My family has become so dysfunctional that we could probably score a spot on Jerry Springer! *lol*

My mom has never given any of us Mother's Day cards. We give them to her. My kids and husband give them to me.

My husband once told me "I'm not your mother." I told him he was in big trouble if he didn't treat me right on Mother's Day. LOL! I made him take me out for breakfast one Mother's Day when I was six months pregnant. We had gone to church and by the time we got to the restaurant, they were out of cinnamon rolls. I had my heart set on cinnamon rolls, so I made him take me to a second restaurant. They were too busy to even serve us. I cried and was very emotional. I laugh now when I think about it. But boy was I mad then!

I always try to call my mom and send flowers to her. My mom has eight kids so she gets a lot of flowers and a lot of phone calls. My siblings that live in my hometown will drop in and spend time with her. I'm hoping my family takes me out for breakfast! Maybe a cinnamon roll for a treat!

I never had a problem going to my parents house or the hubby's parents house when I didn't have children. Much easier for my young body to get out of the house than their old body's lol. After I had children it was easier for them to come to our house. They didn't have to drag stuff with them to take care of the kids. Now that my kids are older and the parents are older we do the traveling again. If you are the one with the child, and the full time job I don't see why she can't come to your house as long as their isn't a physical or medical reason why she can't.

This drives my SIL in particular nuts with her own parents because she had 2 little ones 2 years apart so it was especially a pain to go anywhere because they always had to bring tons of stuff with them. They'd have a baby swing, 2 car seats, at least 2 diaper bags and toys. It seemed a major undertaking to go anywhere. Meanwhile her parents would be visiting other friends in the same city their daughter lived in, practically on the same street and couldn't be bothered to either drop in for a quick visit or call and say that they were going to be visiting nearby and could they stop in for a few minutes. Something like that would have gone a long way with her but now they are virtually estranged.

I had that problem with my parents when my kids were 4 and a newborn. I would tell them, you live as close to me as I live to you and you only have yourself to drag around.

My mother and My MIL live 5 minutes away from me, so travel is never a problem. My mom and I are very close. We go to water aerobics twice a week and I spend every Thursday night at her house.

When Jake was young, I think I felt the "what about me" feelings, but now, I just want to have a pleasant day. I planned Brunch at my house for my mom & my brother will come. My mom was a little hesitant, "Its your mothers day too, it just doesn’t seem right that you should have to cook" But I like to cook breakfast and it will make for a nicer day than being at a busy restaurant. The next day my MIL calls and informs us that she is having a Mother's Day brunch at her house. Boy, she was not very happy to hear that we wouldn't be coming because we were having something at our house for my mom. We are having her over for dinner on Saturday night instead, but I still don't think she's very happy!!

So I guess my point is that close or not, any holiday can still be difficult to coordinate.

As I read this thread I realized I had never even thought of sending a Mothers day card to my child (when they are mothers). I am sure every family has their own traditions though, but I don't imagine I will be sending Mothers Day gifts to my daughters and daughters-in-law. I sort of assumed the cards/gifts went child to parent, or daughters in law to mothers in law. It never occured to me to expect a Mothers day gift from my mom or MIL. Maybe our family just does it differntly though. Good to set ground rules if things are being misunderstood.

This thread has had me thinking since I first read it. I'm the first to moan about running everywhere on holidays, especially Mother's Day.

Then I started thinking about my son. He's only 4 now, but someday if he's married with kids they will feel the same way. I suppose I would be pretty sad if they couldn't see me or didn't want to. Just hurt.

I guess for now, I'll just suck it up and act gracious as always. I have to remember that our mothers likely did the same. Maybe it's our turn to be in the sun when we're older and everyone runs to see us?

I'm usually most bothered running to see my MIL who demands most of our day and never tells me 'Happy Mother's Day'. I guess she just overlooks it. I agree with Lyn, I don't need a present or card- those are for moms and I'm not my MIL's mother (how Jerry Springer would THAT be???) but simple acknowledgment or respect for my time that day would be cool.

I just got off the phone with hubby. He was out and was going to pick up cards. I told him to buy one for his mom and his grandma. "But she's not my mom" he says. *sigh* I know she's not his mom, but isn't it just respectful to give a card to Grandma too? I have no grandparents and feel he doesn't appreciate his.

Am I way off? What about Grandparents.

Sandi, I'm with you on that one. I always get my grandmother a mothers day gift. My grandmother practically raised me when my mother and stepmother didn't want me, so... it's appropriate in my situation. I don't know. Without them, we still wouldn't be here......

My sister and boyfriend take turns giving me mothers day cards from my cats. TEEHEE.