In this country, Mother's Day is usually a hit rather than a miss when it comes to the gift department. You would think, then, that people will always get it right, especially with the myriad choices on offer, from jewellery to spa outings. Yet, they do get it wrong.
I decided to ask a few mothers here in T&T what made their worst gift lists from past Mother's Day celebrations. Some made me laugh and others, well... you be the judge. (Names, of course, will be changed to protect the offended.)
"My dotish husband gave me cheap perfume that brought out an ugly weeping rash behind my ears and my wrists." Lena, housewife.
"A bunch of zaboca (avocado). Nothing else. Just that."
Greer, cashier.
"A puppy that peed on my nice carpet." Phyllis, homeowner.
"A tool kit. His reason was that I could use it to fix things if he wasn't around. Well, I never saw the tool kit after that, because it went in the car and travelled with him everywhere." Alicia, Government employee.
"Okay, I have to credit my husband for at least trying. He got me a nice makeup kit, but you know that unless you know and understand what makeup entails, you are not always going to get things right. Let's just say the colours were a little... off, but I still appreciated it."
Charlene, taxi driver.
"An underwear set that was too big." (She didn't want to leave any name.)
"I was dropping hints since the last Mother's Day that I wanted to go to Tobago for a nice little getaway. Instead, the man totes me to a company lime in Vessigny. You ever see more?" Jeanine, saleswoman.
"Cleaning materials. I kid you not." Leslie, housewife.
"The family made me breakfast in bed, but they never washed the wares after, so I had to clean down the entire kitchen � and still cook lunch!" Kelli, nurse.
"He just handed me some money in a white envelope and said this is from me and the children to buy whatever you want. The total in the envelope was $143.76. I realise is empty he emptied his wallet." Tina, hairdresser.
"A case of Ensure. Don't ask me why." Desiree, boutique owner.