mothers Day on the basis that if he doesn't mention it, it doesn't exist. Apparently does it every year! So am starting to feel relatively lucky as have had lovely card from DH and beautiful cards from DC.
Happy Mothers Day all!

MummyBeerest · 11/05/2014 22:13

How awful.

Seriously, is it a holiday at all? Germany knows the score.

AcrossthePond55 · 11/05/2014 22:15

Beerest and Gregs sounds as if you both need a BIG Wine ! And remember, you don't have to deal with Mother's Day for a whole year! For a day that supposedly celebrates us, we sure do have to do a lot of the work!

Mine has been 'bittersweet'. Mum has dementia & we all went & had chinese food with her. Well, everyone but me had food (Coeliac). It's so hard to see her failing, she was always the center of our family's universe but has now drifted into her own 'space'. But her joy in seeing us, especially my 2 sons, was beautiful. She tires easily & we all got a little giggle at the way, when she decided she's had enough of us, she just said "well, thank you all for coming. It was nice to see you".

So, now I'm home watching my beloved LA Dodgers. DS2 is bringing me something gluten free & DH is getting the wine.

I'll have my "Happy Mother's Day" in a glass. Preferably 13.5%

MummyBeerest · 11/05/2014 23:03

So sorry Across Sad My grandfather, who is the sweetest man in the world, has dementia. It's the hardest thing I've ever witnessed.

Hazchem · 12/05/2014 00:22

Sorry others had crappy days.

MummyBeerest · 12/05/2014 00:39

Ah, Hazchem, hope your DS is feeling betters

MummyBeerest · 12/05/2014 00:40

-s*

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