The mention of Mother’s Day makes me nervous, now I am not against this day, I feel that mothers are wonderful and they deserve more days dedicated to them but let me explain my situation. Growing up in India I had a vague idea on this day, when I came to the US for further studies I understood this day much better. I used to call my mom on mother’s day and send her a card, she used to think this was totally unnecessary. After finishing college I got married and I kept calling my mom.
The year our daughter was born was my first encounter with the deadly side effects of not celebrating this day. My daughter was only 5 months on my wife’s first Mother’s Day. My naïve thinking was, sons/daughters do something for their mother on this day, if the kids are too young then nothing happens, so I did not buy or plan anything for my wife on her first mother’s day, after all she is my wife not my mother so why should I do something. Boy was I wrong!!!! In my laziness I forgot to read Chapter 34, Section IV, Paragraph 2 of Mother’s Day manual where it states that if the kids are too young, the husband has to do something on behalf of the kids. Talk about fine print. Needless to say the day was not a success, my wife cried, I felt guilty, I did something at the last moment, ended up spending a fortune and realized that for the next few years I will have not one but two “Mothers” to take care of. Since my wife was my mother that day sleeping in the same bed as her was very uncomfortable.
I learned from my mistake and was better prepared the next year and the year after and I was feeling good about myself but things changed again. My mom lives in India and visits us once in a while, one year she happened to be with us on Mother’s Day, I decided to buy her something special, I did buy a gift for my other mother I mean my wife but my mom’s gift was more expensive and thoughtful. Here is where most married men falter, again this information can be found in the Saas-Bahu manual but I did not read it. The rule is no matter how good they get along with each other there is always a hidden rivalry for son/husband’s love and attention and on a day like this the winner is the one with the better gift. This was another learning experience and I started planning my mom’s visit such so as not to coincide with Mother’s Day and in case they were together I bought both of them the same gift.
I thought I had it all under control where God tested me again, two years ago my mother-in-law was with us on mother’s day and that year I had not one, not two but three mothers to juggle. I felt blessed to have three mothers in one lifetime but this day was too much to handle for me. Fortunately my daughter was old enough and in her school they were selling gifts for mother, I gave her $100 and asked her to go crazy but buy things in three’s. On d-day I announced that this year all the arrangements were made by my precious princess and hinted that any complains or grievances should be directed to her. I dropped all three women at a movie theater, (my son was 2 then so I took care of him). Later we all went for dinner and I breathed a sigh of relief when all three women went to bed.
As of right now I have 2 days to think of something for this year, my mom is in India so I will call her, my mil is not here either so I only have one mom to worry about. I am planning on using my trump card again – my kids.
Wishing all mom bloggers on Sulekha a Happy Mother’s Day, have fun, relax, enjoy but please cut some slack to the men in your lives.
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Wiskyd : I get my own gifts on Father's Day, my day also depends on what I did on Mother's Day :-)
This year I was good so hopefully my day would be good as well.
Thank you for the visit and comment.
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That was thoroughly enjoyable, Bhiku. Like they say..'Read the fine print'. Now you know why Kamalji compares women to cyclones..HAHA. Have you got any return gifts on Father's day??
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Ether : Phew.....I am glad you liked this one, you are a tough sell
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This was a good read!
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Opulence : Thank you the the visit and encouragement.
Glad to know you do end up with good gift's, I think most men have good intentions it is just that we (I know I do) tend to think too hard and go crazy and then just give up.
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Bhiku,
LOL! A good post..... 3 mothers, sometimes my hubby too makes my daughter a scapegoat, but never the less i get beautiful gifts on mother's day.
Keep posting..
Opulence
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Jajijui : Thank you for the visit and comment. I agree that this like many other day is too commercialized.
As far as my name goes, I liked the movie Satya and there was a character in that movie with this name so kep it.
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Hi Bhiku ,
this was one funny post.......I no longer wish my Mom in India ..happy Moms day ..cause she made fun of it the 1st time ... and I partially agree with her .
It's so commercial here in the US ..:( ........hope you had a wonderful one today ... jajijui
PS like your name !
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Seeingeye : Thanks, as they say squeaky wheel gets the grease.
Although the last few years I have things under control :-)
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That was another funny one, bhiku!
I am not such a tough nut....so my family is blase about mothers day!
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