Image courtesy TSNY/Bob Holzman
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past month and haven’t turned on the TV, logged onto Facebook, been to a grocery, drug, or card store, or checked your mail or your email box, you’re probably already aware that Mother’s Day is upon us. In my book this day easily trumps Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day combined for the worst day of the year to not have children.
I’ve written about Mother’s Day woes in the past (see below for some reruns), but this year I’m taking back the day.
Two years ago my friend and I bought Groupons for trapeze lessons. We somehow never managed to organize a date to go and last month we realized our passes would expire on May 14. We quickly scrambled our calendars and found a day we were both free. Sunday May 11 was the only option. I mean, what else would two childless women with British mothers have to do that day?
So, that’s it. We’re going. And honestly, I can’t think of a more fitting way to take back what was once the saddest day of my year than by flying through the air with the greatest of ease, as a magnificent non-mom on my flying trapeze!
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If you’re struggling with Mother’s Day, here are a few past posts and encouraging comments that I hope will help.
My Bah Humbug to Mother’s Day, But Not to Mother (May, 2010)
Breaking Up with Mother’s Day (May 2011)
It Got Me Thinking…About Nurturers (May 2012)
Preparedness (May 2012)
Duck, Weave, or Cover? (May 2012)
Mother’s Day (May 2013)
A good friend of my husband scheduled his daughter’s 1st birthday party the day before mother’s day. We are going because my husband said he doesn’t want us to become the kind of people that hide from our friends because they have children. I’m feeling strong enough so I agreed to go with him. But I am bracing myself for some kind of pre-mother’s day recognition that will happen at the party. My husband’s friends are important to him and they all have children and he has accommodated me by letting me make the decision to decline these events for about 5 years so I want to do this for him. Even if I get hurt by something, I know it will not be as bad as prior years. But if it is, you will all be the first to know!
I will be at a wine tasting, drinking wine, because I can, because I won’t be pregnant. Somehow I’d forgotten when we booked this that it would be That Day, and hope they won’t be doing some kind of specials for moms. Ugh. Looking forward to Monday, May 12. Cheers, ladies!
Kathleen,
Think I may have to steal this idea for myself ;)! J
Feeling very bittersweet about the day this year, not sure yet what I want to do to distract, wallow but also be free…
I wrote this post this week, though maybe some of you may find it helpful (http://everupward.org/2014/05/03/celebrating-to-embrace-jealousy/). Thinking of us all this whole week and especially on Sunday.
Much love and ever upward light,
Justine
My Parents are coming for a visit so I will be celebrating my Mom on Mothers Day doing wine tasting as well!!!. This is the first year that I am not too bothered by all the Mothers Day hoopla. I love that time has really helped to heal my heart and knowing that LWB is here for me as well.
Oooh, I hope you fly through the air with the greatest of ease!
I will be spending Mother’s Day in hospital, recovering from a hysterectomy (if the blood tests I get this morning come back ok). Kind of fitting given how useless my reproductive parts have been!
Oh, Mali, wishing you a smooth recovery and lots of virtual HUGS!!!!!!
Heal up soon!
So sorry to hear this Mali. Hope you are feeling better soon.
Hope you have a speedy recovery and feel better soon.
Mali,
I’m so sorry to hear this news. I’m sending you good wishes for a swift recovery.
Lisa xx
Enjoy the trapeze lesson with your friend! I’ll be spending it at MIL’s place as usual. 🙂
No big plans but I will probably will try to avoid Facebook. That’s where it gets to be too much for me.
Maybe I’ll light a candle, pour some wine and commune with my Mum in spirit.
I’ve been in a funk all week and I know MD is to blame. I would prefer to skip the whole thing…but I can’t do that to my Mom or Mother-in-law. I know that it won’t get any better as the week goes on. I work in a public setting in Customer Service all day long. Today was the first of many “Happy Mother’s Day” wishes I receive every year. It’s been 3 years since we’ve stopped treatments and realized that we’d be child free, but MD doesn’t seem to get any easier. At this point the constant question “Do you have kids?” Seems easier to swallow than Happy MD. The FB posts have already started…people receiving flowers or nice gifts from their significant others and their children. I will not be on FB this Sunday. Guess I should have waited for Whiny Wednesday foe this comment.
I’ve been in a funk all week and I know MD is to blame. I would prefer to skip the whole thing…but I can’t do that to my Mom or Mother-in-law. I know that it won’t get any better as the week goes on. I work in a public setting in Customer Service all day long. Today was the first of many “Happy Mother’s Day” wishes I receive every year. It’s been 3 years since we’ve stopped treatments and realized that we’d be child free, but MD doesn’t seem to get any easier. At this point the constant question “Do you have kids?” Seems easier to swallow than Happy MD. The FB posts have already started…people receiving flowers or nice gifts from their significant others and their children. I will not be on FB this Sunday. Guess I should have waited for Whiny Wednesday foe this comment.