I'm not that into Mothers Day. I guess I think that children should honour their parents every day and not require a special day for it. There's no point copying your brother by saying, "Mum, you're just like a seff (chef)" if you're going to say - and this is a direct quote - "Bleurgh!" whenever any food is placed in front of you.
Neither do I like the commercialism of it all. "Give Mum a Hammer Drill this Mothers Day!" Ridiculous. Anyway, I already have a hammer drill. I got it for Christmas. I don't quite know how to use it yet, but I have it. I asked for it, actually ... well, I asked for a little simple girly drill. But Mr de Elba found a good deal on this huge I-Am-A-Professional-Handyman Drill with a 120-piece bit set, and then decided I also needed some Elizabeth Arden perfume "to balance out the drill." All in all, I did quite well for Christmas.
But I digress, perhaps because it is one of my favourite pastimes. I actually have a Mothers Day Ethical Dilemma story.
A few weeks ago, I received 10 tickets for the school Mothers Day Raffle to sell on behalf of Buzz. I put $10 in the envelope and sat down to write my name (for it was the Mothers Day raffle after all) on all the tickets. I had done two tickets when I realised that it might be nice to put the names and numbers of other women I know. Some were mothers, some weren't, but they were all deserving women and I started imagining how excited I would be if they won!
I didn't give much thought to the possibility that I would win.
However, I did. First prize. Err, congratulations, Me.
On Mothers Day, after opening the cute little magnetic notebook that my thoughtful Buzz had bought at the Mothers Day stall (the only thing I would permit my family to buy for me,) Mr de Elba presented me with a huge cellophane-wrapped basket containing body wash and scrub, moisturiser, soaps, lip gloss, face washers, a gift certificate to a local newsagency, a voucher for a free massage, and a nifty red handbag that fits Mummy's stuff and Nappy stuff at the same time!
I was quite overwhelmed.
Now I am left shaking my head and wondering how ethical it is to win first prize in a Mothers Day raffle when one "isn't that into" Mothers Day?
I have been pondering this for a few days now. I've wondered if I should have an issue with being such an undeserving winner (while using the body scrub) and I've wondered if there's anything I could possibly do about it if I finally decide that I should ask to school to give it to someone else (while applying the lip gloss.)
You know, upon reflection, there are some things here in the prize that might just persuade me to start "being into" Mothers Day.
12 May 2010
Ethical Dilemma
Labels: celebrations, me, pondering
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12 comments:
I complained loudly about how the Sydney Olympics were a waste of money that the govt couldn't afford, but I still went to the closing ceremony when I won a ticket to it!
Uh, I would maybe ponder all of that while enjoying a massage. Or just skip the pondering. Lucky you!
We're not fans of Mother's Day either. However I have no problem at all with raffles. Congrats! Enjoy the spoils.
I'm not a big fan of mothers day either. I agree that children should honour mothers all the time and not just on a particular day. But I also think it's a day that excludes a lot of women. Women who perform wonderful mothering roles but aren't necessarily mothers themselves. Women who want children, but are unable to have them. Women who have lost their babies and are therefore mothers who aren't recognised as such. Women who want to be married with children, but aren't and may never be. These are the women I think of most on mothers day.
In the end, it was a raffle that YOU PAID for those chances to win. And you won! HURRAY! Forget that it was mother's day, you paid to play and you WON! I would so enjoy each and every item and instead of calling it a Mother's Day basket, how about "Just because I'm Awesome" basket.....
I have no ethical issue with mother's day. Probably because gifts is probably my most obvious love language. I just love pressies :P
I got a new toaster to match my sparly new kitchen this year :D
I like Mamma's idea about calling it a "just because I'm awesome basket" HAHA
I agree, you deserve an "awesome" basket. Well done you!
Are you sure the ethical dilemma wasn't that the winning ticket was one of the ones you put in someone else's name?
Hmmmm?
I'm just saying, I think you put my name down, didn't you?
I did, and if they'd drawn your name, you would have received a call, and I'm sorta really SORRY you didn't! I think one of my friends should have won, not me! Want some moisturiser?
I understand your dilemma, however i would tend to agree with those who advise to take the goodies and grin.
Maybe Mother's day isn't all for mom's. Maybe it's partially an opportunity for we kids(and dads) to spend money/time/attention that we might normally not have or do...just to say "love ya, know we should show it better/more often"...just maybe.
I can understand that as a mum you don't really want a big fuss to be made but I think that it is important to give your family an opportunity to thank you for all the help and support you give them because much as we would like to that isn't something we remember to do every day. Yes Mother's day is commercial but it is also an efficient use of time. If your kids thanked you for every little thing that you did for them they would be constantly repeating "thanks Mum" - this way they say it once a year on an agreed day. It just make sense - Like Lamb on Australia Day ;) So embrace Mothers Day and the gift basket...and the body scrub...and the moisturiser...and the handbag....and the lip gloss...and the.....
Congrats! & Enjoy!
'bledliti'
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