Mother's Day do's and don'ts

[CarrieMumsnet]

In case you hadn't noticed Mother's Day comes early this year (March 2nd to be precise) and we thought we'd compile (with your help) a list of do's and don'ts which you can then print out and leave lying around in strategic places so partners/ children/ anyone who owes you a gift, can see what you want (what you really really want) and just as importantly what you don't want.

So if you're prepared to risk receiving (yet another) Ann Summers thong then don't bother joining in. But if you'd like to be in with a chance of getting something you actually want, then please share your Mother's Day dreams (and nightmares) here.

(and to anyone joining us from Pedants' corner please feel free to share your views on the old Mothers' vs Mother's Day debate)

Thanks

MNHQ

I actually don't mind it if nothing happens, because I've been plagued all my life by my own mother's horrendous passive-aggressive manipulative shenanigans regarding the day and I never want to do that to anyone.

However I do expect a lie-in every weekend (I get one, DP gets one) AND for DP to make my coffee every morning and do the dishes every night. Much better IMO...

And I tend to get a card from DS that he's made at nursery so I can't complain no one has remembered.

So MrC, this is for you to read and absorb -

A lie-in
Breakfast in bed - something like croissants and poached eggs and mushrooms would be lovely
A BIG cup of tea
A very long soak in the bath - visitors welcome
Lunch
Home made/decorated pressies from the boys
Spring flowers

There you go - plenty to get you started.

Who says I wear the trousers in our relationship?

I just want to be appreciated for one day. A nice card with scribbles from my 2 year old ds. To be able to sit down and relax while dh makes dinner (or takes me out for lunch)
Just wanna spend the day with ds & dh

My DH is thoughfully going away on a "Winter client conference" in Switzerland on that weekend. Think it will be more about skiing and apres ski than any hard graft. Really pissed off actually as I had the chance to go away myself with my sister to France that weekend but his is "work" and there is no-one else to look after the dds.
Not too hopeful on the present front either. The last time he went to Switzerland on business he bought me a cowbell as a souvenir.

Was that to hang around his neck?

I just had the stupid thought ' why are the dates for mothers day so wildly different every year'

And read the wikipedia entry pretty interesting!

I must admit I thought it was invented by Hallmark.

The cheapest bunch of flowers from the lovely little flower shop in the village will be appreciated a million times more than the most expensive bunch from the garage shop.

I really liked getting a potted plant, which we planted in the garden together, it lasts much longer!

Pedant alert. Aside from the dos and don'ts - just looked up punctuation for this in Times Style guide and it's Mother's Day, or Mothering Sunday (not Mothers').

Agree with Abbymumsnet - it should be Mothering Sunday.

I would LOVE to be able to download total and utter silence

I always think about the time I got diddled out of Mother's Day, not once but twice. I'm American and as such Mother's Day is in May in the states, and as we were in the States in March no english mother's day and as we were back here in May.. well you can guess can't you? (DH forgot twice)

time is the best present...time and possibly coffee

Whilst on the way to visit your mother with her gift, DON'T say to your wife, who has very recently given birth to your second child "Shit! I forgot you were a mum. I haven't got you anything. That's OK though isn't it?"

Please don't say, "well, I think it is just a commercial ploy to get people to spend more money. It doesn't really mean anything to me".

If you are the father of too-young-to-shop-unaided DC and are going to be away for three weeks over Mother's Day on a charity trek that your DW has considerately agreed to your doing even though she will be eight months pregnant at the time, make some kind of arrangements for Mother's Day before you go...

Don't waste money on cards and flowers, a home made one is nicer and some flowers from the garden. That and a lie in with breakfast in bed and I'm a happy mummy.

I don't agree with not getting anything if the dc is v young.
I was immensely proud and excited about my first Mother's day. Even though dd didn't have a clue, we still wanted to celebrate and give thanks for the miracle of me being a mother.
I don't mind buying the card for MIL as I am better at it than dh and just get it when I get my own Mum's.
Handmade cards are definitely best and a lie in would be nice.
Filling station flowers are not great but then anything is better than nothing! (Not that I have ever had any as luckily dh passes a great little florists on his way home from work and they always have big signs up reminding you about upcoming dates )

I'm not bothered by cards or flowers generally (including Valentine's Day), I would much rather receive a spontaneous gift/bunch of flowers on another day of the year. However, my DS' are both too young at the moment anyway.

oh dear march 2nd is my mums birthday!!

Just remember that whatever you do for us on Mothers Day, it will be remembered on Fathers Day and reciprocated

So how do I deal with a DP who huffs and says 'It's not your bloody birthday so don't expect a present'? Last year was my first Mothers Day and I thought he was joking. He wasn't
I didn't even want much, just to have the day acknowledged and maybe a small treat (breakfast in bed or lunch cooked would have been lovely).