Blog Categories
What sort of animals feature in the film and book "Watership Down"?
We Love Mums!
Mother’s Day is just around the corner and in honour of the occasion, this week we’re celebrating mums and the special role that mums of all types play.
As a child I remember proudly presenting macramé pot holders and home-made cards to mum on Mother’s Day while she propped herself up on pillows in bed. My sister and I would fight over who got to hand over the tray of burnt toast and lukewarm tea, lovingly decorated with a wilting dandelion in a plastic cup.
One memorable year I gave mum a lump of red gum tree resin on which I’d stuck a pair of googly eyes. My sister was a true artist, once spending weeks at Saturday pottery class moulding a huge stumpy lizard-like creature out of clay. She scratched her name on its belly and glazed it in a fetching crackle-effect teal. By the time she’d lugged the three kilo monster home the tail had snapped off but mum loved it. It lives in the garden to this day, scaring off neighbourhood cats.
A quick poll amongst friends and colleagues revealed a treasure trove of Mother’s Day gift memories. The more dubious include a can crusher, a set of car mats, a rock and (of course) the ubiquitous hand creams and tea towels. Startlingly, a dear friend of mine once received a frog. A frog! Now I’m a mum myself I’m fondly looking forward to the years of macaroni necklaces and collaged bookmarks (secretly, is there anything better?!)
But of course, the true essence of Mother’s Day has nothing to do with gifts or breakfast in bed. It’s a day to give the mother – or mother-figure - in your life a big smile and an even bigger bear hug. It’s a bittersweet time to remember mums no longer with us and also to reflect on our own role as mums, at the heart of our families. And hopefully, the day will involve cake.
The following video stars a cast of Lovatts staffers sharing their favourite Mother’s Day stories – I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. You can also share your own Mother’s Day story for a chance to win a prize – see competition details below.
Jessie x
Mother’s Day Competition
Share your favourite Mother’s Day story for a chance to WIN a prize.
Post a comment below to enter – What does Mother’s Day mean to you? How do you celebrate Mother’s Day? What’s the best/worst gift you’ve received (or given)?
All comments will be entered into a random prize draw. The first entry drawn will win a complete set of FIVE Dianne Blacklock novels in a nifty Lovatts/YouPlay tote bag (RRP $134.95). Twenty five runners up will each receive one copy of a Dianne Blacklock novel (RRP $22.95).
We Love Mums!
my mum was always there for us when growing up they owned a business and i can remember mum adding up a page of nos in her head always envied her she was the best rip mum
thanks jess for the video was nice .and happy mothers day to all mums at yp and in chat
My Mum has always claimed a love of all the gifts we brought home for her from various mother’s day stores. However, it is the ones made with great ‘enthusiasm’ such as the lopsided icy pole stick basket that she has kept to this day – more than 25 years on. As a mother now myself I have begun to have a collection of such gifts such as the rock creature which made it home minus 1 eye, a mouth and most of the paint. It’s the gifts made with love that are part of my family’s mother’s day tradition.
my mother is very old but has been my best friend and a loving caring mum, always tells me not to spend any money on her because a kiss and loving words tells it all.
My Mum has always been there for my brother and I. She doesn't show her emotions easily but she is there for you when you need her. I was in hospital a few years ago and she visited me every day, even though she had the worry of Dad going through radiation treatment for prostate cancer (he is fine now and walking me down the aisle this Saturday). She never let me know how worried she was, instead she talked at length to a girlfriend of mine. I gave Mum an early Mother's Day present this year as I will be away on my honeymoon. I got her a magazine subscription a few months ago to her favourite magazine as she was finding it expensive being on the pension. She said it is the best present she has ever been given. My Mum means the world to me. She is the heart of our family.
My Mum had a premature streak of grey hair down the middle of her head & my then 7 yr old brother had painted a picture of her that was hung in the school auditorium for all the mothers to see & purchase after the mothers day concert. Glaring down at her was her portrait with the caption "I love my Mum, she looks like a skunk!" She is still reminded of this every Mother's day since! Happy Mothers's day to all you Mum's!
My darling mum is 90. She has dementia and recently I was taking her for a drive. I was using my navman and hadn't got very far when my mum suddenly said " I wouldn't like that job". "What job is that mum". "Telling you where to go" was her reply. Love you mum.
This year I am thinking of my mum who has had to bury her youngest daughter- my sister wh was tragicall killed in a motorcycle accident along her her partner of 25 years leaving behind three young kids who will never have their mum to celebrate mothers day with
The tradition of Mothers Day breakfast in bed became a thing of the past the year my bowl of cereal ( think a lot of mums could relate to the bowl of milk, dozen cornflakes ratio )lovingly prepared by my 3 boys ( men now ) was accidentally tipped over myself, doona, sheets, mattress etc. ....in retrospect good times :-)
My mum is 95, lives alone, cooks, gardens (as best she can), unfortunately lost the sight of one eye due to cataract op,but still manages to pull us in line if she sees fit. We love her so!
The best mothers day present I got was a book of coupons hand made by my eldest son at school. Each coupon said this is good for one hug and kiss, anywhere anytime.
Hoping all the mums out there have a wonderful mother's day. All the best.
I can still see their 3 eager little faces . All lined up at the foot of the bed waiting for me to taste the breakfast they had lovingly created for me( slightly burnt toast buttered only in the middle & a cup of slightly warm tea). Their looks of delight as I savoured each mouthful with a "Mmmmm this is delicious" were well worth it. They are all grown up now but I still remember tose days with a smile. Love you girls.
I love Mother's Day because we will get to see our Daughter & our Grand Daughter. We don't see them very much these days. I am looking forward to it as I love them both very much.
I was fortunate enough to be raised by an amazing mother who was loving, caring and understanding, who always had time to play or listen. Mum was always there to help and encourage. As I got older mum became my best friend. On mothers day I am thankful for being given the best mum and pray that I can be as good a mother as my mum was.
When my brother John,and my sister Clare,and myself,were children.We would hide our mother's presents,around the lounge room,with string,tied around them.She then had to follow the string,around,to find hers presents.We then asked her,to pop back into bed,where we then prepared,her breakfast,which was usually porridge,then bacon and eggs,toast,and a nice hot cup of tea.We would put a nice cloth,on a tray,to make it look nice.We would put some nice flowers,in a vase.We then placed,her breakfast goodies,on a tray,where we took it,into her.We would all sit around,in the bedroom,while she ate.This has happy memories,for me,as she is an angel,in heaven now.She was a lovely mother.
My Mum was a fantastic Dressmaker. I have memories of her sitting making lots of amazingly beautiful Wedding dresses with such intricate detail as well as all our clothes when were children and always had us well dressed for our weekly outing to town. Despite of all this she was always there for us and always took our side if Dad was in a cranky mood, god love him. I loved listening to my mum singing, not sure why but this seemed to be while she was putting the vegetables on for dinner or cooking something in the kitchen. She had a lovely singing voice, it just made you feel loved when she was singing. Her Birthday was always around Mothers day and so was my Grandmothers, her Mothers birthday so to us when were were kids it was like a triple celebration. Unfortunately they are both with God now and whenever I'm sewing I think 'how would Mum have done this', its like she would be there to show me.I miss you mum but I'll always love you. xoxoxo
Mothers Day, Is everyday to me- I was born on Mothers Day, so it was a memorable one for my Mother :) But now I am older and have a family of own, I see everyday as being just as great as this annual one.. THREE CHEERS to all the Mums- Hopefully you get the best present of all- A HUG...xoxox
My memories of Mother's Day for my Mum when I was a young teenager, the eldest of four children are when I got up with my brothers and sister and we cooked a sponge cake in the middle of the night as a treat for my Mum. She loved it and the best of all was that she never heard us mixing and cooking in the kitchen so it was a lovely surprise. She was a special Mum who was such a support to me when I lost my youngest two children. She was in pain from the loss but she cared for me as best she could.
We don't see my Mum very often as she moved out of town several years ago. At the time she was struggling to make ends meet and decided that the move would save her money. We decided to surprise her with a visit on Mothers Day that year with a car load of groceries and giftcards. I have never seen anyone so happy as my mum when we turned up on the doorstep. it really make her day.
I think of my Mum every day, but especially on Mother's day. She passed away after long battle with cancer in 2005. Until my Dad joined her last year, I still sent a Happy Mothers Day, to him, via E-Mail and he sent one back in return to his 4 daughters who are all Mums. Love you and miss you Mum and Dad
This year it'll me my daughters, Mum & me, We're celebrating by going to an extra special high tea!
I love the video, it was good to put faces to names. I have been blessed with five children and my birthday is very close to Mother's Day. Therefore I have been most spoilt over the years. I have a treasure trove of some of my favourite cards and gifts that I have received. Funny clumps of clay (ducks, dogs and other animals) odd shaped hand made cups and pottery 'flowers'. I have told the kids that when I am gone that each child can have his/her piece of treasure back! The responses were "WHY"?, and what are we to do with them? Such fun memories of the joy that came with the giving of these beautiful pieces.
This is the first year without my mother, who would have been 90 in June. I'm reminiscing about when we were children and almost every year we bought Mum (who always dressed beautifully) the ugliest pair or check slippers with big thick rubber soles. She always accepted them with much enthusiasm and the comment, "just what I wanted". She was a great mother!
I have two amazing children; a boy and a girl. My daughter is now 9 and my son is 6. My most memorable Mothers Day was 3 years ago. I was taking a shower because I was taking the kids to a water park that day. My children decided they were going to make me Mothers Day cookies. Oh my goodness. I got out of the shower and went to check on the kids who were in the middle of making cookies on the counter with no bowls. My son was pouring a whole bag of sugar on the cupboard which was then falling all over the floor. They already had the flour on the cupboard and a dozen egg out. Luckily I made it there in time before they cracked the eggs. I was a little upset with them but they were so adorable there was no way I could stay mad.
None of my childhood mothers days are memorable but since becoming a mum myself theres many to remember - the millk bottle covered in silver tape with a dandelion in it, assorted homemade cards and I expect it will change again being a grandmother now.
Mother's Day since I was a little girl was every day, not just on one day of the year when pressure is put on to buy big grandeous gifts. I offered when I was about six to be my mum's slave for the day (LOL) and my girls now in their 20's both know I don't expect gifts on Mother's Day but would much rather see them on a regular basis, hug them on a regular basis, do fun things with them on a regular basis, cry, laugh and just be together whenever. Mother's Day is way too commercial - every day is Mother's Day. I think people who only see their mum on Mother's Day because society says they "should" are very selfish people, no one should need to be told to appreciate their mum.
my most memorable mothers day was when my son was born nine years ago that is the best thing that ever happened to me it made me realise how special my mum is to me
I became a mum for the first time and I remember the first Mother's day so long ago. My husband prepared a sumptuous feast for me and I'll always remember those roses that were freshly picked.
Mothers Day to me means 4 generations of us girls getting together (my grandma, my mum, my daughter & myself) for a nice morning tea & spending time together. I love everything my daughter has give me & the best gift I've ever given (along with my mum & brother) was giving my grandmother a certificate to say we'd paid her rent for a month - her facial expression was priceless & well worth the cost
I was raised by my mother after my father died when I was an infant. I remember about age 8 (say 1960) walking two miles to a store to get shorts and a sleeveless shirt for her to garden in the hot Texas weather. I had half enough money. The sales lady gave them to me and I promised to bring the rest of the money back. I dutifully gave her half the outfit for mothers day. And I walked back with the rest of the money to face a completely different sales lady and insist on paying the rest of what I owed, so I could give her the other half, a week later.
My Mother passed away during my early teenage years when I needed her the most. Now I have a Beautiful Daughter who is the same age as me when I lost my Mum. So we now keep her spirit and memory alive by attending 'plant a tree for Mums Day' every year in the gardens of Perth sponsored by our local community newspaper. Its a difficult and emotional day but also tears of joy and gratitude that I am blessed to have my Daughter and to remember her Grandmother.
When my youngest son was 2 1/2 years old, he contracted bacterial meningitis. He was extremely ill and almost died. The Doctors and Nurses were totally wonderful with their care but they gave us little hope that he would survive and if he did ever come out of his coma (which lasted 10 days) it would be more than likely that he would be in a vegetative state for the rest of his life. I will NEVER forget the morning that I walked into ICU and my baby boy was awake and he said "Hi Mum". He has been left with disabilities but he is alive and a joy to many people. That moment was the best ever as a Mum.
I can thank my Mum for any skill I have with word games, spelling and writing. I was a very sick kid, and to get a nap in the afternoon, Mum would make up a simple word puzzle for me, which gave her half an hour or so of blessed silence. Except when she made up a story about a little girl who had pneumonia - she left out letters that I had to fill in. The silence was broken with "Mu-u-u-m! What have I got that starts with "p"? A muffled voice spelled out the word, and silence reigned. We loved books, and would read at lunchtime, bedtime, anytime, and I love them still. Thank you, Mum.
I love my Mum & she knows that. I also know I am loved in return by my children. One Mother's Day I received a tackle box as a gift. I don't fish. We still laugh about it. It became my seed storage box.
My darling 24 year old grandaughter has just sent me a beautiful Mother's Day Card from Breast Cancer Institute of Australias Mothers Day Research Appeal, having donated to that appeal for me. I am blessed.
I was born on Mothers Day and my mum always said I was the best Mothers Day present ever... a baby girl after my 4 gorgeous brothers. She's passed now but was the kind of mum who always put others first. She lost her husband, my dad, with 5 small children, 12-2 yrs to care for. She devoted her life to raising us (except each day during 'Days of Our Lives') RIP Mum.
For me, every day is mother's day. If I don't get my kiss and hug, I get very cranky :D.
One of my memories,of my mum,on mothers day,was,that she would be given the day,of all cooking duties.All of us three kids,my brother john,my sister Clare,and myself,would get up,and prepare,a lovely breakfast,of cereal,bacon and eggs,and toast,and a nice cup of tea,or coffee.We would have this,at the breakfast table,as our mum,did not like,having breakfast in bed.It was nice,to share her day,with her.We would give her gifts,that she liked.She liked personal things,for herself.We liked doing this for her,as we appreciated,all she had done,for us.She loved us,and we loved her.And now she is gone,we treasure her memory,every mothers day.
My late mother raised twins at the ripe old age of 48, after the death of my father. Jan my younger sister helped her, giving up a normal life, and thetwins turned out terrific, Brice being a senior naval officer, and Trudy running her own business. Mum still had time for her two other daughters if we needed help too. Thanks Mum miss you heaps.
The best gift me and my brother and sisters gave mum(44) was a couple years ago she got very very sick and we were told she was going to die but she held in there and on mothers day a couple of months after she managed to get out of bed for the first time. It was amazing, really she gave us the gift but it shows how hard she tries as a mum that she continually fights just to stay with us. Now the fight is cancer but she is still staying strong. This mothers day may not have been able to happen for mum so we treasure it all the more, I hope there will still be more to come.
Mothers Day is so special as nothing beats being a mum except last Mother's Day when our two daughters both gave me a unique mother's day gift, both told us they were pregnant and have since presented us with both a granddaughter and grandson. What a double blessing.
However you like to celebrate Mothers Day, I wish one and all a very special time with your loved ones.
My mum died soon after Mother's Day last year, so this is my brother and my first with out her influence. She had great impact on our lives and gave us both fabulous skills to manage our lives. We will miss her dearly this coming Sunday
Mothers DAY IS A WONDERFUL DAY FOR ME CELEBRATED WITH MY DAUGHTERS WHEN THEY CAN MAKE IT AND MY GRANDCHILDREN . My mum died 12 years ago and I still miss her everyday. Mums are wonderful people what would we do without them.
Well here's something different. My mum passed away in 2006, but her legacy could be a reform of legal and political structures to incorporate Civil Code Law and Citizen Control Groups, because there is a latent $200 million lawsuit against a state governement that trampled legal and political processes in its attempts to foil her Will. So far however everyone is keeping mum about Mum.
I just want to thank my Mum, who sadly is not with us anymore for all the love she showered on my sister and myself. Our parents were really poor and we lived in a rented house but we were rich in the way we were taught how to behave and the respect for each other. I hope all the Mums out there at least get a hug and a 'thank you' from their children.
My Daughter Linda, She is a dedicated and a fantastic Mother, I would love to see her awarded for just being who she is. A terrific Mother and my daughter.
If you already have an account please sign in, otherwise please register.
Had a great Mother's Day 14 years ago, the day my twins were born! They decided to come 10 weeks early and scared the living daylights out of me but Mother's day in the NICU was great and even got to hold my little boy for the first time. Even better one this year as they are both fit and healthy. Also great as both grandmothers are here to share our joy.