Spin Cycle: Spending Mother's Day this mother's way.

Up until this past weekend, I was not the most popular person in my family.

Let me preface this post by reminding those who are not aware of our physical locations: John and I live on the west coast of Florida. My parents and John's parents live on the east coast, about two hours away. Luckily, they live within ten minutes of each other so when we come over for the weekend or a day trip, it's easier to satisfy the grandparents' cravings for the young one, but when money's tight and the dogs' needs are to be met as well, these weekend trips are few and far between.

Okay, preface over. I promise.

John approached me a few weeks ago asking about Mother's Day and how we were going to spend it. The morning with my parents and afternoon with his or switch the families around?

I tried to choose my words carefully since my sometimes blunt approach can land me in trouble, but made it clear: "I don't want to spend four hours in a van driving over to hop from house to house. This is MY Mother's Day too."

Of course, this segued right into the discussion of good intentions (John wanting to show appreciation for our mothers and actually visit with them, bringing with us the one present they would love most, Sprite herself) versus selfish ways (me wanting to be appreciated by John and Sprite by doing what I wanted to do that day). Now, I really can't claim selfishness on my part since, technically, it IS Mother's Day, I'm a mother, and I should get to do what I want to do. In some families, the matriarch is always the one being appreciated and honored while the other younger mothers wait in the wings for their turns. Not in mine. If you're a mom, it's your day. So, dammit! I don't wan't to spend it staring at license plates while memorizing the soundtrack of yet another cartoon we're forced to listen to!

Once my tantrum was over, John was silent for a minute, processing my words (and possibly my arm movements, I do tend to wave them about when making a point). Then he nodded and said, "Okay, we'll spend Mother's Day here and do whatever you want to do."

I won?

The thought of all the possibilites tumbled through my head. Sleeping in, breakfast cooked by John (um, yeah, as cute as the kid is, she still isn't a big fan of washing her hands and I'm not a big fan of food poisoning, so she can watch the fireworks from ten feet away, maybe behind a glass wall or something else nonpermeable), maybe a picnic in the park? I had already waived my right to a Mother's Day gift (another post for another time), but the best gift of all would be just spending time together and maybe sending them away when they annoyed me. (What? Too honest?)

Then the thunder rolled in on my sunny thoughts. I have a test next Wednesday. A test that has been stealing my downtime and replacing it with stress. This weekend will be the final cram session I'm allowed before Monday and Tuesday automatically rank in with work and the typical craziness that comes with it.

"John, I will need some time to study that day."

"You want to study on Mother's Day?"

Hell, no. "I have to."

He shrugged his shoulders, reminding me it was my decision.

I stewed over that decision for a few days (mmm, stew) and found myself unhappy with the results, even if they were at my request. I didn't want to stress out when I should be relaxing.

But then, who says I have to celebrate Mother's Day on Mother's Day this year?

So, we've come up with a happy resolution. We'll travel to the east side to see the family, I can use the four hours to study to and from, make our mamas happy, and we'll celebrate my Mother's Day NEXT week. That's right, I get my very own Mother's Day this year, without a test hanging over my head, and nothing but time to spend my day my way.

And John can think about it this way: even though I forgave the notion of a gift, everything the stores dole out is on clearance after Sunday, surely he can score a cute #1 Mom mug for me. Every mom I know seems to have one so I think I need to get a start on my own collection.

Happy Mother's Day to you all and come back on Sunday for my present to you!

***************************************************************************

And a very happy Mother's Day to everyone who took a Spin!

Starting with:

Shelby over at Gen X Moms

Julie over at Modern Day Middle Age

Peg over at Square Peg in a Round Hole

Heather over at Welch Happenings

Gretchen over at Second Blooming

Maureen over at IslandRoar

Jan over at Jan's Sushi Bar

Dawn over at Mino and Man-Man

Ellie Belen over at Distracting Minutia

Pseudo over at Pseudonymous High School Teacher 

Erin over at Only A Movie

Pines Lake Redhead over at Pines Lake Redhead

Stacy over at Stacy's Random Thoughts

Cristin over at Tiptoeing Through The Tulips

Suzicate over at The Water Witch's Daughter

Patty over at Pancakes Gone Awry -Updated Friday! Fresh Spin!

Vandy over at The Testosterone Three and Me -Updated Friday! Fresh Spin!

Kingsmom over at Servant to a King -Updated Friday! Fresh Spin!

Mama Badger over at Out of the Boondocks and into the Burbs... -Updated Friday! Fresh Spin!

***************************************************************************

Next week's Spin Cycle Assignment: Money/ Cutting Costs

The news reports are up and down with the Recession, is it over? Still going? Are we getting better or worse? Frugality is the latest and greatest trend right now, much to the disappointment of the retailers.

So how do you weigh in? Are you still fighting the Recession? Is it fighting you? How do you deal? We did a cost cutter's Spin almost a year ago and the response was tremendous in how people find ways to save money. Are you changing where you shop? Are you changing what was a necessity into a luxury? Are you changing your entire lifestyle? Spin it up and make a change! (Get it? $$ Change?) (What? I have a huge test coming up, my humor's been compromised!)

Either way you look at it, time is money, and your time is up next Friday!

See you next week on the Spin Cycle!

Comments

[Rachel]

I totally support you on wanting to be celebrated too! We have moms, we love our moms, but we ARE moms, and we deserve some appreciation!!

[Baba]

Thank You Jen. Nana and I can't wait to see you all. That's the best gift of all!!!!!!!!!!

[Patty]

Excellent idea! Totally win/win. I sure hope you ace that test, too!

Here's my spin:
http://pancakesgoneawry.blogspot.com/2010/05/my-mothers-day-gift-to-you.html

[VandyJ]

Hey, celebrate it any way you want to--even a week late, that way you can celebrate the test being over too. Happy Mother's Day!
My spin is up:
http://tttandme.blogspot.com/2010/05/spin-cycle-mothers-day.html

[middle-aged-woman]

Hey, you will be getting plenty of those mugs once Sprite starts Kindergarten. Elementary schools do a Santa/Hannukah shop so kids can get those cheesy gifts for parents. I still have plenty of them.

[Michele]

My first thought was study in the car. I use to do it all the time when I went back to school. Good luck with the test. And great idea making your own Mother's day. Maybe this will be a new tradition.

Now, next weeks spin is something I can get into.

[Jenny]

What a wonderful idea for Mother's Day!
Good luck on your test! Will be wishing you the very best.

[Kingsmom]

What a great idea. Except I would thow up. I can't read in the car.

Good compromise on your part! Have a great day.

Here's my spin.
http://thelocalsloveit.com/2010/05/06/spin-cycle-mothers-day/

[Suzicate]

For your sacrifice and studying and the delay on your very own day, John need to up and score better than a clearance mug....Just sayin' you have every right to claim that day as your very own! Gotta train the man and the kids early so the future ones are done right!!!!

[Pseudo]

K. I don't want your entire family to hate me, but what about John taking Sprite to visit the grandma's so you can study without getting carsick?

Sometimes the best MD gift is just getting the day off....

Either way, hope the weekend is everything you want and need it to be.

[Mama Badger]

Whew, I spun. Sorry to get it in under the wire:

http://outoftheboondocks.blogspot.com/2010/05/mothers-day-spin.html

As for Mother's Day, I'm glad you were able to make it work. But I have to say,for all the love in your house, isn't every day with Sprite Mother's Day;)?

Here's hoping that next year you'll be celebrating twice over.

[Mrsbear]

You're brilliant. My sister and I were complaining about this very thing! Seeing as how we'll be visiting Sunday as well, I reserve the right to postpone my Mother's Day and enjoy it when I see fit. I also reserve the right to pretend it was my idea. ;) Good luck on your test and enjoy your weekend.

[Ellie Belen]

Why didn't I think of that? I could have my own Mother's Day, except the following weekend.

This could start a whole new product line and keep the card and flower companies going for yet another week.

The big leagues - Major Mother's Day,
The minor league - Minor Mother's Day.

[Stacy (the Random Cool Chick)]

Oooh! Now there's an idea! Maybe if we change the celebration time frame to a different day, my hubby would not feel so pressured... ;)

Seriously, though - sounds like you made the perfect compromise! The grandmothers will be thrilled to see Sprite (and you) on Mother's Day, and you'll get your very own celebration after the stress of the test is safely in the past tense! :) GOOD LUCK on the test!

[Gretchen]

It sounds like the perfect solution! Though studying in the car while listening to 4 hours of Sprite's favorite tunes might prove trying. I recommend ear plugs.

[Maureen@IslandRoar]

It sounds like a win-win! You're so smart.
Happy studying and do great on this test. And enjoy both of your Mother's Days!

[Lisa @ Boondock Ramblings]

I think this sounds like a very nice compromise for you and I hope your Mother's Day next weekend is so awesome for you! No studying or running...just doing what you want to!

[Erin]

I am reading this late, due to my Mother's Day antics. I hope you got your time to study, and love how you've sorted this out. Good luck on Wednesday...!

[peg]

I forgot to link you last night. I was still half asleep!

[Heather]

You lucky girl! Our family have to/must revolve around the matriarch (my mom). All the rest of us mother's have to wait.

I hope you had a good time and great grades on your test.

[Casey]

Well I'm glad everyone was happy. We struggle with this for every holiday now that I have a family of my own. My mom still wants all of her kids (and grandkids) to flock to her for every holiday and sometimes, I just want to spend the time at home with my kids...

[Mother's Day Philippines]

Thank you so much for this wealth of information. Wish I saw this earlier so informative anyway ha[[y mother's day.

vee