POSTS TAGGED : Mother’s Day

Mom-erican Apparel

Despite my qualms about its conflicting image as workers’ rights champion/kiddie pornographer, I still sometimes shop at American Apparel. What can I say? They have decently priced basic items. Plus, I’d feel hypocritical criticizing only one brand when I’m not willing to grill the rest of my clothes on the ethics of their origins. (“What about you, French stripe tee? Are you made of organic cotton? Do you even speak French? YOU SICKEN ME.”) Continue reading →

The Privilege of Mother’s Day

As I write this, it is the morning of Mother’s Day. My husband and daughter are asleep, and I am alone with my thoughts, maybe for the first time since Sofia was born two years ago. I should be basking in my untethered time, and, in fact, I’m going to go brew a pot of coffee to make the moment last. But I can’t stop thinking about Mother’s Day. Continue reading →

Mother’s Day Marketing: The Good, the Bad, and the Cringeworthy

Mother’s Day is this Sunday, so we should all take it as an opportunity to show our moms how much we appreciate them… by buying them shit, right? If my inbox is to be believed, yes, that is the most important thing to keep in mind this weekend. But what to get her? Unsurprisingly, the suggestions from some retailers are, shall we say, less than enlightened, though I’ve also seen a few that were pretty heartwarming or just refreshingly blasé. Then there are the ads that are, well, a little disturbing. You’ll see! Continue reading →

Happy Mother’s Day, from Your Estranged Daughter

Mother’s Day is difficult for me.

I was homeschooled until the second half of 8th grade, something that would never have been possible had my well-educated mother not been willing to spend all day, every day with me and my younger brothers. She drove us everywhere, said “yes” nearly every time I asked to have friends over, taught me as much as anyone, and, I’m sure, knew me better than most, maybe better than anyone.

All the same, I don’t think of us as ever having been close, and I remember very few quintessential Mother-Daughter Experiences shared by the two of us. Continue reading →