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Does this ring true for any of you?... . you need to buy the card, gift or both.

You get into the card shop, you find the rack with the Mothers Day cards on... . and you just stand there staring into the paper void... . thinking... .

O Lord... . that perfect card... . that card with no sentimental rubbish... . that looks lovely enough but not rejecting in anyway... . please come forward and show yourself! (thinking that's 20mins of my life I won't get back)

For the next Mothers Day I am considering getting the first one my hand lays on.

Ring any bells?

Rings very true on an annual basis.  I think there is a whole niche market out there for Mothers Day cards that fit your description. 

yeah that's tragic... . people in marketting sitting around... . saying

"so guys, how about thoughts on the new borderline gift card range"

I suppose a big red joke, boxing glove on a wire wouldn't fit into one hey.

:)

Yes, yes, yes, to all of that.  You'd think it would be easier to find something with nothing but "Happy Mother's Day."  For me though, the worst one is my parent's anniversary card.  My mother used to do nothing but complain about what an awful husband my dad is, how she would get a divorce if it weren't so expensive and she'd have to go on welfare, and how they don't sleep in the same room anymore because he's too difficult to sleep with.  Her complaining was so bad that I had to ask her to stop talking to me about it multiple times.  (Your daughter is not the person to complain about your marital issues!)  I didn't get them cards for a couple of years, and you can imagine how well that went over.  Now I look for the most generic cards I can get.

I hate how most greeting cards for Mother's Day and birthdays are now either super-smoochy or else they APOLOGIZE for the lack of closeness in the relationship (i.e. "I know I don't often tell you... . ". Just give me a generic card any day.

My Mom has long passed on, but I remember the difficulty of selecting a gift for her. Nothing was right. And I still have to select birthday cards for my half-brothers, whom she had from separate affairs with men with whom I was acquainted, but my brothers are not. Imagine how strained and awkward that is.

Hi - know where you are coming from ... . all that sentimental gush.  Best solution is make your own - you don't even have to have any artistic talent - just need to make a visit to a craft shop ... . they have everything you need just to stick on including a simple happy whatever greeting.  You end up with a nice customised card and no stress!

Zone out

Oh yes, I wish Hallmark had a specific section for their "simply stated" cards! I like zone out's suggestion to make cards instead of buying one of the super-sweet ones at the card store. I *think* that craft stores that sell scrapbooking supplies have card-making kits. That might be a better solution than spending 20 minutes in the card store agonizing over which card sends the least open-to-interpretation message.

Sitara - understanding what you say about the 'other' cards... . mothers day is not just the problem... also like...

... Sweetcharlotte says about the knock on effect with other members of family, with your 'acquainted' half brothers. Me to with step parents; a real web BPD people create don't they.

GeekyGirl & zone out... yes... . a card could probably be made in the time it takes to stand in the card shop. At least then your blankish version is because it's homemade and not a 'vacant' purpose store bought one, with a cupcake on the front of it :).

I found some alternative cards online I was going to share but the photos won't drop in.

'Obligatory Mothers Day Card'

'You could have been a worse mother', with a photo of a stepford type wife

'I'm awesome. You're welcome. Happy Mother's day to the luckiest mom'

'Mom... i love you even though I screen your calls'

ha ha.