Sunday’s paper was filled with all sorts of advertisements spotlighting the best Mother’s Day Gifts. For the photography buff, a camera! Music Lover? An iPod! Purses! Perfumes! Digital Photo Frames! Jewelry!
As lovely as all of these gifts are, and they truly are wonderful things, I don’t think that these are what many mothers of young children truly want. The gift that we do want? Hint: It’s completely free!
What we want is a day off, a true day off. Not a day off that has to be prepared for days in advance, complete with schedules and instructions, lists and pre-made casseroles so everyone survives. Not a day that will mean more work later, putting everything back where it belongs and catching up on the dishes and laundry.
A day where someone else is the decision maker, schedule maker, naptime enforcer, bad guy, and the nag.
A day where someone else remembers to buy the wedding gift for an unknown co-worker, the birthday gifts for a two-year-old boy, a four-year-old girl, and five-year-old boy/girl twins, to mail the check, to call about the insurance, to make the kid’s doctors appointments.
This day off should be given without a hint of irritation. It should be given selflessly and without expectation for repayment or thanks.
That’s all I want. Just one day off.
What do YOU want for Mother’s Day?
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Head on over to Blissfully Domestic today for our baby shower! You can win stuff!
Chris
May 5, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Stumbled onto your blog and HAD to respond. A-MEN to every word you said. My friends and I were just contemplating whether it made us bad moms that we would prefer to spend Mother’s Day without our kids! No chocolate, no flowers…just. time. without. work. Thanks for this post! Chris
Chris’s last blog post..Norman Rockwell
Robin
May 5, 2008 at 2:53 pm
I would like a full night of uninterrupted sleep followed by a day off as you described.
I know this will never happen. With 5 kids, it’s going to be awhile before we have quiet ever again.
So, what I really want more than anything, is some sincere appreciation. From Hubby. From the kids.
I really wish they’d just think to say “thanks” once in awhile. Thanks for wiping my butt. Thanks for remembering I have a concert and need my blue polo washed before that night. Thanks for making sure my clothes are clean. Thanks for making sure I eat 3 squares a day and that I get plenty of sleep. Thanks for reminding me to brush my teeth so they don’t rot out of my head. Thanks for fixing my broken toy. Thanks for letting me buy something even though you said we were too broke to have anything. Thanks for being there. Thanks for the unconditional love and support.
Thank you for being my Mom/Wife and everything you do for us.
The best gift of all would be to hear it when it’s not a “special” day. We are mothers every day. Not just once a year.
Robin’s last blog post..Extreme Makeover, Hubby Edition
Jennifer
May 5, 2008 at 2:59 pm
So glad you stumbled here, Chris!
And no, it doesn’t make us bad mother’s, it makes us normal.
Jennifer
May 5, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Robin, I agree, thank yous go a long way! A day off would just go further!
jen
May 5, 2008 at 3:50 pm
oh wouldn’t a day like that be divine??
my husband – a pilot, ugh – is out of town that day…and HIS family decided it would be a perfect day to celebrate ALL the may birthdays. ON MOTHERS DAY. what?? and, of course, it was my baby’s birthday on the third. so…lucky lucky me…i get to spend mother’s day with my in-laws.
you’ve got to be kidding me.
this sucks.
(ooo, maybe one of the kids will puke and i’ll get a get out of jail free card. now that would improve my mother’s day…sad, isn’t it?)
jen’s last blog post..1 year old…
d
May 5, 2008 at 4:10 pm
I am taking a day off, sort of. I am not cooking, cleaning or doing anything I don’t want to do and fair warning has already been given. I also asked for jewelry (unlikely) and Wii Fit, which comes out soon.
d’s last blog post..What are you thankful for?
Jennifer
May 5, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Since my husband will be out of town, I’m taking as much of the day off as I can! All meals will be cooked by restaurants, and I will not be doing anything resembling chores.
the Mom
May 5, 2008 at 5:00 pm
I made a VERY detailed list for my husband and then posted it on my blog complete with links and explicit details. Let’s see if he can pick something good.
It doesn’t look good so far, as I listed an expensive purse, and he called to ask if I was interested in a knock off that a guy from his office sells. NO! I want the real deal for once in my cheap @ss mommy life.
the Mom’s last blog post..He Ate My Wedding RIng
AndreAnna
May 5, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Mother’s Day is also my daughter’s second birthday.
I am so screwed. LOL
AndreAnna’s last blog post..Failing
Miss
May 5, 2008 at 5:17 pm
I’m thinking a spa day with all my favorite bloggers. So we can chat and drink wine and get well deserved massages.
Miss’s last blog post..Rehab
Sarah
May 5, 2008 at 6:00 pm
I hear you on this one, although at this stage of pregnancy, chocolate comes a very close second! Have a good day!
Sarah’s last blog post..I am a control freak
moosh in indy.
May 5, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Massage.
Like that’s going to happen EVER.
moosh in indy.’s last blog post..8.5 Tablespoons of love.
Devilish Southern Belle
May 5, 2008 at 10:05 pm
I used to want the very same thing. And NEVER got it (though I did come close…just had to plan for it then clean up after it like you mentioned). I get that in spades now that my kids are pretty much independent.
Devilish Southern Belle’s last blog post..The things that need to be replaced around here
rachel b.
May 5, 2008 at 10:36 pm
well….I would definitely agree to the time off thing…but I also want shtuff! I’m greedy like that!
rachel b.’s last blog post..Siqueiros, Orozco, Tamayo and Anthony
Wabi Sabi Me
May 6, 2008 at 3:10 am
You hit the nail on the head — A True Day Off would be the BEST Mothers Day gift ever!
No kitchen duty, no laundry, no cleaning, not even finding someone’s lost shoe, but a day totally free to enjoy my family without the health and hygiene responsibilities.
So wait a minute. Do I really want a day off, or do I want a fulltime cook, maid, chauffeur and nanny?
Wabi Sabi Me’s last blog post..Life of Leisure
Jennifer
May 6, 2008 at 5:20 am
A cook, maid, and nanny would be fabulous gifts! Once you taught them how to do things correctly, your life would one of leisure!
Beckie
May 6, 2008 at 6:23 am
OE just went out of town for 2 weeks this morning, so I guess I do get a quiet, no expectations day… Oh wait, Charity’s still here. Damn, there went that idea. OE’s bday also happens to be mothers day this year, so I guess it’s just as well he’ll be working out of town, I don’t have to do any of the bday stuff. Although, I will say I get a whole week off, kind of, as of the 17th. Starting my masters and have to go to Connecticut for a week for a seminar, so even though I’ll be “working” that week, I get a WHOLE week in a hotel, by myself, with only me to take care of. I’m so looking forward to it!!! I won’t know what to do with myself, although I know that when the time actually comes, a whole week away will seem too much.
Swistle
May 6, 2008 at 1:42 pm
I WANT WHAT YOU WANT. Also: a pizza and a half-gallon of ice cream. TWO half-gallons.
Swistle’s last blog post..Questions Answered, and Teacher Appreciation Week
McMama
May 6, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Yes! Dear God, please, YES!!
McMama’s last blog post..Blogging for a Living
It’s Howdy Doofus Time «
May 6, 2008 at 8:38 pm
[...] Howdy Doofus Time Jump to Comments I was reading Jennifer’s post yesterday about Mother’s Day presents, thinking to myself, “At least this year, [...]
dani
May 7, 2008 at 2:34 am
bloody oath!
(that means I agree in Australian)
dani’s last blog post..Ooohh it burns (in a good way)
Jennifer
May 7, 2008 at 5:47 am
“bloody oath” I think I might start using that phrase!
all i want | finding atman
May 7, 2008 at 7:56 pm
[...] this week, Jennifer explained what she’d like for Mother’s Day. It was simple, sweet, and definitely do-able. My list is…well, not so much. My list is [...]
liz
May 26, 2008 at 11:30 pm
make that 3 gallons of ice cream…I am in. Nice discussion you have going here girls…