Comments on: When Mother's Day Sucks http://www.the-exponent.com/2008/05/10/when-mothers-day-sucks/ Am I Not a Woman and a Sister? Sat, 31 Jul 2010 22:13:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Standing on the Shoulders of Giants: a Mother’s Day Talk « The Exponent http://www.the-exponent.com/2008/05/10/when-mothers-day-sucks/comment-page-1/#comment-7371 Standing on the Shoulders of Giants: a Mother’s Day Talk « The Exponent Wed, 13 May 2009 16:45:03 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/2008/05/10/when-mothers-day-sucks/#comment-7371 [...] least they could be Mother’s Day talks): Amelia’s Women of Righteousness: a Mother’s Day Talk Sheila’s When Mother’s Day Sucks Spunky’s Mother’s Day for the Motherless and Infertile Julie M. Smith’s Mother’s [...] [...] least they could be Mother’s Day talks): Amelia’s Women of Righteousness: a Mother’s Day Talk Sheila’s When Mother’s Day Sucks Spunky’s Mother’s Day for the Motherless and Infertile Julie M. Smith’s Mother’s [...]

]]> By: Pam http://www.the-exponent.com/2008/05/10/when-mothers-day-sucks/comment-page-1/#comment-7370 Pam Sat, 09 May 2009 18:11:15 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/2008/05/10/when-mothers-day-sucks/#comment-7370 My children will not call me tomorrow. It saddens me not only that I don't receive the courtesy of that day but that it reflects more about them; and the hate that they choose to nurture; than the mother that I was. Thank you for this article. right now mother's day does suck. My children will not call me tomorrow. It saddens me not only that I don’t receive the courtesy of that day but that it reflects more about them; and the hate that they choose to nurture; than the mother that I was. Thank you for this article. right now mother’s day does suck.

]]> By: EmilyCC http://www.the-exponent.com/2008/05/10/when-mothers-day-sucks/comment-page-1/#comment-7369 EmilyCC Thu, 15 May 2008 19:14:58 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/2008/05/10/when-mothers-day-sucks/#comment-7369 Stephen, I think your wife's approach to this is quite profound. Thank you for sharing. Stephen, I think your wife’s approach to this is quite profound. Thank you for sharing.

]]> By: ME http://www.the-exponent.com/2008/05/10/when-mothers-day-sucks/comment-page-1/#comment-7368 ME Mon, 12 May 2008 21:23:11 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/2008/05/10/when-mothers-day-sucks/#comment-7368 When I was single, I always hated having unearned recognition thrust on me at Mother's Day. Then I got married and became a step mother. That just made MD awkward. My husband does lovely things for me on Mother's Day. My step kids tolerate my occasional presence in their lives (some more graciously than others) and that's about it. Because my husband and I don't have children together (yet?) and I don't have strong relationships with the step kids, I still feel like an impostor on Mother's Day. Just for different reasons. When I was single, I always hated having unearned recognition thrust on me at Mother’s Day.

Then I got married and became a step mother. That just made MD awkward.

My husband does lovely things for me on Mother’s Day. My step kids tolerate my occasional presence in their lives (some more graciously than others) and that’s about it.

Because my husband and I don’t have children together (yet?) and I don’t have strong relationships with the step kids, I still feel like an impostor on Mother’s Day. Just for different reasons.

]]> By: Stephen M (Ethesis) http://www.the-exponent.com/2008/05/10/when-mothers-day-sucks/comment-page-1/#comment-7367 Stephen M (Ethesis) Sun, 11 May 2008 01:35:03 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/2008/05/10/when-mothers-day-sucks/#comment-7367 On Mother's Day my wife always remembers the three children of ours that died. Yet, she feels she should not take away from the joy that others feel. Just give them that one day. It doesn't seem that much when she thinks of it that way. On Mother’s Day my wife always remembers the three children of ours that died.

Yet, she feels she should not take away from the joy that others feel. Just give them that one day. It doesn’t seem that much when she thinks of it that way.

]]> By: Sheila http://www.the-exponent.com/2008/05/10/when-mothers-day-sucks/comment-page-1/#comment-7366 Sheila Sat, 10 May 2008 20:45:27 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/2008/05/10/when-mothers-day-sucks/#comment-7366 Personally, I feel that when the person speaking has the intent to give a gentle, loving, and spiritual message on Mother’s Day, no matter what the specific message might be, that issues of “offending” don’t come up as much. No one person has the balm or words to smooth negative feelings for everyone. At the same time, I feel much more at peace when I am surrounded by people who are aware that this is a struggle for me. Some Mother’s Days I was just relieved if the speaker acknowledged that this day can be very hard. That someone (the speaker) realized that this day of children singing and flowers for mommies was extremely painful was, in a sense, acknowlgement that I wasn't a freak for having such a hard time. Don’t let my post cause speech paralysis---Finish your preparations for tomorrow with the awareness that, more than likely, someone in the congregation is struggling with this, and you will be fine. Good luck! Personally, I feel that when the person speaking has the intent to give a gentle, loving, and spiritual message on Mother’s Day, no matter what the specific message might be, that issues of “offending” don’t come up as much. No one person has the balm or words to smooth negative feelings for everyone. At the same time, I feel much more at peace when I am surrounded by people who are aware that this is a struggle for me.

Some Mother’s Days I was just relieved if the speaker acknowledged that this day can be very hard. That someone (the speaker) realized that this day of children singing and flowers for mommies was extremely painful was, in a sense, acknowlgement that I wasn’t a freak for having such a hard time.

Don’t let my post cause speech paralysis—Finish your preparations for tomorrow with the awareness that, more than likely, someone in the congregation is struggling with this, and you will be fine. Good luck!

]]> By: Deborah http://www.the-exponent.com/2008/05/10/when-mothers-day-sucks/comment-page-1/#comment-7365 Deborah Sat, 10 May 2008 20:44:42 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/2008/05/10/when-mothers-day-sucks/#comment-7365 "In order to feel more at peace about this day, I started celebrating Mother’s Day as a day to give gratitude and celebration to the women in my life that are strong advisors, supporters, and builder-uppers." I did this for a couple of years in college -- the week before, I wrote thank you letters to teachers from my past who had left their mark. I loved sitting and thinking about my female mentors, but I haven't celebrated Mother's Day in this way in many years. I think you've reinspired me . . . “In order to feel more at peace about this day, I started celebrating Mother’s Day as a day to give gratitude and celebration to the women in my life that are strong advisors, supporters, and builder-uppers.”

I did this for a couple of years in college — the week before, I wrote thank you letters to teachers from my past who had left their mark. I loved sitting and thinking about my female mentors, but I haven’t celebrated Mother’s Day in this way in many years. I think you’ve reinspired me . . .

]]> By: darin http://www.the-exponent.com/2008/05/10/when-mothers-day-sucks/comment-page-1/#comment-7364 darin Sat, 10 May 2008 17:51:05 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/2008/05/10/when-mothers-day-sucks/#comment-7364 I have to give a talk in sacrament meeting tomorrow (Mother's Day) and after reading your post I'm worried that I might offend someone. Is there anything I could say to be more sensitive to the feelings of those that might be unable to have children? I have to give a talk in sacrament meeting tomorrow (Mother’s Day) and after reading your post I’m worried that I might offend someone. Is there anything I could say to be more sensitive to the feelings of those that might be unable to have children?

]]> By: stiilwaitingtobeamom http://www.the-exponent.com/2008/05/10/when-mothers-day-sucks/comment-page-1/#comment-7363 stiilwaitingtobeamom Sat, 10 May 2008 17:03:32 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/2008/05/10/when-mothers-day-sucks/#comment-7363 Nicely said. And congratulations on Everett. Nicely said. And congratulations on Everett.

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