Mother’s day is so stressful.

As a first time mom and a first time daughter (can there be a second time daughter?) I can honestly say that I find Mother’s Day extremely stressful. Growing up, my family thought these “special” days were just another way for greeting card companies to make an extra buck. Now with e-cards, do they still make as much? These (non-mandatory-I-cannot-leave-work-for-this) holidays seem to grow stronger each year, multiplying.

Ever heard of Mother-In-Law’s Day? Me neither until this year.

Now that I’m a mom, I fully expect Mother’s Day to blow over per usual but something changed. Mother’s day became a full scale celebration. People who I barely talk to would ping my phone just to wish me a Happy Mother’s Day. Scroll through the history and you’d see the last conversation was wishing each other Happy Birthday.

I have really close friends, you can tell.

The present Mother’s Day consist of brunches, dinners, massages, flowers and gifts. GIFTS! Did I miss the memo? Ugh, so this leaves me in a conundrum. What I desire to get during mother’s day and what I desire to do for my mothers (my mother, mother-in-law, grandmothers, relatives who are moms).

As a mom, should I expect something when this holiday comes around? Do I want to be surprised with breakfast in bed? Wined and dined? Not really. I would appreciate a quick “happy mother’s day” than a grand celebration. I would feel guilty if someone went out of their way to do something nice for me.

Besides, does this holiday mean more to me now that I’m a mom? Not really. Apart from the additional stress, at my core I suppose I don’t believe in Mother’s Day. Why spend just one whole day, forwarding sentimental tear-jerking messages when you don’t do much the rest of the 364 days?

As a daughter, shouldn’t I at least show appreciation to the general cause and (some would say) burden of motherhood? Should I make it a big deal to “get it all out of the way” just once a year? Doesn’t that seem insincere?

What does a Mother’s Day celebration entail anyway?

I think in this case, I’m going to have to be flexible. Which roughly translates into being a hypocrite. Sad but true.

However, if being a hypocrite makes everyone happy, including myself, well then call me Aeschines.