Why Mother's Day Irks Me

I got up this morning at 6a.m. to a baby screaming for her milk.  As I carried her into the kitchen, she peed through her diaper.  But of course, she still wanted her milk so I had to stand there with urine running down my side while filling her cup.  Then it was a race to the laundry room to get clean clothes for both of us, before she soaked anything else.  After cleaning both of us up, and the puddles in the floor, I finally got her settled back down.  That's about the time the three year old came out, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, ready to play.

I think it's great that there's a holiday to celebrate Moms.  I really do.  But what changes?  If you're lucky, your hubby will get up extra early with the kids and make you breakfast in bed.  Or at least that's what they say on T.V.  Instead, he's still sleeping at 10a.m. while you've already dealt with two poopy diapers, three tantrums, and cleaned the house.

The expectations of Mother's Day will never line up with what the reality is.  Unless you're one of those Moms who's very fortunate to have one of those fantasy relationships that the rest of us dream about, you're going to be disappointed.  It's a build-up for a couple of weeks, with the commercials and the flower displays in the stores... but two days before, your significant other is going to mention that his brother invited him to go fishing on Sunday and you'll realize - Mother's Day is only important to us.  Moms, step-moms, we get our hopes up and imagine a day where we'll be catered to and taken out and pampered, but then around noon you'll realize that he's already told all his friends with kids "Happy Mother's Day" even though he neglected to tell you.

So unless you have an amazingly thoughtful man in your life who will make crafts with the kids, cook you breakfast in bed, and then take the little ones to the park so you have some alone time - Mother's Day isn't anything more than a Hallmark holiday that means you've survived another year without losing it.

Congratulations Mommas, and Happy Mother's Day