When we were kids we did the full-love-on-Mum thing: home-made cards, awards for "The Greatest Mum", breakfast in bed, boxes of chocolates were a must; little books of "I.O.U Vouchers". I was recently rummaging through the back room at my parents' house and found a collection of Mother's (and Father's) Day cards kept from since we kids were really little. :)

As a child, Mother's Day was spent the same way every other Sunday was spent- in oblivion to all that my dear Mother did for me. For us. I might have made her a little card. I may have hugged her. I probably told her I loved her. I probably cried, tattled, complained, and begged for more cake- just like any other Sunday. But until I had children of my own, I never truly appreciated her the way I should have. It's funny how we are like that. Especially when we are children, we can't put ourselves in the shoes of other's very well. That is what is amazing about Mothers. They are truly selfless; willingly and happily giving themselves to the most selfish little beings. And constantly protecting their selfishness, to allow them to be children while they are.

My Dad would take us down to the local shopping mall where I would inevitably choose the blouse or jumper that had more sequins and glitter and tassels than any other item in the ladies boutique squashed up next to the supermarket. And to my mothers' credit, she never, ever seemed other than genuinely pleased when she unwrapped them. She even wore them, brave lady. These days I am more likely to pick her a bouquet from our garden, and I encourage my little people to do the same. The handmade cards and papier mache creations they press on me that one Sunday each year mean more than any store bought thing ever could.

I don't remember celebrating my mother much as a child, even on Mother's Day. I'm sure I gave her a scrap of a note and a beloved eraser or pencil, but neither of my parents made a big deal out of it. But now that I'm a mother and have realized all that my own mother has gone through: sacrificing so much of herself in the midst of an abusive marriage, raising 4 children who only knew they loved her; I realize that there's nothing in the world I could give her, no amount of heartfelt words, that would even come close to what she means to me. "Thank you", "I love you", "you're the best Mom in the whole world I wouldn't be here without you I can't believe how unselfish a person could be" just doesn't cut it. But I will continue to try every year to tell her these things. Because mothers need to hear them. Especially mine.

I remember sining the solo of the mothers day songs in my church and giving my mother a single rose after church along with the inevitable handmade card too ugly now and too precious for her to ever throw away. It's getting harder and harder to show her how much I appreciate her as I'm understanding her importance in my life. My simple words mean the world to her nevertheless and reiterating them makes them only stronger.

From as young as 3 and 4, my sister and I would make my mum breakfast in bed. One cup of tea, (we had help pouring) one boiled egg, butter and vegemite toast, very carefully ensuring the butter and vegemite went to the edge of the toast. Handpicked flowers (probably dandelions or similar) and a homemade card. Sometimes mum would take us to the shop and give us some money and then not look while we shopped and paid, single mum, hard to organise your own presents. She always seemed suprised and all she ever really wanted was hugs and kisses and no fighting for the day. I always felt bad that she never got much in the way of a traditional 'gift' but now as a mother it's those little rituals I cherish the most too.

From as young as 3 and 4, my sister and I would make my mum breakfast in bed. One cup of tea, (we had help pouring) one boiled egg, butter and vegemite toast, very carefully ensuring the butter and vegemite went to the edge of the toast. Handpicked flowers (probably dandelions or similar) and a homemade card. Sometimes mum would take us to the shop and give us some money and then not look while we shopped and paid, single mum, hard to organise your own presents. She always seemed suprised and all she ever really wanted was hugs and kisses and no fighting for the day. I always felt bad that she never got much in the way of a traditional 'gift' but now as a mother it's those little rituals I cherish the most too.

I remember one year buying mum a tiny little glass vase from our primary school mothers day stall. I still remember it cost 50c. I bought it because whenever I went for a walk I would always pick mum some flowers and she never had anywhere to put them (because they were usually so tiny). When I gave it to her she cried. It sat on our kitchen bench always waiting to be filled and now it sits on our kitchen bench and whenever my two boys bring me flowers it makes me smile every time. Such a tiny little thing brings me such joy.

Ouch, tender topic. Mother's Day was NOT celebrated in our house. My mom was very firm on the subject: she much prefered (demanded?) to be 'seen' every day of the year, rather than a cliché celebration once a year. Smart girl, that way she opened up our minds to offering her small tokens of appreciation or breakfast in bed whenever we felt like it instead of just Mother's Day and her birthday.

when I was a child I remember i used to "force" my father to buy her flowers and me and my brothers made her every year a disc with her favorite songs that year .

we lived in the foothills of the black mountains in Wales...i would always go and pick wild flowers in the morning for my mum. I remember one year finding the tiniest glass vase you ever did see with the word mum painted across it in a charity shop, on a rare excursion out into town. That vase always came out of the cupboard on mother's day and I would always search for the most beautiful daisy in the field to place in it!

homemade cards, flowers from someones' garden lovingly squished by overly enthusiastic little hands and breakfast in bed...tepid tea and cold, burnt marmite on toast. Now that I'm a Mama myself I can appreciate how hilarious and heart achingly perfect this was, particularly as we loved to snuggle in bed with our Mum while she ate her special breakfast! Happy Mothers' Day x

My mom was a single mom, so I didn't have anyone to take us to get gifts. Once, though, I saved up my money to buy her some perfume that she had wanted. I even walked two miles to get it! Unfortunately, I mispronounced the perfume's name when I got to the store, and let's just say that the perfume I ended up with was horrid! My mom was a great sport, and tried to wear it, but it stunk so bad! I think she kept the bottle for years!

I think I always tried to do or give something special, meaning "you are a wonderful mom". I remember being in hospital during 3 months when I was 25 (not really a child but still...) and I tried to make a made a mosaic with paving tiles at the rehabilitation center in the hospital, with my broken thumb. I was so proud of making something for my mum, after I had this car crash, that I put all my energy in it. I can say my mum made me craft more an more with the years, thanks to mother's day!

I know what you mean about the stationery! No easy decision - it is all beaut.

Mother's Day in our hone growing up always included breakfast in bed. We would create a hand drawn paper menu the night before with lots of different options on - even though we always knew she would chose fruit salad and poached eggs, but we made sure we had everything in - just in case. Give her cards and presents on her bed. We always got her flowers and some soap (not sure why?) We would go to church as usual and then get home and cook her dinner, making sure she didn't lift a finger. We would offer foot massages and have some vouchers she could use.

I'm pretty sure she probably found Mother's Day more stressful than any other because we wouldn't let her do anything!...but she never let it show. This year we made her a jar called "Memories of Mum" - she absolutely loved it! and I was pleased to know my younger siblings are still making a menu and cooking lunch! xx

Dad would sneak out to the shops with us first thing in the morning so we could buy chocolates and flowers, then let my brother and I wake mum up with mother's day wishes and her presents. He'd even let us pretend they were from us, but I'm sure Mum knew the truth :P

I always remember giving mum another piece of Wedgwood that she had picked out to add to her huge collection, we would then go for a bushwalk out the back of our house & finish the day with take away pizza (a rare treat) & mum always drank passion pop with it :)

I would always make cards for my mom. One year I was about 5 years old I pulled out all my stuff to make a card. I wanted my mom to have the best so I got my favorite pj's (pokemon figure was hand stitched on it), the only baby photo of me and my dad before he left and my favorite color of glitter, I have been saving for a special occasion. I pulled the paper out of the printer. The paper was special thesis paper that is about $1 a page in the 1990's. I cut out of the middle of the shirt my pokemon figure, I cut my face in as symmetrical a circle as I could out of the photo, and proceeded to glue it all to the expensive paper then cover it all in glitter. My mom walked out to find a girl covered in glitter, glue, cloths cut up and photos with my face missing. She was so mad, and I could not figure out why. The following year she prepared an station for me to make my own card for her with stuff that I could use. I still make my mother cards for mothers day and her birthday. They are much nicer now, but it is the personal touches that makes the differences.

I honestly don't remember celebrating Mother's Day when I was still a kid. Perhaps, it's because my father died when I was 8 and that he was supposed to be the one setting out an example to us on how we should honor our mom. So right now that I'm a mom myself, I always tell my husband to woo me in front of our daughter so she knows how she has to be treated in the future. :)

we always made things at school to make and my family usually had a potluck dinner
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I was usually crafting something for my mom - paintings, drawings, little decoration. and i remember making a lot of congratulations cards, "i will clean my room" or "i'm gonna make breakfast for you" vouchers for her.

When we were quite young, my brother sister and I would go to the store and look at the different Mother's Day cards and then go home and try to make them ourselves. Most of them turned out okay but a few got lost in translation and ended up being pretty hilarious in hindsight! One year we also made her breakfast in bed which consisted of a mug of coffee grinds and a bowl of ketchup. What a lucky mom:)

When we were younger I remember sitting around the table with my three sisters and making cards for my mum. Sometimes we also made gifts for her. One year she had taught me to knit and I raided her wool basket and knitted her a red scarf. It wasn't perfect but she wore it and it still hangs in her wardrobe.
As we got older we would all put in what money we had and dad would take us shopping to buy my mum a gift we thought she would love. My birthday is at the start of May before Mothers Day and I would always spend my birthday money on my Mum. We would make her breakfast in bed, usually a cup of tea and eggs collected from our chooks on toast.
This year will be quite different though, my sisters, Mum, Dad, nieces and nephews will be doing the Mother's Day Breast Cancer walk for the first time in Melbourne. My eldest sister who is a mum herself, has just finished chemotherapy and is recovering from surgery. As a family we have formed a team to walk 'for her'. It is something we can do to support and celebrate our sister, our nephew's Mummy and all mums out there who are dealing with Cancer. x

We always go out to church, brunch and then out for a walk!

I'm one of six children, so we would always work together to make our mom a special brunch at home. We'd pick flowers and arrange the table in a fancier way than usual. During breakfast, we would go around the table telling my mom reasons we are thankful for her and offered her a homemade gift--a card, a handful of flowers from the yard, a painting or drawing. We didn't have much money, so things were simple. But it always brought tears to my mother's eyes. Now as a mother of four, I find these small creative gifts from my own children are my favorite.

With our mom, we´re always celebrating mother´s day. I think it´s really beautiful to celebrate this, our moms are always the best. <3

Lovely giveaway! As a child, spoiling our mother with a breakfast made by us, in bed on a tray, was essential. And then there would usually be handmade cards and presents too, my Mum always said she preferred the things we would make for her rather than things bought for her, they were more special. Now that I'm a Mum, I think I feel the same way!

I always loved Mother's Day as a child. It was a great time of year to pick fresh flowers from the yard, make a homemade card and "cook" toast and tea for my mom. I'm hoping as my boys get older that they'll have fond memories of the day too.

When I was growing up, my classes always had some sort of arts and crafts day right before mothers day. We would make an assortment of macaroni hearts, painted pots for plants, and handmade cards that were not nearly as nice as something one would find on the minted site. Years later, whenever I help my mom clean, I am always surprised to find that she has kept all of these treasures. They do not match, they aren't stylish or cohesive to any décor- but she loves them nonetheless. No matter how hard I try to convince her, she refuses to throw them away.

Happy Mothers Day!

I used to bring my mom breakfast in bed! Now I love having that treat myself on mother's day!