WHY SPENDING MOTHER’S DAY WITHOUT YOUR CHILDREN IS SMART
Have you ever not wanted to be with your children on Motherâs Day? Donât worry; youâre not evil mother of the year if you answered yes. Motherâs day is an interesting holiday. In perspective, Motherâs day is a massive money making industry. According to studies, Motherâs day is the number #1 busiest restaurant day of the year.
Moms are taken out to eat food on an annual basis. Reasoning? Because Mom spends the rest of the year cooking for everybody else, itâs a one night break. Letâs be real, who wants to make mom cook and clean the kitchen on âherâ day. That’s mean.
Call me ungrateful, but, for all the work I and other moms do the remaining 364 days a year, Iâd like something more than brunch.
Truth is, I donât want gifts either. There’s something much more precious than that.
Real Authentic Rest!

THE INFAMOUS QUESTION
So, it all started when my hubster asked me what I wanted for Motherâs Day. Generally speaking, the first thing that popped in my mind was âNOTHING! Please, nothing. I’m so tiredâ.
Also, Iâm super simple, and donât need more than a Happy Motherâs Day. Truth is, Iâd prefer we save the money.
Any noodle, I wasnât sure what nothing meant exactly. But, for those who donât know, Iâm a mother of 7 energetic children 2 girls and 5 boys in a row. Also, wife to an on the go, hard working, blue collar man of God.
Unremarkably, busy is an understatement.
With furious certainty, I was sure I didnât want to go fight massive crowds for food, AGAIN.
Forget baseball. Eating has become Americaâs favorite past time if you ask me.
Jokes! But seriously, Iâm trying ta lose weight, the last thing I need is another buffet!
Anyone?!
Homemaker by trade, my heart is at rest and truly the joy of life. Thereâs nothing more fulfilling than cooking, cleaning, and being with my husband and children.
Why? Most noteworthy, because God designed this role special for me.
Being a homemaking mother, although itâs become super unpopular, is my dream career.
SOME TRUTH ABOUT MOTHERâS DAY
Essentially, the love of my career is where the battle about not wanting to do anything for Motherâs day surfaced. Also, I began to wonder, what if I donât want to spend Motherâs day with my children.
Before you wonder if Iâve lost my mind, let me explain.
Iâll start by stating the obvious. Being a mother is tough work. I know thatâs not something you need to be reminded of, but indulge me a few lines here.
Raising children isnât made of only happy smiling faces and craft time, unless your life is a 70âs sitcom. Otherwise, like clockwork, mom life comes with frustration, tears, yelling, and hurt feelings. Not to mention, regrets for actions taken or not taken.
Life with children, right alongside the wonderful moments, consists of dirty rooms, dishes, power struggles, and laundry, oh my. Mountains of endless laundry. In fact, to make that mountain even more amazing. Often the clothes you just washed and folded are found back in that mountain still clean.
The struggle is real Yâall.
My point, when it comes to this one day. Mothers all over the world wake up with a fantasy surrounding the celebration of motherhood. A bliss filled day WITH the same children that throw tantrums over the color of their cup. Cop an attitude about not receiving the answer they wanted. Leave their toys all over the house or need I say it, are gigantic messes during mealtime. Great idea, let’s all go out to eat to celebrate MOM!
Let me be clear, that doesnât mean Mom loves less. Unfortunately, it means, Motherâs day doesnât mean we can or will ignore the behavior. Mothering is a full time, no days off kinda job.
I know you know.
The infamous phrase, âhow many times do I have to tell youâ doesnât come to a screeching halt because itâs Motherâs Day.
Alas, your beautiful, creative children donât become perfect little listeners, in the same way, you donât become that perfect parent youâve wished and strive to be overnight. Just. Because. Itâs. Motherâs Day.
By nature, we want this day to be blissful and perfect but some brutal honesty, life goes on. With or without the second Sunday in May.
THEN IT HAPPEN
Like fireworks on the 4th of July. Things came to perfect clarity revealing that following this tradition wasnât required.
Dum Da Dummmm!!!
Who woulda thunk, but also, shows the mighty power of tradition.
So, instead of going out to eat and spending the entire time âmotheringâ I decided to stay home and let everybody else take my children out. Hero hubster is perfectly capable. Even more, the age-old problem, Which Mother gets the day? Solved. If your mom or mother in law want to go eat and celebrate with your children, please, by any means available, let them!
After all, grandmas donât mother grandchildren, unless you call saying yes to everything actual mothering.
Iâm excited to tell you, the year I did what I wanted gave me the bliss I imagined.
My day consisted of sleeping as much as I wanted and when I wanted. Taking a bath without someone small begging and trying to get in. Sitting in total silence, followed by watching something on TV that wasnât animated. All while NOT Mothering a single soul.
YES!!
WHAT I LEARNED
In fact, it’s official, that goes down in history as blissful. Before the clock struck 9am, (yes I slept in) my children greeted me with breakfast in bed. It’s worth noting, breakfast tasted better than any restaurant. Supervised by daddy of course, Iâm pleased to announce I didnât have to mother safety or cleanliness for that event.
Daddy took the children to play at the park, and out to eat with my mother in law. They were gone all day, after running off energy, they popped in here and there. There was an instinct to “check in” on me. So sweet!
By the end of the day, they brought gifts. Everybody was excited. Beyond that, the best part was I hadnât yelled at them, gotten upset for anything, or demanded they do anything ALL DAY.
Peace abounded. Enjoying my childrenâs periodic presence throughout the day was so amazing.
Especially, since I didnât spend the day mothering them to high heaven.
Finally, the children stayed the night with grandma and daddy brought dinner home. We ate in the comfort of our home together.
No surprise, I actually felt rested the next day, instead of worn out from fighting the same daily routine Mom does every day. Only difference, on Motherâs Day, we all go out to the same restaurants and do it together as a country.
Insert *facepalm*
In all honesty here, looking at Motherâs day in a whole new way has brought freedom from tradition I didnât realize I was bound to. And I Love It!
Itâs true, I wrestled with the idea for several weeks, only because it was a tradition though. I donât feel guilty for taking Motherâs day off.
And for the record.
My children have no idea mommy took a day off. They love me the same and next year Iâm taking the day off again!
If you have a minute tell me what your biggest struggle is with Motherâs Day or motherhood in general. Iâd love to hear how you celebrate or what youâre struggling with.
Come find me on Facebook, that's where I hang out when I'm not writing. Talk soon!
ttfn ,Jamee

Heeey,
Words are always more fun when you hold that vowel for an extra beat. Am I right? Anyhoo, thanks for stopping by. I'm committed to helping women crush the belief that being loved is possible for everyone but herself while learning to cultivate life with courage!!