over-rated; mother's day and father's day  

Well yes at times when you see it in TV's all those commercials going around day in and out greeting you and enticing you to buy their products indirectly. Sometimes I am getting used to that already as part of daily life. Well I guess that is their strategy to make their products or services known to as many sectors in society. You can just imagine the many types of business establishments that exist today vying to lure you to buy their products and services and it is in this strategy that will make their products sell to many different kinds of people

Ok. I understand what you are trying to say Jamie but I believe it depends on a person's perspective if they will go to these establishment or not... The important thing is our desire to express how much we love our parents on whatever place we want to celebrate this important event.

.

Nice topic though. Happy mylotting!

.

First of all, who doesn't love their moms and dads?

Second, if you're gonna rant about overrated pseudo-holidays, you should talk about Valentine's Day. Now that's overrated.

Mother's and Father's Days are real holidays....at least to a spoiledbrats like me. I dunno about you....

Businesses need to sell and earn. Nothing wrong with these marketing strategies. Marketing and Advertising are both main tools of any business. Both are especially needed to sell products and services.

I kind of find it okay that through these establishments, family bonding is being promoted. These Hallmark Card celebrations are all from Western Cultures and we have adapted them and they're working. If there's something good that comes out of it, it's how they integrate family values.

Yup

Commercialism at it's best, shame it isn't a public holiday though

I do get fed up with this type of marketing strategy... makes us all feel obliged to buy gifts and do something on that so called special day... not that parents or grandparents doesn't deserve this... but with the current financial crisis... we should all work hand in hand in order to make the economy grow again... and not waste our time on thing that are really unnecessary...

Just like what you said, it is business. Entrepreneurs see opportunities as they come. Since mother and father's day only come once a year, they thought of offering discounts to customers who wish to give something special to their loved ones. It is also a good time for us, children to find a way to make this special occasion meaningful without too much money losing from our pockets.

hi Jamie, my mom has always advised me NOT to do anything special on Mothers Day for her cause its no more than a marketing strategy.
I still do some small special things for her. Now she is in her mid 80s and I live a 3,5 hours drive or train journey from her place. So this year again though the connections are lousy on a Sunday, I took the train to see her, commuted to her place, was there around 11 am, then spent some hours with her till 3 pm and had to get back home. She liked that a lot......