But it doesn’t have to be all about being a Mom. Moms really want to take the day to celebrate being themselves, but maybe surprisingly, mostly without the kids. So, what’s the perfect gift for busy Moms?
“Time”, according to founder and partner of Mabel’s Labels, and mother of six children Julie Cole.
“I remember one Mother’s Day when I had three kids and the oldest had just turned three. My husband got up in the morning and announced he was going out for a couple of hours to do some Mother’s Day shopping. I grabbed my purse and said, see ya in a few hours—I’ll do my own shopping, thanks!”
But being able to leave the house alone isn’t really all busy Moms want; sometimes they want to stay in.
“All I really want is a day I haven’t had to plan with my family, that and breakfast in bed with a mimosa after I’ve slept in!,” says mother of four, parenting expert on the Marilyn Denis show and founder of www.WeeWelcome.com, Maureen Dennis.
Nutritionist, food writer and expert on CBC’s Steven and Chris, and mom to a teenage daughter, Theresa Albert would like the freedom to stay in, or go out.
“I’d like to be afforded a day where I am not in charge. I can meander, come and go, do or not do. This sounds just like every other day for the rest of the family but it is a special treat for me.”
And certainly wandering out of the house to go for a meal is something many Moms ask for on Mother’s Day…but is it really all that perfect?
“I’d love to say what I really want for Mother’s Day is a lovely leisurely brunch of eggs benedict and mimosas served by a quick-witted waiter at some sun-drenched, white-linen-covered corner table by a window with a view of a garden and a babbling brook, whilst I admire my two clean/Zen kids and adoring husband as they sit across from me quietly chanting the words “thank you Mum” repeatedly while I eat my entire meal before it goes cold.”, says CityLine guest expert and host of “What’s Cooking” Jack Hourigan, mom to a teen boy and an infant daughter. She pauses and sighs… “But I’ll settle for a bucket of sleep, scratch that, an hour of extra sleep and a piece of mildly burnt toast.”
Brunch is on the brain as well for family psychotherapist and parenting writer Alyson Schafer, who has two teenage daughters. “What I would really enjoy is a lovely brunch out at a restaurant with the whole extended family, Grandmas and sister-in-laws, where we all put on our Sunday best, sip mimosas and enjoy eggs benedict while everyone laughs and tells each other what great moms they are.” But that’s not all: “And then to open a mother’s day card that has a gift certificate to have my car detailed. Let face it – there is real life too!”
But it’s not all about giving something to Mom. Dee Brun, the “Cocktail Deeva”, and mom of four, has a simple request of what she’d like on Mother’s Day. “My name.” she laughs. “Don’t get me wrong, hearing the word mamma, mom or any version of this word is the sweetest sound on earth and I would trade everything I have to hear it forever. But for one day a month I would like to hang out with people who call me Dee.”
Publisher and founder of The Yummy Mummy Club and mother of two, Erica Ehm says it takes a little something else as well, on behalf of the Dads: “We want our men to show they understand how hard being a mom is, and take over the chores and let mommy go play.”
But one day the “kids” will grow up, and Mother’s Day changes from eating burnt toast and trying to escape from the children, into something different. “My kids are at the stage where we are hanging out together because we enjoy each other’s company.” says Dabble Magazine publisher and design expert Kimberley Seldon, whose kids are in their 20s. “That makes it Mother’s Day year round,” she says. GL
This article first appeared in The Good Life and can be found at this link: http://www.goodlifemississauga.com/114-gl-2012/moms-want.html