This will be my first Mother's Day in AZ, and maybe here things will be different. But back in Northern VA, Mother's Day was the WORST POSSIBLE day to try to do anything like go to a restaurant, see a movie, visit a park, etc. They were all so crowded, required long waits, and the service was painfully slow because of the high demand. Plus most resturants would run out of favorite menu items early, so half the time I couldn't even order what I really wanted.
So a few years ago, I decided to try truly bizarre Mother's Day celebrations that wouldn't have the same problems. Here are some of the things that really worked well:
1) Go to a restuarant that is primarily considered a "man's place" --- like a sports bar. I personally love hot wings, so we would go to Hooter's (for take out, of course, I wouldn't actually eat there with my kids!) There was NO ONE there and the food was fast, fresh and without hassle.
2) Visit an amusement park. Northern VA has a huge park called King's Dominion, and they offered half price admission on Mother's Day for everyone because they knew the park would be empty. We went, and it was! The same (I'm guessing) would be true for amusement places here --- including places like go-cart tracks, Dave & Busters, etc. I don't know if they'd offer discounts, but there probably would be no lines, no waiting, and no crowds.
3) Skip the mall and go shopping at a specialty store. One year we went to Home Depot and picked out live flowers to plant in the garden. They cost about the same as cut flowers would and you get to keep them for years. Another year we made a tour of the Thrift Stores (or as my hubby likes to call them 'junk shops') and ended up finding some nice vintage jewelry. I got 2 14k gold pins and a sterling charm bracelet for under $20. Even my kids had fun wandering around the stores looking at all the unusual items.
4) Ok, this one is a little "out there," but it might appeal to some. My mom was in a nursing home, so after we'd spend time with her, I would take my 3 kids around to see other 'shut ins' --- especially those who never had visitors of their own. We would bring little trinkets like small stuffed animals or colorful silk flowers and the kids would hand them out as we made our rounds. Some of the women wanted to talk about their own families, others just seemed happy to have company. It was a nice break in the boredom for the residents there, but it also was good for my kids. They need to be reminded that not everyone has a happy life and that it only takes a little effort to make a big difference to someone who is lonely or suffering. And hey, isn't that what being a mom is all about?
I'm not sure how we're going to spend Mother's Day this year in Phoenix, although my husband DID mention that there are several Hooter's in town!
New to AZ --- still working out the kinks!
Since the whole point (I
Since the whole point (I think) is for Mom to have a great day with her kids, tell your husband that you'd like a picnic in the park with the kids. I share your love of "sports bar food", but even Hooters has take out.
My personal experience with special holiday brunches, etc. for families is that, while the food is good, the environment isn't. It really isn't friendly to kids, and it certainly doesn't get them real face time with you.
At best, you can be proud of the fact that they've put on their Sunday best and their best manners. They don't want eggs benedict or a made-to-order omelet with crab meat. You'll end up spending more than $20 for them to eat about $5 worth of food. The whole experience, for them, will be about making a sacrifice for Mom, rather than having a great day with Mom -- and, obviously, I speak from experience.
Unless they bicker, there won't be much conversation for you to remember -- let alone cherish. Leave the fancy stuff until they're older teenagers, so that they can really understand "taking my Mom to brunch".
Or, hit a kid-friendly place like Peter Pipers, and, instead of doling out tokens and hanging out at the table, go play with the kids. Let your hair down.
If we're lucky, we get maybe 17 years' worth of holidays with each of our children as a family. Out of living just 70 years (God willing, much longer), that's less than 25% of our lives.
It's just another perspective. I'm just feeling that Mother's Day should be a celebration that Mothers and their children share, rather than an indication that Mom deserves time away from being a Mom.