Mother's Day

[los angeles]

Coming up on May 9, 2010 this year. Anyone have special plans or ideas for a Mother's Day gift?

Are you going to make it a Bollywood (or Tollywood) Mother's Day?

It's very cute, in some of my family-oriented and traditional Hindi serials, they sometimes celebrate Mother's Day, explaining that this is an "Amrican rivaaz" in which mothers are honored, and what a nice idea it is and everything. The characters bring gifts to their mom and everything, It's quite lovely!!

I'm playing around with possibly Indian-izing a comic-strip of Calvin and Hobbes dancing. I've saved the images in my photobucket, I think I'm going to put a sherwani and those little pointed mojris on Calvin and maybe a flower-mala on Hobbes so he looks like a proper Shere Khan Actually maybe not a flower-mala, don't want Hobbes to look like he is being commemorated or at a Hawaiian luau or something Lol

[MrB]

I was a bit surprised to see this, as Mother's Day in the UK was several weeks ago. Then I found the Wikipedia entry for Mother's Day, and found that it is celebrated on different dates in different countries - the fourth Sunday in Lent in the UK, and 19th August in India, for example.

[Ms. Chandni]

I can't wait to see Calvin in a sherwani! 

For the past 8 or 9 years my daughter and I have done the Race for the Cure on Mother's Day. (This might just be a U.S. thing; it's a national breast cancer fundraiser).  We don't do the run, just the 5K walk.  And it's about the only time I can spend an hour or two talking and walking with my daughter without the constant interruption of telephone/television/internet, so I always enjoy it.

[2hapyft]

MrB  I got a mothers day wish from Bahrain on Mar 21st. It is sweet as I get to celebrate twice. 

LA, I cant wait to see what your final design is. 

[kmemphis]

I don't know what we'll do this mother's day. My mom will say something cheesy like all she needs is her two (human) babies home and then Beck and I will hop in her car, almost get into 50 wrecks, and find something chicken related at the store 2 miles away.

My mom's easy to please.

One year it was so funny. The SCENE:

Memphis Mom is sitting on the porch swing with the Sunday paper. (Memphis has presumably already read the comics, because why would Memphis let anyone else touch it before her?)

Memphis sticks her head out the front door. "How do you make eggs?" "How do you make X?" "This isn't for Mother's Day." "How do you...?"

Memphis Mom answers all the questions.

The kitchen does not burn down.

Memphis brings out a lovely late breakfast, and Memphis Mom is REALLY surprised, because Memphis Mom believed Memphis when she said it wasn't Mother's Day related.

This was sometime in the last 5 years.

One year after the divorce, Dad took us to Wal-Mart and made us get some schlocky Mom thing (Chicken's Soup maybe?) even though we were like we know what she wants (Jeff Foxworth VHS).

Mother's Day... I'd feel worse if I just got a "mom" thing, because that can go to any mom. It's better to get something she'd like - chicken stuff, racing stuff, Josh Pastner in her bed, you get the picture. I mean, I'd feel worse getting her a generic mom thing (sappy animal pictures?) than nothing but a phone call or an attack on her bed at early o'clock. "We didn't want Mikey to wake you up, so we're going to do it!"

[Ms. Chandni]

an attack on her bed at early o'clock. "We didn't want Mikey to wake you up, so we're going to do it!"

You have to give her this!  It's the best present ever!  I don't get these anymore because my baby's either far away at college, or sleeping til noon. 

[kmemphis]

You have to give her this!  It's the best present ever!  I don't get these anymore because my baby's either far away at college, or sleeping til noon. 

Well, finals start soon, so I should be home by that Sunday. Probably Beck too.

Only problem is we might crash in her bed Saturday night*, making a Sunday morning attack hard.

*Okay, Beck might not, but if my room is in oven mode (as it always is when it's warm out), I probably will be.

Is it weird to be in college and still sleep in your mom's bed?* Nah, she needs us because eventually we'll really leave and okay her room is really comfortable when my room is hot and the couch isn't always comfy when we have to be up for an early appointment. Also, SOMEONE keeps having procedures and surgeries and should probably sleep with somebody.

*The 2 years I was at college and Beck was still in high school, she slept in mom's bed all the time. Even after we got her a real bed (king, takes up the whole room, now the mess is on the bed). I blame the divorce and the lack of human men spending the night on a regular basis for our closeness. Oh no, I'm close with my mom at 21!

[kmemphis]

You have to give her this!  It's the best present ever!  I don't get these anymore because my baby's either far away at college, or sleeping til noon. 

And when she complains later, I'll say that I had it on another mom's word that it was the best present ever.

She's doooooooooooooomed. Because I have to get up at 8 to take my meds, but she doesn't have morning meds, so even if Becky is off sleeping in her bed or at a friend's house, I can at least jump up there and bother her. After tossing Mikey's furry butt outside.

[Ranranbolly]

Mom actually gets mad when we do things for mother's day. Mainly because we remember a schlocky holiday, but always forget her exact birthday 

[kmemphis]

Mom actually gets mad when we do things for mother's day. Mainly because we remember a schlocky holiday, but always forget her exact birthday 

Get Hallmark to make your mom's birthday a holiday and then you'll remember it!

[punkmama]

i love mother's day, always have. i have an amazing, selfless mom and a whole day to get to go overboard? bring it on! i am also a small-thoughtful-gifts-all-year-long type of daughter, my mom is just really amazing and never, ever takes enough time or money for herself, so i love to "force" her too...and now that i am a mom...my little gifts that vincent picks out for me are the most treasured possessions i have ever had...i am a sap!

[2hapyft]

i love mother's day, always have. i have an amazing, selfless mom and a whole day to get to go overboard? bring it on! i am also a small-thoughtful-gifts-all-year-long type of daughter, my mom is just really amazing and never, ever takes enough time or money for herself, so i love to "force" her too...and now that i am a mom...my little gifts that vincent picks out for me are the most treasured possessions i have ever had...i am a sap!

Aww very sweet punkmama. I also have a very selfless mom that I love to spend my money and do things for her/with her because she did so much for us and did without herself.

[kmemphis]

i love mother's day, always have. i have an amazing, selfless mom and a whole day to get to go overboard? bring it on! i am also a small-thoughtful-gifts-all-year-long type of daughter, my mom is just really amazing and never, ever takes enough time or money for herself, so i love to "force" her too...and now that i am a mom...my little gifts that vincent picks out for me are the most treasured possessions i have ever had...i am a sap!

My mom's awesome too and the best gift (for both of us, though I'd really like cash, thanks) is just hanging out.

Like I told my friend, I can't get a job this summer - who will watch judge shows with my mom?! Who will mock the Lifetime movies she tries in vain to watch? Priorities.

[jjake61]

My Mom is far away so usually she just gets a phone call from me. ( I am the bad thoughtless daughter when it comes to this stuff, but seriously part of my problem is I don't shop and don't pay attention to advertising so I very frequently get surprised by Mothers day and Fathers day.)

My daughters Birthday is usually the same weekend, so being the single parent all these years her birthday trumps my Mothers Day, plus I wouldn't be a Mom if it weren't for her, So Moms day is all about her. I usually have to remind her its Mothers day so she can make me a card, so she doesn't feel bad for forgetting.
She turns 15 this year and starts drivers ed. that week so I will probably buy myself some wine. 

[kmemphis]

She turns 15 this year and starts drivers ed. that week so I will probably buy myself some wine. 

She gets Drivers Ed? We didn't - the city and the county don't offer it as a regular course, though the city offers it as $300 summer course.

Of course, we're out in the country (there are cows nearby... somewhere) so half of my classmates learned how to drive the tractor first.

I never got Drivers Ed and here I am all dependent on people... but hey, if I can't think because of pain, do you want me behind the wheel?

My mom... um... I can't remember her doing anything for Mother's Day. Of course, we are always broke and have never lived near Grandma. This year, she will probably call her because of Uncle Mickey's death last fall. (And all the other deaths this year - most recently a friend's fiance - have her in a "I love you, you don't know if you'll die tomorrow" mood. Though see if she calls me or responds to my texts on Sunday! Hmph! )

[kmemphis]

So I didn't do a flying leap on to her bed - I forgot, and Becky was already there, snoring away.

I could have done it later, except she never napped in her bed the rest of the day. How rude!

We went to the local Mexican restaurants and I tried a blue margarita (and was carded). It was grody. Mom was not carded and got a daiquiri, which was much better, but she wouldn't trade.

My sister's gift - especially after all that happened - was being here and being herself.

Before everything happened, I bought this on a whim. She asked me if her present was practical and I was like, of course not!

http://www.wow-imports.com/proddetail.asp?prod=small4-recycled-bag-chicken

She likes chickens and she loved it. Beck was like "it's made of trash bags? why?"

[victoria]

I feel really awful about this Mother's Day. I'm away at college, my grandmother is visiting my aunt in Indiana and none of my mother's friends have children and don't really care about Mother's Day, so my mom is basically all alone. She told me not to get her anything because she knows how strapped I am for cash, and I bought a card but forgot to mail it out in time so she told me just to keep it until she comes to move me home next week. Still though, I feel terrible! She's more like my best friend than a mother, and we're basically all each other has, so it makes me sad that she has to be alone today. I called her, of course, but this is the first time I've ever been away from home for Mother's Day, or for any prolonged amount of time at all, and I know she's bummed out  Her birthday is at the end of the month, though, so I hope I can make it up to her!

[Ms. Chandni]

If you called her, then she'll be fine.  I was alone for the first time, too.  My daughter sent me a gift early in the week. King of Bollywood. I pretended I'd never read it before.

[leaf]

I feel really awful about this Mother's Day. I'm away at college, my grandmother is visiting my aunt in Indiana and none of my mother's friends have children and don't really care about Mother's Day, so my mom is basically all alone. She told me not to get her anything because she knows how strapped I am for cash, and I bought a card but forgot to mail it out in time so she told me just to keep it until she comes to move me home next week. Still though, I feel terrible! She's more like my best friend than a mother, and we're basically all each other has, so it makes me sad that she has to be alone today. I called her, of course, but this is the first time I've ever been away from home for Mother's Day, or for any prolonged amount of time at all, and I know she's bummed out   Her birthday is at the end of the month, though, so I hope I can make it up to her!

As someone who does not care about Mother's Day (neither does my mother) and also considers her mother her best friend, I think the friendship you have with your mother counts far more than anything you can do on a hallmark holiday. I was with a friend today who hates her mother, but did the whole mother's day thing anyway because she felt obligated to. Not to be cheesy, but your mother is a lot better off than my friend's. I don't mean to be harsh about people who do celebrate it, but I really can't deal with people trying to make money of my relationship with my mother, which is what it often feels like.

[Vinita]

We took my MIL out to lunch at her favourite Mexican restaurant, which also happens to be hubby's favourite.   

[acooluserrname]

Since I'm the only one left I had nothing planned for Mother's Day---my neck alas, being no respecter of holidays---had plans of its own and I spent the day in bed, smelling like bloody Icy Hot and popping headache pills (It's the same sort of headache I got at the South Asian Carnival of August '09)
BUT, while I personally had nothing planned, and though the gift my neck gave me, quite frankly, sucked. My boy-o gave me two wonderful Indian puppets a la the ones in Paheli!

No clue HOW he lucked out to find those but find 'em he did & the BEST MD gift---even better than the puppets---was overhearing him on his XBox as he jumped all over some other player for picking on another player who was crying.

"So enough. He's crying. What the hell do you get out of that? What are you aiming for, to make the poor kid kill himself (insert swearing here)? What the hell are YOU worth? Can you do anything to make things BETTER? Get the hell out of my game (more swearing)...!"

He's a great guy, and I LIKE him for being that kind of guy. So neck and head be damned, THAT was my coolest mothers day gift.

[kmemphis]

As someone who does not care about Mother's Day (neither does my mother) and also considers her mother her best friend, I think the friendship you have with your mother counts far more than anything you can do on a hallmark holiday. I was with a friend today who hates her mother, but did the whole mother's day thing anyway because she felt obligated to. Not to be cheesy, but your mother is a lot better off than my friend's. I don't mean to be harsh about people who do celebrate it, but I really can't deal with people trying to make money of my relationship with my mother, which is what it often feels like.

I'm friends with my mom too, and I found that chicken by accident. Without mother's day, I may have got it as a "I'm coming home" present or something.

There are these ads for a local flower place that say "It's not Mother's Day, it's not her birthday, it's not your anniversary, it's just another day. Give her flowers."

Of course, under 18, birthdays should be special with cake and lots of presents, bit I like the sentiment, even if I hate flowers.

[los angeles]

As someone who does not care about Mother's Day (neither does my mother) and also considers her mother her best friend, I think the friendship you have with your mother counts far more than anything you can do on a hallmark holiday. I was with a friend today who hates her mother, but did the whole mother's day thing anyway because she felt obligated to. Not to be cheesy, but your mother is a lot better off than my friend's. I don't mean to be harsh about people who do celebrate it, but I really can't deal with people trying to make money of my relationship with my mother, which is what it often feels like.

Leaf I used to think this way too, exactly, but I guess I see it totally differently now. WHen I was in high school and college I was sort of cynical and skeptical of so much stuff and now that I'm nearly 36 it's like the complete opposite [getting old and not necessarily "wise" but definitely more absurdly sentimental ]
Now I feel like it's just a really nice excuse to do something for someone you care about. Same for Christmas and Valentine's Day and all those sort of holidays. Of course they are commercialized in a ridiculous way, but you can sidestep all that and just make them meaningful  by seeing them as a simple day to celebrate someone very cool who happens to be in your life.
I also think those holidays are helpful for some of us who are a bit shy to reach out to others at times. I know for me, on Valentine's Day or Mother's Day or Christmas or whatever, I don't feel quite as awkward or hesitant to make a gesture or take someone a gift or flower or candy or chocolate, because everyone is doing this stuff on that day. I think this might be true for many other people as well. It pulls you out of your conservative shyness a bit.
Also, I think there are a lot of people who do things that are simple and not about spending money at all, like making their mom breakfast in bed, or picking a flower for her, or just giving a hug and saying "Happy Mother's Day." These don't cost anything, and are just really lovely little memorable things that are a bit more heartfelt I think.
So that's how I see it now. Just another perspective

[radhika s]

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms of Bollywhat:)

A drawing of Parvati with son Ganesh for the occasion:



^ I can't find the website of the lady who made this sketch, her blog was formerly at http://kaumudi4.blogspot.com/

[radhika s]

In line with the mother-and-child theme for Mother's Day, a couple images of Yashoda and Krishna also