Four grown children, one Mother’s Day card and I’m butt hurt. AIO?
I was having a debate with my brother yesterday and I would like some strangers opinions about this. All of my children are grown and living in various parts of the United States. We all have very good relationships and speak several times a week and visit a few times a year. So I don’t believe it’s a symbol of a greater problem… But I could be wrong! When my children were young, I would always make sure that they got a Father’s Day card for their dad and present, and my mother would take my children shopping to make sure that they had Mother’s Day cards for me for Mother’s Day. I also made sure to buy the kids Mother’s Day cards for their grandma’s and so on. I have often told them as they went through some financial struggles in the past that if they can’t afford a card, I would love a written letter and don’t need anything else. It is the thought that counts. That is the important part! I would like to be thought of with a card once or twice a year without being prompted.
Now, back to this year… I received one Mother’s Day card from my eldest daughter and she even texted me this morning (today is Mother’s Day). I understand that probably all of my kids will call me today and that is wonderful, but it bothers me that they can’t take a moment out of their lives, a week or so before Mother’s Day, and buy something and mail it… Just a card with something handwritten inside.
I was sharing with my brother how much that hurt my feelings yesterday and he said that he thinks that the card business is slowly going out of fashion. He believes that my children aren’t not thinking of me, they just don’t think to buy a card because they don’t care about cards anymore. He says it’s the same as when he kept insisting on getting emails from my kids and they ignored those requests and continue texting him. He has a fair point. I just worked so hard when I was young to make sure that my kids understood the significance of sending cards for birthday or a certain day early and on time for whatever the event. Am I overreacting and do I need to let this go?