A Mother’s work is NEVER done

Mum’s of those aged 65+ are working harder than ever!

Mother’s Day is fast approaching and around the UK, many mums are hoping for a day off. An increasing number of mums are aged 85+ and still juggling the demands of babysitting, cooking meals for their children, washing their clothes and doing the family shop.

According to national polling on behalf of Clintons, mums of children aged over 65 often remain involved with all elements of their children’s lives. This involves everything from cooking them meals (12%), doing their shopping (12%), washing and ironing their clothes (10%) to cleaning their house (11%). Perhaps surprisingly, 7% of mums with kids aged 65+ will cook them a meal at least 10 times per month. Older mothers are equally involved with looking after younger generations and family pets. Of those adults aged 65+, 8% will ask mum to look after their children and 7% will ask their mums to walk the dog or look after family pets on a regular basis.

Sales data shows that Grandmother specific captions now account for one-in-10 of all cards sold for Mother’s Day. Nans, Grandmas, Grannies and Grandmothers are honoured with over 70 different card designs this year. Cards from grandchildren as well as those for great-grandmothers have also been introduced.

Nicola Miller, Buying Director at Clintons, said, “The age of retirement appears to have little impact on mums of today. Senior mums often take on a dual role. Aside from their important relationship with grandchildren, many continue to actively support their own sons and daughters well into their 60’s and beyond. It won’t be long before we’ll have to introduce cards for great-great-grandmothers on Mother’s Day.” www.robertdyas.co.uk

Ideally, every day should be Mother’s Day as we give thanks to the person that brought us kicking and screaming - literally - into the world. Alas, it’s not. So, we all have to make do with just once a year stopping to remember the untold sacrifices and unconditional love that only a mother can provide.

In the UK, that day is next marked on Sunday 19th March. The day always falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent, and three weeks before Easter Sunday. The middle Sunday of Lent has long been associated with mothers; as on that day - Laetare Sunday - it was traditional for people to return home to their mother church.

Mothering Sunday - or, the more common (and Americanised), Mother’s Day - was formalised in the UK in the early 20th Century when a vicar’s daughter named Constance Smith read a newspaper report of a campaign in America to celebrate such a day across the Atlantic.

Today it’s estimated that close to £1.5billion was spent on Mother’s Day last year (including retail and non-retail - dining out for example - spend). It’s clearly big business. It is generally found that mothers aren’t bothered about receiving a lavish gift on the day. Rather, they’d happily spend time with their children instead.