Maybe she’s missing her own mom?

Mother's Day absolutely exists in other countries. Our au pairs have all been French (as is my husband) and they celebrate it, just on a different day. Same for several other European countries. It is celebrated in Latin and South American countries (some not all) on the same day as the US, our Colombian housekeeper and I discussed it the day after because several of her friends called her that day, and she spent time doing things with her adult daughter.
That said, Mother's Day is about celebrating your mother, not your wife or employer or friend... so it's not really outrageous that she didn't say anything to you as you aren't her mom, but it is a little weird and perhaps passive aggressive given that she did last year. Our AP helped my kids make a gift for me, but on MD she was on vacation in Miami with her friends so I didn't hear anything from her, which was fine.

Mother's Day is an American holiday which she may not even be aware of. I'm an LCC with Cultural Care and I try to educate my group on the holidays through my newsletters and Facebook group. This year I had the au pairs make gifts for the Mother's day at my meeting. It's all part of the Cultural Exchange feel free to tell her about the holidays I'm sure she would appreciate learning from you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She didnt forget. And it’s not an American holiday!!!! But yes... I am trying to move on.

Yes, it is. We have family in another country and they do not celebrate it but celebrate Women's Day instead.

+1. Mother's day is a US thing. I grew up in Europe and I have a vague recollection of drawing cards for my mom in early elementary school. other than that, Mother's day simply does not exist in my country. fast forward, I came to the US and married my American husband in my mid-30's and I was shocked to see my grown-up DH call his mom on Mother's day, to me this was something only kids in kindergarten do. so now on Mother's day my 50 something husband calls him mom. I do not call my mom in Europe because she would ask what the heck I am talking about. agree with others that this is just a fake holiday created by card makers and restaurants.

I call and send cards to my mother and grandmother. When they were alive, I did the same for my great- and great-great-grandmothers. I call my step-mother. If I had a mother-in-law, I’d call her.

If you don’t have a relationship with me that is at all similar to a feminine parent? No call or card.

My theory is because last year she was trying to make a good impression so you’d extend and this year she’s almost on her way out so no need to make an effort?

Anonymous wrote:FWIW I have a very similar situation except this is my first mother’s fay with her (she came in sept) and she’s extending another year. She’s great with the kids. I like her. Not a peep about mother’s day until she said something like “oh yeah, it’s mothers day today right?” Then nothing (not happy mother’s day or anything). To draw her out in convo I asked her whether they celebrate mother’s day in her country and she said yes. That was the extent of our convo. I invited her to dinner with the in-laws and she said sure but did not show. I’m not offended. I’m not her mom! Plus she had other things going on in her life ... perhaps a first American boyfriend.

Ok to not celebrate you for Mother's Day, not ok to say she's coming to dinner and be a no-show.

might have been a passive aggressive message on the part of your AP, but with five months left, just focus on the positive aspects and keep the ship afloat.