Comments on: Beary annoying (yeah, I know)

By: Emily R

Emily R — Mon, 12 May 2008 00:31:44 +0000

What I am getting (in addition to the charitable contribution)? Feet up and time to read blogs. Emily Rs last blog post..Happy Alternative Mother’s Day

By: JCK

JCK — Fri, 09 May 2008 01:23:57 +0000

You are SO right on with this. God help the men who really think this might be a good idea…

I LOVE your idea of a perfect Mother’s Day. I’d also love an afternoon tea with cocktails with a group of close women friends – with no time limit on when to get home to relieve the husband of childcare!

By: Jennifer Harvey

Jennifer Harvey — Thu, 08 May 2008 19:53:13 +0000

Allen, I think that you’ve articulated exactly what most of us have been trying to say in these comments. It isn’t about a big outlay of cash, or about demanding things. The running thread of commentary is make the day special (Brenda, specifically, said this), however that translates within each family.

And we had a great time talking about it all, which was fantastic.

Your wife sounds lovely and strong.

By: Allen

Allen — Thu, 08 May 2008 19:43:24 +0000

When the gorgeous one became preggers with the 1st of our 3 boys, we sat down and discussed the future of childcare. My wife, bless her sweet, sweet soul, offered to juggle her soon-to-be final year in college with primarily raising son #1 as the “stay at home” parent while I would keep my career/day job going (gotta’ thank the Industrial Revolution for this “advancement”).
There were ups and downs but all-in-all, she weathered it well. Then came son #2 just 2 years later and son #3 another 2 years after that. And no, we did NOT plan this at all. But having 3 boys 2 years apart in age between each of them did take a toll as the energy level of 3 youngs lads is quite high. So for Mother’s Day, I wanted to make sure and celebrate her being able to enjoy recognition of being a mother.

When our boys were little, I had them create their own mother’s day cards and also the “handprints in clay” with their names, ages and year for gifts. The boys were delighted to do this for their mom and she still cherishes these items every time she looks up from her desk and she’s the handprints and cards hanging on the wall.

As the boys got older, I told ‘em what would make their mom happiest would be if they asked her what she wanted for her special day and then deliver that for her. Well, it’s been a collection over the years of car washes, cooking (mostly me cooking but her as well), an Ipod last year, and various other gifts. What the boys have gotten out of it is realizing that even though Hallmark has attempted to hijack Mother’s Day, the best way to honor and respect their mom on Mother’s Day is to honor and respect all she’s done for them over the years by asking her what they can do for her at least on this one designated day.

And you know what? To this day I still see the looks and feelings of love and respect and sweetness between the boys and their mother today that I saw when they exchanged the homecard cards and handprints years ago.

By: we_be_toys

we_be_toys — Thu, 08 May 2008 17:48:55 +0000

Effing Build-A-Bear! That place reminds me of a Teddy Ruxpin from Hell factory, and that’s bad, m’kay?

Moms just want to NOT have to make dinner on Mother’s Day – that and to be waited on like queens. Is that so much to ask?

By: Dharmamama

Dharmamama — Thu, 08 May 2008 16:07:14 +0000

Oh, thank you, thank you. My ex-husband was very, very confused the first time I told him NO teddy bears, no pictures of teddy bears (he actually *owned* one of those! Should have been my first clue…), no little teddy figurines… Apparently all his previous girlfriends thought teddy bears were *so cute*, etc. Barf.

As far as feeling entitled… that’s not really it. I love to be remembered, and appreciate the thought… but I don’t want the giver to waste their money on something I’ll hate. actively dislike. whatever. When I give a gift, I want to know it’s something the recipient will actually *enjoy* and *use* or *admire* or *appreciate*. Otherwise, it’s just more… clutter. Who needs that? So, yeah, I think being clear is better. It takes *knowing* the person.

I don’t call a child who says something like that a brat (well, first of all, I would never call a child that, but anyway…); I’d call them a child who knows what they like. I prefer honesty over “well, it doesn’t matter what you give me”, then the gift gets thrown in a closet.

By: Kelley

Kelley — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:48:16 +0000

Dammit, Jenn – I’ll just take your bear back.

(Hey sunshine! Sorry I was MIA.)

By: Lisa

Lisa — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:47:59 +0000

We share similar wants for the ‘big day’ all the way down to the washed car and full tank of gas (why I hate filling up the tank so much I’ll never know). The only difference, I’ll want to cook. I get panic attacks when I see the husband with my pots and pans
Here’s hoping we don’t get stuffed bears dressed in pink frilly smocks!

By: Pendullum

Pendullum — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:21:31 +0000

I am pretty lucky as my daughter has always wanted to give me jewelry… ABut my poor husband, as it takes days and days, as she has to find the perfect item…
It has been a tradition for the past eight years… And my daughter is all about tradition…

By: Nicole P

Nicole P — Thu, 08 May 2008 12:46:37 +0000

Jennifer, this is hilarious. However, a teddy bear would be a step up from my last 2 mother’s day presents.
5 years ago, my husband and kids gave me an electric pancake griddle. Yay, more cooking….
And 2 years ago, they bought me a mixer. You know, for mixing cake batters and stuff. And the freaking annoying part about that is that I sent my husband to Walmart to buy me a mixer because my blew up. He came home with it in a gift bag and said Happy Mother’s Day. WTF????
Those are the only 2 mother’s day gifts that I can even remember getting.
Oh except that he sent me an e card last year, on the Sunday before Mother’s Day.
Someone should talk to him about this!!!!