I’ve been a Mum for almost ten years now, and over that time I’ve had a few insights into how Mother’s Day goes down.
As a new Mum, I held the misguided belief that Mother’s Day was a day for everyone to be grateful for what I had done for them; from wiping their noses, to playing jigsaws, from hauling the food shop in from the car to loading the dishwasher, to nurturing and growing a tiny human to soothing them to sleep in the middle of the night. It was the one day I could put my feet up and hear everyone just say ‘ Thank you! You’re doing great!’
Well in years gone by it’s not always gone down like that. One memorable year I recall spending the whole day cleaning and vacuuming my car so I could then list it on AutoTrader – not how Mother’s Day was ever due to go down in my head.
So I’ve learnt now I’m coming up to my tenth Mother’s Day, the best way to get what you’d like from the day is to be totally explicit with your expectations! That way there’s no margin for error and everyone is happy come the end of the day! So here are the six golden rules for a successful Mother’s Day round ours!
1.) A Lie in
A totally uninterrupted lie in, on my own, where I can possibly sleep, or even read a few pages of an actual book.
2.) Breakfast in bed
Nothing too fancy, maybe a bit of granola, a croissant and a cup of tea.
3.) Thoughtful gifts from the Smalls
Usually the Smalls make something at school, Brownies or pre-school which fits the bill nicely. A homemade card, better still a thoughtful poem, that thanks me for the lovely things I do for them, if it makes me cry it’s a winner!
4.) Little gift
Yes a lovely bottle of perfume or a coveted necklace would be ideal, but I’m really not that bothered, 1, 2 and 3 are much more important to me, so a new mug or small box of chocolates and I’m happy. Honestly ?
5.) Flowers
This is a personal one as Mr P doesn’t agree with buying flowers as ‘they just die’ ? So if I get just a small bunch I’m totally over the moon, as I know, he knows, it means I know, he’s really made an extra effort to do something that goes against his feelings just to make me happy!
6.) A little TLC
Not too much pampering, I don’t need whisking off on a Spa day – just to not have to clear the table, an offer of making up the packed lunches for tomorrow or bathing the kids. And it’s the offering that counts, I’m happy to do the things, just someone else thinking if I do it, then you don’t have to, is enough! Though to be honest, someone else doing the things is up there too! ?
What’s on your explicit Mother’s Day list – have you had any shockers in the past?!
