A day of guilt???

Ah Mothers Day, brought to you in connection with Hallmark Cards, Interflora and your local gastro pub...

Maybe I am wrong but I always thought the idea of Mothers Day should be to reflect on what a great role the mother plays in our society? A day to spare a thought for the wonder that is childbirth and the beauty of motherhood.

But no, not anymore. Just like everything else it has been sabotaged by commercialism and is now just about buying cards, flowers and taking your mum out for a meal. Is that really how it should be? Do we really need to be told to spoil our mothers for all they do for us on just one day a year??

If we really think that much of our mums then we should tell them everyday, or at least once a week, not just make up for a year of neglect with a stupid card, some flowers and a Sunday roast. Yes we should celebrate motherhood on this day but lets stop buying into this guilt trip sponsored by the groups mentioned in the opening paragraph.

When my mum was alive I admit that I did not appreciate her enough. Yes, I took her for granted. I thought treating her on Mothers Day somehow made up for it, but it doesn't. I have realised that now. I wish I had told her more often how much she meant to me and the whole family, how much we all appreciated everything she did for us. But I didn't. So out of guilt I rushed around the shops in the lead up to Mothers Day to try to put things right. I have no doubt she liked the cards, the presents and having dinner cooked for her but she should have had that more often. She deserved it.

So as you treat your mum today think about what you do for her on the other 364 days of the year. If you really do enough then there is no need to buy into this commercialism next year. She will know what you think of her. But if you don't do enough then please try to change that this year. Lets make Mothers Day a regular occurrence within our own families. Lets not rely on Clinton Cards to remind us...

As for me well I will spend the day remembering my mum, the greatest woman I ever knew. But then I do that most days anyway...