Sad on my sons birthday

[MrsTxx]

My little ones birthday today. We had a party and he invited his friends he had a really lovely time playing with his presents and eating party food.

I was so busy cooking and sorting children out with sun cream and making sure they had drank enough (did a drop off party) that I feel like I have barely seen my son.
To top it all of my mother showed up 3 hours late towards the end and had a go at me for not having any party food left for her to eat. Followed by text essays later on in the day of how stressed she is and how much I have upset her as I had no time to sit and chat.

I didn't get in any pictures with him or felt like I had seen him enough. I really struggled with hay fever and the heat in the kitchen today I ended up being sent for a ten minute lay down as I thought I was going to faint (Thankyou to my angel MIL)

I've read him two of his new stories and give him lots of cuddles at bedtime but I feel so guilty and very sad that I should of spent more time with him.
Sorry I'm just venting but feel really down I missed out on his birthday. The main thing is my son had a lovely day and he told me he had the best birthday ever.

Ok,and take a moment. Revisit what your son said. best day ever. Yaaay
you can’t host a party and be attentively glued to your son too
you had responsibilities to host,food to serve, folk to entertain, which you did
your own mum was 3 hour late and then whined the food was gone?tough titty

Happy birthday. Go and have a glass of wine and a bath!

You gave your boy a party, had his friends round, made the food, ensured they had plenty of drinks, put suncream on, made it all nice for them. You've done a lot! Don't worry about not having spent enough time with him, he enjoyed himself, and there will be MANY birthdays to celebrate.

Your mum sounds ridiculous and selfish

He said he had the best birthday ever!! And you did that. You made it lovely for him.

Stop beating yourself up, go do something nice for you, you deserve it.

PS your mum sounds unhelpful to say the least!

Ok, so take a big step back.

Your child, in their eyes had just had the best day ever !!! What more could you have done, it doesn't get better than that.

He got to spend the day with his friends having an amazing day.

Well done you, you couldn't ask for more.

Your mum needs to take a back seat, especially on her grandchild's birthday. If she needs a little bit of support, she is going about it completely wrong. She seems very selfish.

Gosh some mum's are wayyyy too hard on themselves (no judgement, I'm one of them!!). You did amazingly well. Read back your post as if it was a friend, then give yourself a pat on the back.

He said he had the best birthday ever! That's a brilliant compliment. And you made it happen!

It's just the way it goes with kids parties - I had the same with my dd, but she absolutely loved it and that's the main thing.

WTAS!! It’s your sons day and it was the best ever. You did that for him! That makes you the best mum ever.
Who cares about photos? It’s the memories that matter. Ignore your mum and give yourself credit for making a wonderful party under heatwave conditions 💕

Have a mummy son day (cheap is fine) to celebrate his birthday.
Having the party was great don't regret that.
Your DM is an issue.

Thankyou all I shouldn't beat myself up. Think it's my DM that tipped me over the edge. No wonder I moved to my grandparents at 16 (story for another time 🤣) very much a role reversal in terms of who parented who in our relationship.

Love Mumsnet you all seem to know just what to say. Time to chill and watch some more fleabag x