Peace, love and understanding
Not for me, but for my fellow mamas. That’s what I want to see this Mother’s Day.
Why do so many mothers pin their hopes on a single day out of the year? Why does it have to be such a make or break occasion? Cards, flowers, phone calls, breakfast in bed - yes, it’s all lovely. But what’s wrong with showing mothers appreciation and affection all year long?
Even more irritating to me than the merchandising of Christmas is the merchandising of Mother’s Day. I’ve received dozens of pitches asking me to hawk all sorts of ridiculous stuff in the name of Mother’s Day. Neither a new telephone, nor a flash drive, nor a tutoring service for my kids (just to obliquely name a few) would be a Mother’s Day dream come true.
You want ideas for material goods that mothers would appreciate? Click here.
I wish the partners of my fellow mothers would be kind and considerate all year long. Think about what’s important to her, and make an effort in that area - every single day. Not because you want her to stop bitching or because you want to have sex, but because you love her. It’s not that difficult.
And just because she IS a mother doesn’t mean that she’s YOUR mother. Wipe the crumbs off the counter after you make yourself a sandwich (you do make your own sandwiches, right?). If you’re running out of clean underwear, throw a load of laundry in the washer (and then transfer it to the dryer and fold it and put it away yourself). Navigate away from ESPN.com for ten minutes and hit the Food Network. Find a recipe you can handle and make dinner (and do the dishes afterward). Tell her that you’ll chauffeur the kids to their lessons. Notice that you’re almost out of milk and stop at the grocery store on the way home without being asked (bonus points if you pick up a pint of Haagen Dazs in her favorite flavor). The list of ways to show you care is endless.
But here’s the key: Do all of this stuff all year long.
She won’t take you for granted, I swear. If anything, she’ll appreciate you more and more, especially when her friends - whose husbands aren’t as fabulous as you are - complain about dirty socks and couch potatoes. She’ll be easier to live with, and you’ll probably have sex more often. Just sayin’.
Mother’s Day is a lovely sentiment, as is Father’s Day and all other holidays intended to celebrate those we love. But there’s no reason to confine the celebration to a single day, nor to interpret it solely as a call for gifts. Let this Mother’s Day be the start to a whole year filled with celebration.
But it wouldn’t hurt to kick it off with a pair of earrings and a pint of Haagen Dazs.
——————————
How do you want to be recognized this Mother’s Day? Tell us about it as part of our super-duper extra-special Blog Blast, sponsored by Johnson’s Baby Cause - a new charitable giving site. You’ve got until tomorrow night to write your post. Oh, and when you email your link to us at PBN, you might want to copy your partner. It can’t hurt, right?
And if you’ve got a new baby (or even if you’ve got a houseful), check out The Rookie Mom’s Handbook. Super-duper extra-special bonus points if you take the kids and accomplish one or more of the awesome activities in that handbook, all on your own.
May 7th, 2008 at 6:46 am
You have much wisdom! Mother’s Day has long been my LEAST favorite holiday. Not because of the way my husband has taught my kids to honor me, but because my mother still (bless her heart) wants it to be about her. I usually end up having a “group” dinner with my sisters and my mother (where we all do something). My long-suffering MIL gets leftovers (because my husband usually is the only brother trying to do anything for her) and I get no day at all after we’ve tried to spend the day making the “retired moms” happy. My kids don’t get to be creative thinkers on my behalf because the day still belongs to my mother. Lucky for me, my husband is the kind of thoughtful guy of which you speak. He cooks, does dishes, vacuums, irons his own shirts (slowly) and folds clothes. I’ve got no complaints in that department.
ABs last blog post..A kick in the shins would be less insulting
May 7th, 2008 at 7:11 am
A-MEN.
Mom101s last blog post..Showering the People I Love With Love, and James Taylor Lyrics
May 7th, 2008 at 7:45 am
Please come to my house and demonstrate the counter cleanup technique. He has the cooking down but OH THE CRUMBS.
mayberrys last blog post..How to write a confusing review
May 7th, 2008 at 9:07 am
HELL yes. this is exactly why i really don’t celebrate MD (just like i don’t celebrate VD and let’s face it, isn’t EVERY day father’s day?). i’ll send my mother a nice card because she expects it, but as for me–if you can only show your appreciation and love for me one day out of the freakin’ year, we have a problem.
May 7th, 2008 at 9:14 am
Too true. For the most part, my husband does an excellent job telling me what a great Mama I am on a regular basis. Now… If I could just get him to put that last cereal bowl in the dishwasher, we’d be golden.
Gretchens last blog post..State of the Union
May 7th, 2008 at 9:26 am
I completely agree. I have a very strong hatred for Valentine’s Day for very similar reasons. Let me sleep in on a Saturday, read alone quietly for a couple hours or bring me a hot cup of coffee when you see I’m out - that is all I want for Mother’s Day. Okay add a ton of hugs & kisses from the wee one and I’m content.
You are spot on today!
May 7th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
I will swear on a stack of whatevers that I will not take one for granted if it’s done all year long - I SWEAR. You nailed it MGM.
motherbumpers last blog post..She Bangs?
May 7th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
A big “AMEN” from the peanut gallery.
Loralees last blog post..At what point do you pick up the phone to report bad behavior to the parents of a child?