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[quote=Anonymous]Obviously I have a huge bias here, but I think that it's pretty fair to leave the majority of the hoopla about Mother's Day focused on the people who are actively mothering children, not the mothers of now grown adults.  Not that those mothers should be overlooked or slighted, but if you've got a baby, a toddler, and an elementary school kid at home, I think you get to enjoy the treat of having a sleep-in and breakfast in bed rather than getting up early and schlepping to Grandma's house to take her out to brunch.

I don't have a dog in this fight since my MIL is one of those people who get angry and annoyed if you do anything in their honor - she hates even getting a birthday card.  It's a reverse attention seeking thing, since she makes a big deal if you don't acknowledge her birthday in a passive aggressive way, like, "It's SO nice that for one year NO ONE REMEMBERED MY BIRTHDAY AT ALL.  It was SO RELAXING.  I really never thought a day would come when not one of my children would get me a present for my birthday, but it is SO NICE not to have to deal with all of you going out of your way and spending money on me."  She made such a big deal out of getting what she always said she wanted that my DH then had to buy her a bigger gift than usual the following year, which she then complained about.

Me?  I take her at her word.  She said she doesn't want anyone to do anything for her on Mother's Day, and I simply spoke up and said, "That's great, Phyllis.  I was really hoping our new little family could have the whole day together, so I'm glad you won't be offended that we won't be spending time with you that day.  I hope you have a wonderful day just the way you like it!"  I will probably never hear the end of it, but I intend to enjoy it.

As for my own mother, she is content and delighted with a card and a phone call, as I hope I will be when my son is grown and he wants to spend the day pampering the mother of my grandchildren, if I'm ever so lucky.[/quote]

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