As the founder of mumsback.com, Mother's Day is very much on my mind at the moment. In the run up I think back to Mother’s Days past and I realise they can be a little like Valentine’s Day or Christmas, in that there’s so much societal pressure to have the “perfect” day that actually we can end up having the opposite.
I’ve written a couple of blogs about what do when your baby doesn’t get the memo about Mother’s Day, and also about what I think the components are to the perfect Mother's Day gift, but I also decided to ask others about their experiences.
Here is a run down of others’ best and worst Mother’s Days…or a mixture of the two!
‘Best and worst in one- my 6 year old cooked me scrambled egg on toast for breakfast. I slurped up every bite, even using the toast to scrape up every last smudge of egg. When she came back to take the empty plate I said, ‘That was so delicious. And you know what was most impressive – that you washed up a plate. I left them all dirty last night.’ ‘Oh no, mummy,’ she replies, ‘the dogs licked it clean for you.’” – Ruthanne Garrett
“Last year was my first Mother’s Day and it was a bit of a let down. Kiddo had officially come to live with us from his foster carer only 3 weeks before, and we’d only met him 2 weeks before that, and even just being parents suddenly was all still a bit weird! We went to a pub we’ve been to for an excellent Sunday lunch before but of course we were all shoved in like sardines to squeeze every last booking/penny out of the day and the food was absolutely awful. My free pudding was totally inedible. Truth be told I felt like a massive fraud who wasn’t *really* a mum and the whole thing ended up being a bit depressing! Kiddo didn’t understand what it was or what we were doing and the change of routine so early on left him out of sorts all afternoon. I don’t think we’ll be going out this year! Except maybe for McDonald’s breakfast because fuck it, that’s what I like and if it’s meant to be a day for me then I’m getting some hash browns” – Anon
“Last year was my first Mother’s Day and I’m a single parent. I wasn’t really expecting much but at least from my mum a nice ‘Happy Mother’s day’ would’ve been nice. Instead she said I’m a mum now and shouldn’t trouble myself with silliness. Got her a spa deal and scarf and while I don’t need this reciprocated, it was mean spirited of her.” Anon
“Haven't had too many as a mum of a 2 yr old but I am already feeling stressed about having to see my mum, the mother in law as well as feeling like its a day for me to perhaps be treated a bit!” Anon
“The one where everyone forgot. It probably didn't help that I'd spent the day cooking for my lovely mother in law (who did bring me flowers!) or that it was my first Mother's Day with my fourth baby (hubby is usually über thoughtful so I spent all day expecting a bit of a surprise!). Anyway that evening when no surprise was forthcoming I admit I threw a bit of a childish strop, bought my own wine and chocolates and flat out refused to share 🤣 To add insult to injury my eldest came back from uni a week later and tried to pass off my birthday card as a Mother's Day/birthday combo having missed both dates anyway.” – Anon
“My worst was when both kids and I had a stomach bug. We spent ages in out of hours getting them checked out for dehydration (false alarm, as it turned out) while I tried not to throw up in the nearest bin” Laura Poole
“My worst mothers day was my first one. My baby was about 6 months old, the whole day was pretty cheap because he had a stomach bug and was throwing up all over me since he wanted to be held because he was feeling so crummy. Around 6pm I asked my husband if he remembered what day it was, and he said “oh shit, I better call my mum. Thanks for reminding me”. Never once even said happy mothers day to me!” Anon
“I am going to share a great Mother's Day. My 1st Mother's Day was beautiful. Baby was maybe 3 months old. My husband enlisted the help of my sister to watch baby so I could sleep in, while he both stayed up late and got up early to make me (my favourite) vegan cinnamon rolls from scratch; it's a big job. As well as a lovely arrangement of flowers and a card from him and baby (complete with an inked footprint he somehow managed to get from our squirmy babe). I had a relaxed day at home where he took care of more than usual. Then my mum and grandmother came over for the afternoon so we could celebrate them as well. The only downside was that he set the bar so high, meaning I had my work cut out for me for Father's Day!” Risa Dietz-Kimmons
“This!! (see below) Husband thought would be a great idea to get a personalised t-shirt with the ugliest picture of what was a gorgeous little baby! Not to mention 2 sizes too small. It was so bad that even the boy was scared of it!” Marina Chenery
“I think my favourite mother's days were the ones when my son was little and would buy me a box of chocolates and then “help” me eat them! My worst, realising after my aunt died a few years ago, I no longer had anyone to give mother's Day cards and gifts to, because the last of my surrogate mothers was gone. It's sad not to be a daughter. (Sorry Dad, but that a different thing!)” – Becky Moore
“My best Mother’s Day would be a memory from childhood and celebrating my own mum on Mother's Day. I distinctly remember her reading precious words about how much she meant to us in a card and bursting out crying. We gave her chocolates and flowers too. It's never left me. The worst would have been my first Mother's Day. I was suffering a traumatic birth and remember feeling like a failure” – Vicki Psarias, Honest Mum.
Sally Bunkham is the founder of Mum’s Back, who provide luxury new mum gifts, focussing on the yummy stuff denied in pregnancy. £1 from every hamper goes to PANDAS Foundation. Mum’s Back currently have a Mother’s Day offer, where every single hamper ordered between now and Mothering Sunday (11th March) will receive a Raspberry & Prosecco Lip Balm in Rose Gold Box (worth £7.95) FREE (see below). Delivery (to mainland UK) is also FREE.
