The problem is, by in large the MANY wards I’ve lived in have not done this.

I would just like to say I wish every MD talk were based on Sis. Dew’s womanhood/we are all mother’s talk. That talk is amazing!! Instead I got an old guy tell a 20 minute story about the importance of giving a dozen rozes to your mother??!!

And yes I do choose happiness every day of my life, regardless of my infertility or struggles with my two foster children or my husband working 60+ hrs a week & going to MBA night school and being EQP and then not getting anything for mother’s day (no card, no breakfast, no dinner, no flower, etc.) of course I choose happiness.

That doesn’t mean I don’t have the right to express my feelings that the flowers are stupid (half of the moms I know kill them before or after they’re planted) and a waste of budget money. I would much prefer a donation to a women’s shelter. Let’s do something to help others instead of trite acts of generosity.

ps Sue, really? you’re comparing not being able to go into the sun with infertility – or not being able to fulfill the measure of our creation? wow. just wow.

And it is seriously hard to believe that grown women would begrudge each other a flower or candy bar based upon whether or not they have actually borne children. On the upside, I have never seen this kind of feeling expressed either overtly or subtly in any of the wards I have attended. So hopefully, such attitudes reflect the exception rather than the rule.

I think it’s good for husbands and children to take time out once a year and shower attention and affection upon the woman in their lives. And I like Father’s Day too for the same reason. Whether started by a card company or not, the outcome has been positive in my family. Very much so.

And aren’t we all just a little too “pc” these days? Our lives all take different paths. I have lupus, and the fact is that I can’t go in the sun. Never allowing my husband and children to talk about their tropical-type trips wouldn’t make me any less able to go in the sun, nor would it improve my feeling about not being able to catch some rays. It is what it is. And I choose to be happy they can do it and interested in hearing about it.

Life: A lot of the happiness lies in the way you frame it for yourself. Having said that, I do think it’s very important for speakers to be sensitive and inclusive in the “mother of all living” sense.

Amazing Chick- Therapy, eh?

If the women get something, so should the men. All of them over the age of 18, if that’s how they do it with the women.

And finally, I’m surprised at how many mothers do not like Mother’s Day (?!) It’s a day to recognize and celebrate your mother, not a day to feel sorry for yourself. Be glad you’re a mother, let your children celebrate you, and go with it.

Our ward gave out silk carnations with a little bag of dove bite sized chocolates. I liked that. A silk flower doesn’t induce guilt because it needs no care.

I don’t like getting booklets with talks about mothers. I remember a ward where men received big hunk candy bars on Father’s Day.

I would like to hear women talk about mothering and have the opportunity to show appreciation for their mothers.

Doesn’t budget money work in a way that you either use it or lose it?

I am not a huge fan of the gift thing, but dang, these men have a hard job to try not to offend. I keep thinking that if we as women were all a little stronger about it all, they might not be so worried about it all. The energy, time and money and stressful meetings trying to figure it all out? Whew.

But in the end, I see it as an honest gesture to show support of womanhood. I agree with whoever said that they are in a rock/hard place situation.

The talks in the ward I attended were awesome. The power of true doctrine, imo, can cover so much of the pain that people can feel on days like this. Inadequate? It’s ok, that’s part of the plan and the Savior is there. Lonely? The Savior understands. Childless? You really can make a difference in children’s lives. And in others’ as well. And the promises are real.

I had a bunch of second witness experiences — quotes I had found for our bulletin were used repeatedly throughout the talks. The messages were real and filled with the Spirit. The bishopric clearly cared about being inclusive, and there was no way people could leave not feeling uplifted. Doctrine brings power, and power changes hearts.

We put so much burden on each other with this, though. I was sweating bullets about the bulletin. I know people were struggling with the idea of giving talks.

The power of righteous women in general is so amazing…why don’t we celebrate that more within ourselves? It makes me sad. Mother’s Day is a day we could all celebrate the plan and the critical role of women in that plan. Not just mothers, but women. I know some people get bent out of shape about it, but I really feel the power of the principles of us all being ‘mother of all living’ by birthright and covenant, that we have significant work to do, and that that should makes us jump for joy at the privilege and blessings that come from service and covenants.

end rant. ahem.

And I hear people wanting to leave church, but I’m at the other end of the spectrum. Let me stay for all the meetings. Maybe even an extra class. I love church. Does that make me weird?