Mother’s Day…. NOT

I know there are going to be groans and shocked silences, but I am going to admit something to you all. Call me Scrooge, but I think Mother’s Day is a Greeting Card Holiday. Now don’t get me wrong, I enjoy any holiday where I get a box of candy, but I believe Mother’s Day is really about the card companies’ need to get us back into the stores after Valentine’s Day. It is a brilliant ploy because everyone either loves their Mother or feels tremendous guilt for not loving their Mother…. so….. we all buy cards.

A great friend of mine was talking about getting a cell phone for her birthday. She said she got her best presents, like a nice piece of jewelry, from her husband not on her birthday, but on Mother’s Day! This struck me as odd. Should Mother’s Day define us? Isn’t your birthday a celebration of YOU…and Mother’s Day a celebration of well…. Motherhood? Perhaps my cynicism has been ingrained in me from childhood as I vividly remember my Dad saying, “Why should I get your Mom a present? She isn’t my Mother.”

When I think of my daughter, this quote from Pat Conroy’s book “Beach Music” always runs through my head. “She is my certification, my boarding pass into the family of man and the greatest faith in the future I still retain.” I memorized this line long before I had a baby or experienced the overwhelming love I feel for my children, but even then I was convinced that this must be what it feels like to look at your own immortality in the eyes of your child. Like so many women, being a Mom is the most important, most rewarding, most interesting thing I have ever done, so I really don’t need a holiday, but I will take some candy.

Comments

I agree with you.

But I'm glad there is a Mother's Day. It forces people to remember that we need to all connect with each other more often.

Thanks for the post.

My children are almost 3 and 14 months old. I told my husband that I am not his mother and he is not to buy me a gift. I am sure the kids are making something for me at daycare and that is perfect for me.

I agree, and, "Beach Music" is a fantastic book.

This will be my first one since my mother died a few months ago, so, this one will be a little different

But, we've never done anything real big for the occasion, so I guess it will be OK.

I will take any gifts offered, though. I'm casual, not stupid ;}

Just asked if I get a present and our doughter has her birthday next week and does work experience. (Praktikum)

i think it is great that we have a day for mothers! after all we are the reason our children are here, right? we take pride in out children so isn't it nice to be recognized at least one day a year?

I think Mother's Day is fine We spend most of our lives taking care of our families. What is wrong with setting ONE day aside a year to show appreciation to me. All mothers deserve to feel special we work hard.

I agree that this too seems like a "card" holiday. I have the same feelings about Valentine's day. I don't need the day to feel special. I feel better when my DH surprises me with flowers for any other day than to spend 3 times as much just because he is suppose to.
I have a 5 yr old and a 16 month old and this will be the first Mom's day that will not include a ton of other family members and I am so excited that it will just be us this time. I did send my mom and MIL a gift basket for Mom's day but we are 3,000 miles away this year and just wanted them to know we were thinking of them.

I think we all should remember our moms and grandmothers but I just need a kiss, a hug and maybe an uninterupted shower.

Ditto on the shower comment.

I have been without my mom now for
three yrs. and still miss her terribly.
We do think they should be here forever and it is nice to have a special day but
I, too do not expect much. i always love
the special cards my kids give me and
I Love it that they take some time out
to come see me. They are grown now.

I do agree with u! it really puzzles me a bit and logically i was so convinced that this is really part of commercialization thing!

Motherhood is a fullfilling task worthy to carry on for the love of my children and getting recognition for such thing is not that much needed. Any day can be an opportunity to be thankful to our mothers!

Mothers Day is very special for me because I have two wonderful young adults. My daughter who was misdiagnosed when she was two and has had fourty-two unnesssary brain surgeries and I was told that she would die before she made seven years is still with me and will be twenty in October,2007 and is starting in nursing school in the fall. I'm so lucky that we have such a good relationship and pray that it will stay that way. I also have a wonderful son who will be twenty-three in July and is works all the time. I have been very lucky in that I have a great husband who has put up with me four twenty-four years and still loves me just as much as he did when I walked down the isle. Today was great and still they have to take care of me because I have Lupus and am on oxygen 24/7 and have a nurse that comes out to our home every week to flush my port. I feel that since I worked in a management position for 19 years in the Police Dept. that I have no identity! My family still thinks I'm worth alot to them. Thanks!