Are you allowed to divorce your son? :-)

maidmarion so very very sorry for you. I know it is not the same but can I send and just say I am thinking of,you.

I've always felt that once my daughters were mothers, they should get the cards and gifts, not me. But I have never won this argument.
(They do at least know my favourite chocolates )

I feel the exact same allule. My daughters are the mums now, we give them lovely mums gifts.

My son is cooking lunch for me, his mother in law, their toddler son and his wife who is expecting their 2nd child soon. He is baking a cake too.

He is a good cook, I'm a bit hit & miss, I think he learnt from my mistakes.

Has your son got a partner? Sometimes the other half show them what's expected. I remember when my two were in their twenties they had an argument about paying for a plant for me. I felt like they'd forgotten what Mothers Day was about. Now my son is married and in his thirties. He has called today with chocolates and a planter. My daughter is taking me for lunch tomorrow. I'm just suggesting your son may be a bit immature, depending on his age, and he might improve in time!

My youngest daughter is working tomorrow, starting at 9.30 am and finishing late. She gave me my present today because she wanted to be awake enough to see my reaction. She got me a plaque, which brought a tear to my eye, and some chocolate flowers,and an artificial one, in a pretty glass vase, because I have a black thumb. Sweet because she knows me well.

maidmarion I don't see what is wrong with you sending a coat for your grandchild. Why shouldn't you send presents? It must be hard with your daughter living in another country. I hope your situation improves. . How about ringing her on Mother's Day and just saying I hope you have a lovely Mother's Day? Or will she think you're having a dig if she hasn't sent you a card or present? For some reason my younger daughter, although she sent me a birthday card (I received it at least a week early for some strange reason) at the beginning of the month, didn't send me a birthday present and hasn't even mentioned it. My daughters usually ask me what I want and I don't usually know, but she didn't say anything about, it but she's taking me for a meal tomorrow so she might say it's a combined birthday and Mother's Day present. I just think it's odd because she's never done this before. Children's actions can be hard to understand.

After my DCs got it in the neck from their dad(who I was separated from (now divorced)) and my DPs when they both assumed that their sibling was sorting out my Mothers day present and card and I didn't get anything, my two have been pretty good even though my DS doesn't do 'celebrations'. I have been known to buy my own present and then get the DC's to sort out who is paying me back (last year DS (Girl on the Train book) this year DD (Mum bead for my Pandora bracelet)) I always get 3 cards, one each from DCs and one from the DGDs (this year including DGD no 2 (aged 5 weeks) and written by DGD no 2)

My son and dil sent me and my female partner a rose named after both of us - Hicaz, and my daughter and partner sent both of us a card with restaurant vouchers inside. I feel really lucky that they remember not only to send me something but that they also regard my partner as a 'second' mum.

Maidmarion, will be thinking of you tomorrow, sending lots and lots of [hugs] and

Peaseblossom - thanks for your words. (Not Mother's Day in USA so can't ring ...) In any case I've been 'forbidden' to contact them by my son in law (long story) but I will be contacting her one way or another soon as feel I will go totally crazy if I don't get to speak (see on FaceTime) my three gc before much longer. The whole situation has become a nightmare. I appreciate your thoughts very much.

My son as text tonight saying that he hasn't forgotton tomorrow but will bring my things when he is home in a week or so for Easter. I said it was ok, that I would have liked a card though, but that my fur and feather babies have bought me some lovely things. Plus the very nice Morrisons man has just brought me some Ben & Jerry's and flowers, what more could you ask for?

I wont be getting anything from ED, obviously or her children, but then I wont be sending anything to my mother neither. It's very strange when there are breakdowns in families when these days come up. It was the anniversary yesterday of my dad dying and I spent it alone, with his photo and some flowers picked from the garden next to him. No one phoned or got in touch. Mind you, it was quite nice in its own way, laughter and tears and the soaps.

I have 4 sons who do (mostly) remember to send a card and present even though I tell them not to . I know they love me and would prefer them not to waste their money . Son 4 is taking me , his MIL, partner and new baby out for lunch which is the best present I could wish for . I would just rather spend time with them than have overpriced flowers etc . I don`t know why people set such store on receiving gifts etc - I believe that Mothering Sunday was originally intended for servants etc to have a day off to visit their `Mother church` but I am sure I will be put right if I am misinformed lol

So sorry to hear of your situation Maidmarion - all the mothers day hype must make ot even harder.
Hicaz46 that's lovely that they accept your partner as a mum too and remember you both!
To th OP I am reminded of my own mother (long gone) who pnce told me that my older brother never sent anything on Mothers Day and explained to her that he didnt believe in it - to commercialised. She accepted this- till she found out that he and his wife set a card and present to his MiL! But, he explained, she's not as intelligent as you and wouldnt understand!!! She wasnt much mollified!!!
Ive got 3 cards today from my 3 children so thats fine. Dont expect anything else!

Thank you Pollyperkins. Yes, the adverts and hype have really got to me this year, as I'm sure it has to all the other estranged mums, or people who have recently been bereaved. It does (to me) seem a special day when us mums can be recognised even by a phone call...
It's not that I 'expect' anything in the way of cards or gifts (I agree this has got so very commercialised and I don't like the way the price of flowers is hiked up for this weekend!) but as someone said above oh, how I would love a hug. I would never, ever have believed, when my children were young, that they would BOTH reject me. Heartbreaking..... ! I can't really justify my existence at this moment in time ...

Am I alone in pointing out that printed cards are a horrible American rip off and there is a huge rise in prices over the Valentines Day and Mothers Day. If DS is normally a good lad, that's much more important. Mothering Sunday I love - Mother's Day, no thank you! Always bought my godmother a Mothering Sunday card, because she was more of a mum to me than my own mum. This year I had a dreadful job finding a card for MIL which didn't say "to my sweet mother" - she isn't and would loathe the gush!

Well here's my tale my sons in NZ and didn't even know it was Mothering Sunday my youngest sent me a FB message but I will get a meal, card and something from my eldest I always do but it's funny how you bring them all up the same but they are very different when they grow
I don't set much store by Mother's Day, good job really haha

No cards from my 3 sons, but beautiful freesias and roses via Interflora plus chocs (all live a distance away) on Friday. Also flowers from one DSD.
Also received via messenger a photo from the other DSD of DSGS holding a piece of paper saying ' happy mothers/nannys day'. That means a lot as it's a lovely acknowledgement that I too am part of his life, as well as her own mum and her partners mum.

I'm lucky my son is married. His lovely wife does the honours on all cards festive.

Happy Mother's day to you all! I've just had a lovely mother's day with my children & grandchildren. We had a picnic & just enjoyed being together.
I really appreciate how close I am to my children as I have a mother who is cruel, insensitive & very critical. She gave me back my mother's day present to her (again), so next year I am just not going to bother. What ever I get her is wrong & she has a very bitter tongue.
I have finally realised (at the age of 58) that I am never going to be good enough & am fed up with always being hurt.
My husband , children & grandchildren mean far more to me.

Agree with Bibbity, keep in touch with your son but agree that it's all hype and save your money to treat yourself.

I never realized until I came on Gransnet that really horrible mothers exist. I feel so sorry for those with mothers that don't treat them well, but I can't understand why anyone would be like that with their children. Had a text from DS saying happy Mother's Day be over at some point with your card. Lol! Never heard of posting it! I received a card and present from DD and card from her baby. I was just thinking back that during our nearly forty year marriage and probably three years before that when we started going out my husband has never bought his mum a card or present on Mother's Day it's always been me. My DIL tells my son to buy his card and present for me himself which is why I have a drawer full of body lotion and candles,lol! All I really need is for him to spend some time with me.

No card here either, my daughter wished me a happy mothers day yesterday when she phoned and my son, well its hit and miss with him. He has done well so far this year remembering my husbands birthday with a card saying to a wonderful stepdad and thanking him for all the help and support he has given him. I suppose that will be it until Christmas but I don't mind I had a wonderful day today with my OH.

Boys huh! I wouldn't take it to heart OP. My son honoured me with a Skype at about 6ish.

Hope you haven't told him he's turning into his dad though as it's clear you don't like him.

Skweek1 Am I alone in pointing out that printed cards are a horrible American rip off and there is a huge rise in prices over the Valentines Day and Mothers Day.

I'm not sure what your reasoning is here? Printed cards have been available in Europe since the 14th century, and Poundland had some lovely cards on offer for Mothering Sunday for, guess what, a pound . Other discount card shops had them for much less. I've got my cards on display and they mean more to me than the presents tbh, nice though they are.