Hellobee Boards

My most miserable one was a few days after what would have been my due date for a pregnancy I lost at six weeks. I remember being in church and the minister talked about thinking about women who had lost their children and women who wanted to be mothers but weren’t able to be, and I cried. The next mother’s day I was halfway through the 2ww for an IVF cycle that ended up working. My first actual mother’s day was a letdown, my husband planned nothing and as a gift gave me a bunch of “coupons” for “time off” that I never actually used. The next year my husband bought me tulips, which I loved, except we had a cat who chewed all their heads off. I shut them in a bathroom and the cat threw herself against the door so hard it opened and when we came home that afternoon it was tulip carnage. Last year I finally got smart, told my husband what I wanted, made us brunch reservations, and we had a great day. This year I’ve done the same thing.

Almost every year, we go camping where food/activities are provided. DH sets up the tent, carries gear and is at my beck and call. If not, we go to my aunt's/cousins' house and we spend quality family time. This year DD and I are going horseback riding and I'll see my cousins on Memorial Day.

We don't really do holidays, so it's just another day. Also, between our two cultures and the local culture, we never know which mother's day to celebrate, so we don't . (Same for father's day). Usually the kids make something at school, and that's about it. I actually loved my gift from DS last year, it was a little booklet that he illustrated and wrote in. I saved that.

My first year as a mom, when my son was about 2mo, my mother guilt-invited us over for lunch and then invited this random friend of her -- who I dislike -- without checking with me first.

For the next two years I made brunch reservations for our family, my sister, and our parents. My MIL did not especially like coming to us on Mother's Day, nor did she like that it was just brunch and not a more extended visit.

Last year my MIL basically took over Mother's Day and my husband did nothing to stop it. She had just had major surgery, but I had just had my third miscarriage (which my she did not know about). I was really hurt by my husband decision to passively ignore me to pacify his mother.

This year his mom asked him to spend the day at her house doing chores. I told him that he has to arrange something that works for all three moms. Since I am ending my second trimester with twins and also annoyed about last year, I am not spending any time planning anything. As far as I know he has made zero progress so we may not be doing anything at all. That is still better than spending the day camping out at my MIL's, so whatever.

Hallmark holidays make me grumpy!

@bhbee: same! Year 0 and 1 were all about me. Now that we are on year 4, I know my husband has not gotten a gift yet and we are back to going to my in-laws to celebrate! Not a huge deal bc I am not super big into the holiday, but I did note with amusement how it has changed.

Growing up we used to take my mom, godmother, and grandma out for brunch after church and then we'd often go back to our house to spend the day together and the moms would open a few gifts. We'd usually have a nice early dinner and dessert. We did similar things for father's day with my dad and grandpa.

Year 0 - I was 5 months pregnant with DD1 and felt a little weird about the day because I was in limbo. We didn't do much to celebrate but I did get a couple mom-to-be cards from my mom, godmother, and sister. I didn't know it yet, but this was my last mother's day with my mom (though not physically with her because we live in different states) before she passed away

Year 1 - I had expectations and apparently did not voice them to DH well enough. I had to get up early with the baby while DH slept in, and he had made no plans for brunch or have anything special planned. Apparently he was waiting for me to tell him what to do

Year 2 - I honestly don't remember this year very much. My mom had passed away 2 months before and I know I was very sensitive on the day. I think we went to brunch after church and passed the day quietly as a family.

Year 3 - I was 6 months pregnant with DD2 (a rainbow baby). DH was prepared this year and ordered me a beautiful necklace from DD1. He offered to take us to brunch but I wanted to keep this quiet. I dictated the day's activities and I think we mainly just played outside and didn't do much.

This year I instructed DH early on that I don't want him to do anything, mainly because I'm so busy with 2 girls that I don't want to have to do anything for father's day (he could care less about gifts and such) It would be sweet if 3.5yo DD1 acknowledged the day on her own and if DD2 said mama again (she's apparently forgotten this word) but I have no real expectations about either of those things!

Mother's Day is kind of hard for me because my own mother died before I had kids. We always see my MIL, which is fine b/c I love her, but it always reminds me of the fact that I can never see my own mom again.

I've had 4 Mother's Days since LO1 was born and we've mostly just had the typical brunch either at a restaurant or at my MIL's house. I think a couple of those were also with SIL and her family. They've basically been pretty forgettable.

This year, we are trying something new. My kids are now 4 and 18 months but my younger one has a feeding delay so meals are really stressful for us in general and I just don't want to do a brunch. We decided instead that DH will bring the kids down to his mom's house and spend the day there, and I will get a day off for myself. I am really looking forward to this and hope it can be a new tradition.

My first Mother's day DH was out of town on a guy's weekend and I was home with a 1.5 month old! He sent me flowers though.

After that, we started going to a baseball game (we have a minor league team in our city) and it ended up becoming a tradition. This will be our 6th year in a row. I love baseball so it works for me. After the game the Mom's get to run (or walk) the bases with their kids. I'm looking forward to running the bases with my 17 month old. It will be his first time out there with me.

@nana87: That would be awesome to walk with LO. Congrats on a challenging accomplishment!

Mother's Day when six months pregnant: my husband made me cupcakes, which I thought was really sweet.

First mother's day with a child (last year): went out to brunch. And my sister (who does not have kids) sent me a gift, I was really touched by that.

Mother's day this year: I'm now living close to my family again. My sister and I set up a brunch for my mom on Saturday, because she prefers that to going out on the actual day. Then my mom, sister and I, plus my son, are going to a tea for moms and children at my parents' church later that day. On Sunday just me, my husband, and my son are going out for a meal. Can you tell we all like to eat? hahaha

My family growing up was very low key about all holidays and luckily for me, DH grew up similarly. We always just call/FaceTime our moms and nothing more. I don't like brunch on Mother's Day because of the crowds and special, more expensive and usually worse-service menus. I think last year, we took a nice bike ride as a family along the river front.

This year, I bookmarked a "family mindfulness" event that's is happening at a local museum on Mother's Day, and that is right up my alley, but I would only be able to take my oldest so we'll see if that pans out.

I basically want to sleep in and have DH make me brekkie and then have a nice family day with the kids.