Are you ready?? Mothers Day Mayhem

I hope all my serving/cooking friends are getting their well earned rest. Every year, we have a little recognition for our Mother`s which is well deserved. Traditionally, taking Mum out for Brunch/Lunch/Dinner has been the well travelled route to go and this year will be no different.



As much as I love my Mother, love that one half of our parental leaders are celebrated, it is also, hands down, my least favourite of "special days" to work. It isn`t because I can`t make solid coin (which ultimately is what I do this for), it isn`t because the restaurant isn`t busy. I have just noticed, more so in most recent years, that these family love-ins have become one massive ball of stress for all involved.



Often, this is THE chance to make up for the blunders of the previous 364 days leading into our Mother`s great day. The child who doesn`t call/visit Mommy dearest enough, finds that their phone is far too heavy for a daily, weekly, monthly call etc...So this is their chance, dress to the nines, take Mum out for a meal.....................and let the sucking up begin!! I would wager (one of my weak tips) I can tell you the dynamic of each family within about 2 minutes of approaching the table, introducing the specials, offering proverbial Happy Mother`s Day greeting. The son who`s vein on his forehead is about to burst with tension, the daughter who feels the angst, guilt and pain of a failed marriage that Mum hasn`t/can`t or won`t stop reminding her of. The Husband/Wife who have been married for years yet have nothing left to say, haven`t had a meaningful conversation in years, and physically...well, I need not go there.



Then there is the "Inheritance Clan", those kids who, for one reason, and one reason only (you know who you are), are only interested in these days for the sole purpose of being able to hit mum with the "I was there for you" claim when it comes time to sign on the bottom line finalizing whom gets what when dear Mum passes on to a better place. Laugh or disbelieve if you will, I`ve heard it all, seen it all, I have, and I kid you not, seen a living will signed, over coffee, at a table I served years ago. NICE, butter Mum up with Crepes, finish her off with some Tapioca pudding, them WAMMO, hit her with that nice monogrammed pen you bought for her and proclaim, "look what I brought to the party", reaching in the suspicious briefcase you have brought along with you for brunch. Blindsided Mums everywhere.



Mom needs the best table, Mom needs an absolutely perfect meal for a perfect Mom, Mom needs to be coddled, loved, treated like Gold............for many families, this occurs for a full year on a daily basis, for many, this happens for one day only, Mother`s Day. The family tensions that occur in every family are magnified on Mother`s Day, not sure why, Father`s are easy to please, hand dad a sleeve of Titleist golf balls and a bottle of Rum and he`s good to go, Mum, needs to be nurtered and loved and buttered up. For an aware server, all this fluff, fake smiles from the Grandkids who can`t wait until the meal is over when it`s Grandma/Grandpa`s time to slip em` that $20 bill every time they get together, it all spells one thing...Bullshit.



So, I`m going to smile, laugh at lousy jokes, say all the right things, then I`m going to come home, call home, and wish Mum a Happy Mother`s Day, and make sure she received her card, which is, ultimately what all Mother`s want, to be acknowledged.



Happy Mother`s Day



Crackerjack