Mother's Day Conundrum

[zebrabra]

I told DH yesterday that tomorrow (Mothering Sunday) I would like to go to the local Seal rescue place, have wanted to go there for ages, it will be kid friendly, not far to drive, something different, not too stressful. I think they are open most Sundays in summer, though.

DH announces this afternoon he's had a chat with his mum on MSN, she suggested tomorrow we all meet at a nature reserve, which is about 1/2 way drive between ours and hers -- but still over an hour drive away for us. Not too exciting for the kids. They will walk the dogs & kids will throw stones on the beach & we will have to struggle to find somewhere suitable for the kids to have lunch (?maybe picknic?)

Our kids don't travel well in the car. The 6yo vommitted last long trip we did, the 1yo gets bored, tends to fuss, so have to time drives carefully with his nap. DH hasn't arranged anything for his own mother for Mother's day... so, should I
A) be gracious & flexible & go to the bird reserve
B) tell DH to take any combo of kids to bird reserve but I'm not going.
C) insist that we go where I had arranged FIRST!!

what would you do?

c) but invite MIL

that's a good idea, compo, but she won't drive that far for a day trip; it is a bit too much for her, really.

could dh pick her up?

I think you should do A. After all, she isn't young anymore, she won't have as many Mothers days lafe to be with her son and your family, you have the rest of your life to be with your husband and children. Not that I'm saying she is going to pop her clogs tomorrow, just that she might not have as much time or as many days to spend with her own son. You could make a nice picnic and have a flask of tea/coffee and something for the kids, cooked chicken? Soup? Rolls?

And as you said, the seal rescue place is open most Sundays through Summer, so maybe you could make a day of it through the summer?

Hope you get it sorted :)

wow! I am thoroughly fed up with my MIL muscling in on my mothers day! I am exhausted by the joys of motherhood and look forward to one day where my wishes for once just might come above the others in the house.
You could easily arrange to see her another weekend and stick with your plan - she's not dealing with small children day-to-day and probably doesn't need a treat as much as you do.
I don't know what your ILs are like, but when we see the grandparents it is usually like having two more children with all the stress and being self-sacrificing that that invloves.

I'd go for C as this had been discussed beforehand with your husband though seemingly not fully confirmed hence chat with his Mother.

Its still not really warm enough to have a picnic outdoors.

Comments about "oh she's not young anymore" just smack to me of emotional blackmail.

Besides which what activity would your children enjoy more?. Think it would be something out of their normal orbit of activity (i.e the nature reserve).

6yo started puking yesterday & the weather forecast was bad so MIL called last night to cancel the whole thing.
Today 6yo was fine & the weather quite good too, heehee...!