Mother's day should be what YOU want it to be, but also a daythat you honor the Moms in your life. You can honor them on the actual day, or another day that you and they agree on if it works out for you all. My Mom occasionally has to work on Mother's day, so we get together on a different day day on the same weekend, whenever it works out for both of us. My MIL has passed away, and my step MIl lives across the country, but honestly if she lived next door I probably wouldn't do more than a card or phone call because my inlaws choose not to be involved in our lives as a rule, so why would I involve myself in their lives for Mother's day?
My husband and 4 kids always do some type of breakfast for me on Mother's day. Then I open whatever cards and gifts they have gotten for me. It varies from year to year, and I am more about the time together and my tiime to relax than the gifts. I can buy myself whatever I want or need , and I rarely want "things" so they tend to give me more personal gifts or things they have made which I love. One of my favorite gifts to this day is a video that my daughter made for me with photos of all of family and friends, with music in the background, and words edited in on the photos. It was on a DVD and I love it. She is quite creative, and I watch it often. Last year, our 2 oldest daughters took their 2 younger siblings out for the day, something that they do from time to time, a few days prior to Mothers day. They went to the beach, the park, and a couple other places. They did their own photo shoot of the 4 of them together, and then printed some of the best shots they got for me in a photo package as a gift. Some were in frames, some were in a collage frame, and the rest were on a DVD so I would have all of them. I think there were a total of 35 pictures in all. They had taken a few changes of clothes with them, which I had no idea they did, and that way they could try different outfits for the pictures. :)
Back to what we DO though................. after the breakfast and cards and gifts, the day is basically mine. I get to spend the day doing whatever I would like to do. If I want to read all day, I do. If I want to go to the beach or sit out by the pool, I do. I am not the one who takes care of the kids, or who prepares lunch and dinner. I get to have a day "off" from those responsibilities. I don't have to clean, or do anything domestic at all. My Mom (if she isn't working), comes to spend the day with us. She gets waited on right along with me. :) My kids and husband make sure the she is included in whatever we do, and she loves the time and attention that she gets. Sometimes we go someplace that I want to go, like to a theme park, and everyone has a blast. Other years we hang out here at home and relax by the pool. (also very fun) Whatever we do, we spend time together, and the main thing is that I get to RELAX and really enjoy my time. I do NOT have to worry about cooking, cleaning, or being "on" for anything at all. It is quite refreshing compared to most other days of my year. We do something very similar for my husband on Father's day. He is the "king" and we treat him as such.
You need to do what YOU want to do on Mother's day, enjoy yourself. I have even known people who have spent their Mother's day all by themselves, by CHOICE, without their kids. They spent their days all year with their kids, so on mother's day all they wanted was a day alone, to be without them. Kind of funny, but whatever makes you happy. I hope that you get to have a relaxing and happy Mother's day!! <3