My Perfect Mother’s Day
I wrote a week ago with inexpensive Mother’s Day gift ideas. My goal was to keep them under $20. Obviously, I’m cheap because I just opened up my email to find a newsletter from Oprah with her suggestions. Here are a few of them:
Barbara Barry Candles–$48
$48 Candles??!!! Who buys candles that nearly cost fifty bucks? They better sing and dance, or better yet, clean my house for that much.
Stationary Set by Elum Designs –$150
Are you kidding me?!! It’s paper. Why would anyone spend that much on paper when we have email now? I’m all about the simplicity and fine art of writing a letter, but if it is going to cost me that much I think I’ll keep my thoughts to myself.
Claus Porto Soaps (set of 3)–$42 Available at Macy’s
Seriously??!!! How dirty do you have to be to need $42 soap? I just picked up some a few days ago–Dial Soap (set of 2)–$1 Available at Dollar Tree.
Oprah, I think you’ve completely lost your mind, but I’ll forgive you because you do try to bring good to the world. In her defense, there are some handmade, less expensive gift ideas on the website.
It’s not just Oprah. Mother’s Day is being over-hyped everywhere. I rarely watch commercials anymore (God Bless TIVO!), but I happened to catch one last night that angered and upset me like you wouldn’t believe.
It was a jewelry commercial for Mother’s Day. You may have seen it. The mom is taken to a “spa” in her backyard where her children paint her nails and curl her hair. Then they say “And here is your diamond necklace.” and the mom just kind of laughs and opens it expecting it to be a piece of costume jewelry. Imagine her surprise to see an actual diamond necklace with her loving husband standing off to the side smiling. The perfect family. The perfect Mother’s Day.
At first I started to get all teary eyed (It is that time of the month where I cry at the drop of a hat) and feel all warm and fuzzy over this sweet family. Then (bring on the mood swings) the more I thought about it, the more I started to feel a little resentful that my family sucks so bad that they don’t make me an outdoor spa with diamonds. Before I got myself too worked up at my family, I snapped out of it and began to feel rage at the media (let me tell you this PMS is in full force).
It’s commercials like these that ruin Mother’s Day for real moms. I’m not talking about the diamond necklace so much. I’m sure there are plenty of people that like to give and receive jewelry on Mother’s Day. It is more the whole hype of having your family plan a big surprise for you. In my experience this is just building yourself up for a let down.
When I first became a mom, I ruined my first couple of Mother’s Days pouting and sulking because my husband didn’t do the “right” thing. Basically all I got was a store bought card and a hug. I don’t know what I expected, but because of commercials like the one I saw last night, I thought it had to be more than that. I know that I should have been grateful that I even had a family, because there are plenty of women who aren’t able to have children.
After about three years of disappointment (I’m a slow learner), I decided that I would plan my own day and let everyone know exactly what I expected. I knew we didn’t have a big budget, so it was more about the experience than the gift. Plus, now that my kids were in school, thanks to their teachers, they made the most precious gifts that would mean way more than a diamond necklace ever could.
The day usually consists of breakfast in bed (pancakes made by husband and kids), then spending the rest of the morning reading a gossip magazine that my husband picked up for me the night before. I also delegate a few chores to be done while I sit in bed like a queen. All issues must be handled by dad because I am officially off duty. Later we go and visit our moms and that is about it. Nothing expensive, nothing too elaborate, but a perfect day for me.
So, how do you spend Mother’s Day? What do you think of all commercialism of the day? I’d love to hear about it in the comments.
I’m adding this post to Frugal Fridays at Biblical Womanhood. Head on over to get more inspiration for ways to spend less but still live a full life. Oprah, if you are reading this, I really think you should stop by. You are out of control.
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12 Responses to “My Perfect Mother’s Day”
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This will be my third Mother’s Day to be a mom. I really can’t remember if or what we did last year. It seems everything is becoming way too commercial these days. I’d like a nice card, a day off from housework, and to do something fun together like go to the park, take a bike ride, etc.. That’d be the perfect Mother’s Day.
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Crazy! Baby magazines make me mad, too, when they feature cute outfits that cost hundreds of dollars. What kind of crazy person would put $500 worth of clothes on a toddler who’s just going to throw up on it or take a mud bath or run around with the dog?
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You know, I love this post. Beautifully written and so very true! I am so glad I stopped by!
Oh and the Oprah gifts at those prices, it’s annoying and insulting. Just WHO exactly is her audience?
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Well, I do think Mother’s Day is commercial, but no more so than Father’s Day or Grad time. Unfortunately, I believe it’s a reflection on our consumer culture. Anything remotely celebratory has become a perfectly acceptable reason to buy something.
It’s good and bad IMHO. For me, I try to be good about telling and showing the people I love how much I love them on a regular basis, but sometimes those clever folks at Hallmark manage to sum up my feelings perfectly. And searching for and giving someone just the right gift feels pretty good (and is an excuse to go one for you, one for me shoppping).
Plus, I love getting mail addressed to me that’s not bills or spam! ;^)
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Ilove Mothers day so I can have a day to not cook I love it most of the time but they need to too: Twilight comes out in November have you read the book
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[...] read a great blog post today From Daily Mish Mash on the commercialism on Mother’s Day, and how it can make us feel when our expectations [...]
Great post! I mentioned this post in my own Mother’s Day post I wrote. I had to laugh at your description of the commercial- there is no way I’d even WANT my kids to pain my toe nails- it would look like I had gotten them caught in a lawn mower or something.
Oprah has really gone down in my eyes. She used to be so inspirational, and now she is promoting such odd things- Tom Cruise, silly expensive gifts, fake book authors, etc. Hope she can get back to her “roots.”
Happy Mother’s Day.
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Trying to comment- wrote out a post, hope you get it. I mentioned your post in my Mother’s Day post.
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I came here on recommendation of Beth@ishouldbefoldinglaundry and I’m happy I did! There is nothing more powerful for me than a brilliant mix of humor and wisdom. And yes, you’ve got me both laughing and thinking. OK. The diamond spa? Here in New England the mom opens diamond earrings. My daughter Audrey (pregnant with her 4th boy!) asked if I thought her husband would be getting the diamond earrings for her. We had a grand laugh! We’re thinking maybe a leaf blower. My daughter Jane is the Mommy of two big, beautiful dogs. She joined in the laughter… she thinks her pups will be getting her an oil change. Now me? I will be cooking for my mother and my mother-in-law… enjoying each and every idiosyncrasy… (and there are many!!) because these moments are what I will remember forever. Then all my kids and grandkids will come for coffee and dessert and total chaos will reign. Just how I like it!
Amazing post! Thanks, Beth, for sending me here!
Sharon – Pinks & Blues
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I love Oprah, but I do agree that she has lost touch with reality.
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Just over for Beth’s blog…I wanted to leave a comment and tell you I love you design. I agree, Oprah’s gifts are just plain out of my league. And the only thing I ever want for Mother’s Day is to sleep late!
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I agree that Mother’s Day has become too commercial/ Growing up I remember giving mom & grandma homemade cards. I feel such pressure to purchase nice gifts for my mother, mother in law and the great grandmas (2). With 4 boys (all under 4) I dread Mothers Day. When did Mothers Day become Christmas? I feel the same for Valentine’s Day, Easter & Fathers Day. I refuse to give in. Homemade cards & gift for us. I hope my children always make me their special cards with their own thoughts, even when they are married w/ children!
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