Mother's Day

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Mother's Day is coming up (it's the second Sunday in May, which this year works out to the 14th I believe - so it's the latest date it can possibly land on), and men everywhere go through this annual rite of passage of trying to find an appropriate gift for their beloved moms (or mums if you're British or Australian). Women go through this as well of course, but I firmly believe that women have a much easier time figuring out what to get their mothers than men do. This year I copped out, and decided to order flowers. Thinking this to be a rather safe and easy route, I called up a florist to place an order.

I couldn't have been more mistaken. I basically had the florist decide on the arrangement for me. I told her my mom preferred potted plants as opposed to cut flowers, and the florist was extremely pleased to tell me that I could take my pick from mums, lillies, crokuses (sp?), crysanthimums (sp?), tulips, and about 50 other flowers choices, but my brain overloaded after the fifth or sixth choice, so I don't remember. Of course I could make a combination of several choices as well, if I would prefer. After a brief pause, I kindly said to the florist, "Maam, I'm sure you are very knowledgable about your business, however I am at a loss as to how to answer your question. You see, all the names you just gave me translate into man-speak as "flowers". Would it be too much to ask for you to decide on an arrangement in around a $50 price range?" She said she would, but now I'm left in a predicament that I know my mom is going to receive flowers, but other than that, I have no idea what these things are going to look like. Hopefully, my mom won't ask, and will just say that she loves them - and frankly, as long as she likes them, I don't really care what they look like.

So what does everyone else do for mother's day?

 

We had Mother's Day back in March...(UK)

But at the time I got presents and breakfast in bed

 

I am getting my Mom a new tablecloth; the current one she has is... well, butt ugly to be frank.

And possibly a potted plant, too. because those are nice.

 

I have to do a double whammy, because I have to find something for my Mum (impossible, because she never wants anything) and I also have to help my son find something for HIS Mum (easy, because his Mum wants everything).

 

A phone call and the will to live. I get nothing, as usual.

@Aldeth - Moms usually like getting presents they like. You know she likes plants, so she gets a plant. She'll like it. (This made sense when I typed it out.)

 

I didn' do anything.... *grimaces*

But, I went home after being away for 2 months, which was nice. My bro got my mum a hugely expensive bunch of flowers, but that's my bro for you.

 

I'm not sure Mom can adequately appreciate it, but I do have something planned...

 

Since I'm a cold-hearted, self-centered bastard I usually forget it. When I think about it (my bro reminds me), usually a flower gets my mother bouncing around like a schoolgirl. I'm exagerating, but you get the idea.

 

I usually go with mom to visit Granny where that is possible. One year, I had to speak in Church (My mother missed it because Grandma wasn't well that morning. She also was to cover teaching a children's class in Sunday School, but I had to cover that too...)

 

Oh Crap! That reminds me that it is (was) my brothers birthday today...too late to call him.

For my mom on mothers day I usually get her a paint brush or paper or some kind of art supply but since I'm not that convenient to an art store these days I guess I'll have to put a little more thought into it.

 

I send cards to my mom and MIL. Hubby will forget about it or claim that he didn't have the time to shop so from the boys I'll get whatever projects they make in school.

I honestly don;t care that I don't get a big present of some sort (partially because ths things I want are either already in the works or well beyond the budget. Also, it gives me a nice excuse for doing Father's Day on the cheap.

 

I draw something for my mother or write a poem, or both! Sometimes I have to buy a card though and write a poem inside it if I don't havemy pencils or any decent paper to draw with.

I usually get something for my grandma as well on Mother's Day because she usually looks after me when parents go away. I used to get something for my 'other' mother, but she's not my 'other' mother anymore

 

My mum is happy with a phone call she doesn't even require a card, I however like to surprise her now and again. I've sent her flowers, balloons, chocolates, cheeses, wines and then get told off for doing that. It's usually when mum's staying at my little sister's and with my sister's happily sneaking the presents in etc.

 

Flowers for my step-mother.

Digital picture frame for the wife to put all little Bruno's pictures on (she can't use her picture screen saver at work).

My kids from the 1st marriage won't get my wife anything -- she's not their mother. And they wonder why there's a rift....

 

Ahhhhh, kids.

We just do a round of calls and cards. My mom hates getting presents because she doesn't like pretending to like things she doesn't actually like, (and she *hates* useless things) and his mom likes cards and calls. I have no idea if I'm getting anything, but possibly a card and a loud and messy (she's nine months!) hug from my daughter.
It'll be our first mother's day together!

 

Oh, right, Mother's Day. I expect I'll phone my mother. Not sure what I'll do for my stepmother. We don't really talk very much...

I could be nice and get her like a flower or something, but...meh.

 

AND

Hmmm... I don't have a stepmother, but I'm not sure what is considered appropriate for children with step-parents to do. I mean, it's one thing if one of your biological parents died and you are officially adopted by the surviving parent's new spouse, but it's quite different if your parents divorce and re-marry. Is it required to give a mother's day or father's day gift to a step parent if you aren't close to them?

My wife's sister married someone who had two children from his previous marriage, and while we treat his kids just like all the other nieces and nephews, it's not like they call my wife's sister "mom". They call her "Maria" - just like everyone else. They are still close to their biological mother. While they like Maria, it's not like they consider her a surrogate mom when they aren't with their actual mother.

I guess it really comes down to who is considered a mother figure in your life more than who your biological mother is. If you are as close with your step-parent(s) as you are with your biological parents, it's probably appropriate to treat them the same. But if one of your parents re-marries when you are already older, and that person really never represented a parent figure to you, then I'm no so sure. Something that could complicate the matter even further is if the new spouse has children from a previous marriage as well. Then you may need to get a card or something because even if you don't consider them YOUR mom or dad, they are SOMEBODY'S mom or dad.

 

I'll spend some time at the cemetery. It's been a year or so, now. My father was born at the 14th of may and he is burried right next to the mother of a good friend of mine, who will come with me.

If the former wife of my 'step-father' is burried at the same cemetery, I'm quite sure to leave some flowers there as well.

I'm wondering what I will buy for my mother. Perhaps we might get something expensive if my siblings are willing to share the costs with me.

 

I would like to say I did get a couple things for Mother's day from hubby. He bought me 2 undergarments for $100. I guess he's tired of supporting me by himself. *rimshot*

 

We (dad, bro and I) are getting mum this .