Mother’s Day – It’s such a hard day when you’ve lost your own

MOTHER’S Day – It’s such a bloody hard day when you’ve lost your own.

Everywhere you look you’re reminded of what you no longer have – the unconditional love of your mam. The woman who’d murder you for leaving the immersion on but kill anyone else who said a word against you!

That’s what mothers are. They are the people who always have your back. They might eat you without salt for innocuous misdemeanours like hiding your dirty washing under the bed but God help anyone who tries to harm a hair on your head. They don’t have to have carried you for 9 months to be your mother, they just have to love you, no matter what.

The problem is you only realise how much you love them when they’re not there anymore, something I have tried to impress on my own children to no avail. I reminded them at least five times in the past week that it was Mother’s Day on Sunday. They nodded dismissively and went back to their phones.

Now I must admit I do like a fuss made of me. Even more so now that I don’t have my own mam to make a fuss of. Lots of not so subtle hints were dropped about breakfast in bed etc. I was expecting the full works.

At 11.30 am they were both still fast asleep and I was hungry. Himself took pity on me and brought me a fry. He eventually hauled our offspring out of bed to wish me Happy Mother’s Day. They were not impressed. They stood in the doorway muttering ‘Happy Mother’s Day’ and looking like they wanted to kill me.

‘Where are my presents?’ I demanded. Look, there’s no point in being subtle in our house! If you don’t ask, you don’t get. My children shared a panicked look that said ‘Oh sh***! No-one said anything about presents!’

Himself pushes them out of the room and hallway negotiations are held. They return a few minutes later with a card, a bottle of champagne and a teddy. I love my presents. I’d have loved them more if my children had actually picked and paid for them.

The Eldest tells me he’s heading out to meet friends, the other one says she’s going back to whatever social media outlet she’s currently favouring.

‘What?? You’re not even going to spend the day with me?’ They both look horrified.

‘You will miss me when I’m gone.’ My mother used to say that to me and my God was she right.

‘Ah we will mam, we will,’ says The Eldest grinning as he tears out the front door. Meanwhile the Father in Law arrives with a box of chocolates that he’s already opened and eaten half of. ‘Happy Mother’s Day! Are we watching the Liverpool match?’

Next year I’m booking into a hotel. Anyone care to join me?!

‘WHERE ARE MY PRESENTS?’ I DEMANDED. MY CHILDREN SHARED A PANICKED LOOK THAT SAID ‘OH SH***!