Perhaps the most amazing quality about mother-daughter relationships is resilience; the quick healing that occurs following insanely dramatic rage fueled disagreements. For instance, the shopping trip to Winners always sounds like a brilliant plan, but then tension boils in the change room and a conversation like this follows:
“Try this on”
“Ugh –no.”
”WHY NOT?”
“It’s just not me.”
“Well maybe you should consider dressing more age appropriate instead of prancing around like some rebellious teenager!”
”Mom – my style is in.”
“It’s no wonder you are having difficulty getting a new job….now put this on, those skinny jeans aren’t for women like us.”
“THE REASON I’M HAVING PROBLEMS FINDING A JOB MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE CURRENT STATE OF OUR GLOBAL ECONOMIC MELTDOWN!!”
“Did you even follow up with Bob Wilks last week? He has a job with your name on it!”
”I DON’T WANT TO WORK AS A SCHLEP IN BOB WILKS’S LAW FIRM!!!”

At this point an awkward diversion will occur when dippy sales girl pipes in:

”Was that size too small? Do you want a medium?”

You are now sweating and in a complete fluster behind door A. Confidence has been shaken by mom’s relentless harassment and you are somehow mangled in a shirt feeling obese and rashy. Teary eyed and out of breath you respond:

“Ahh, yep….I’m okay…thanks..” but really you are in a twisted knot and think your period just commenced. DANG!

It happens to all of us. The good thing is that forty minutes later, you will be sharing a pasta salad and having a heart to heart at the Holts café. Suddenly rage will subside and mom will be sympathizing with your chronic urinary tract infection, lending advice on how to shake your relationship woes and relaying some sidebar story on how in times of personal crisis a load of laundry can really do the trick to get things back in order.

Mom – we’ve had some terrifying door slamming fights, but in the end you are the one we will call when the world falls upside down and we need reassurance. We admire and love you – now where those blueberry pancakes at?

FIRST THINGS FIRST

Shedoesthecity’s Sexy Lingerie Evening for Moms

We would like to acknowledge and celebrate all our mom readers by inviting you to a special CHANGE lingerie party

Wednesday, May 27
6-8PM
315 Queen St. West
%10 discount – Cocktails and snacks will be provided.

Shedoesthecity writers will be on hand to watch your tots while you check out the titillating bras and underwear on offer. A terrific opportunity to meet and mingle with other cool moms.

Please RSVP to haley@shedoesthecity.com – limited space

Now here are some kickass ideas beyond rose scented hand cream and tulips:

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TYPE BOOKS ON QUEEN ST RECOMMENDS

MOMMIES WHO DRINK: Sex, Drugs and Other Distant Memories of an Ordinary Mom

I LIKE YOU – HOSPITALITY UNDER THE INFLUENCE by Amy Sedaris…think Martha Stewart on Crack, hilarious over the top ideas for dysfunctional gatherings

MY FRENCH LIFE – If your mom has ever dreamed of ditching Thornhill for France….this book will touch her imagination from the rustic farmhouse to the Champs Elysees.
http://www.typebooks.ca/

BRUNCH

Aunties and Uncles or BOOM! are brunch hot spots for you and your disheveled lover. Mom likes this:

The Corner House

$35 prix fixe at The Corner House with an option to kick things up a notch and start with A Mother’s Kiss – sparkling white & cassis ( this kiss won’t leave a rouge smear all across your cheek)

Four Seasons Hotel Studio Café

$50 – a little steep but she’ll feel like a queen. Get a window seat and you can play the fun game ‘spot the plastic surgery.
21 Avenue Road

Gallery Grill @ Hart House

Mains from $14 including the breakfast favourite – grilled octopus!
7 Hart House Circle

Peartree

Mains from 8.99, including Rocky Mountain French Toast – woooooooo! (No idea what that is) This place is old and established like a Rosedale Matron.
507 Parliament

Mitzi’s Sister

For west end MILF’s who like things sunny side up this is an easy hot spot that accommodates crayon table art.
1554 Queen St West

The Knit Café

Stitch and bitch with your boomer mom and enjoy breakfast catered by hunky Jamie Kennedy
$36 – brunch (yarn not included)
1050 Queen St. West

SPA!!

The Ten Spot – Downtown

Book a facial with mom at The Ten Spot’s new facial bar (the only one in Toronto – HA!)|
You can chat about drunk Aunt Jude while you get your blackheads extracted
A seriously special treat at a downtown venue that she’ll think is downright nifty – and of course you will love. While you’re there, get a mani…but save the Brazilian for your own time.
749 Queen St. West
http://www.10spot.ca/

In Beauty Spa – Yorkville

Does your mom like trying out crazy spa technology? In Beauty Spa has an Alpha LED Light-Spa which is like a magic bullet from the future that you lie in and special technicolour lights, vibrations and oxygen hit every angle helping to rejuvenate the core and MORE!. We tried the experience last week and it was far better then any ride at Universal Studios – plus we left feeling younger, fresher, relaxed and futuristic.

LED Light Therapy – the dominating topic of conversation at her next book club meeting.
30 minutes for $60…a ride she won’t forget!
26 Bellair St. 2nd Floor

Dove Spa – Midtown

Dove Spa recently opened its doors at Yonge and St. Clair. From the brand that celebrates all shapes and sizes comes an oasis of beauty from the inside out. Massages, manis, pedis and all those wonderful things that make a woman instantly happy and confident.
1375 Yonge Street
http://www.dovespa.ca/

ARE YOU A MOM? Get your hubby or partner to take you to the Bunch Family Dance Party: Glam Rock Pre-Mother’s Day Edition

For the hipster parents this dance party mommy day extravaganza offers:

*Rap Ode to Mommas by MC Abdominal and your kids
*Kids will make fierce wearable art for their moms with Avenue Road Arts School.
*Sweetmama.ca will treat kids to Bowie-inspired face painting.
*DJ Fase will go crazy on the ones and twos
*An interactive lesson on moms who rock (ex. Kim Gordon & Gwen Stefani).
*Families leave with a Swag Bag in hand. SCORE!

ALSO – kid breakers Lamar and Shemar will be performing from the TVO show Pop It! Check them out on Maury Povich:  Click here

Saturday, May 9, from 2-5PM, Live @ Courthouse (57 Adelaide Street East)

$12 Grown Ups, $10 Kids, Free for non walkers, in advance.
$12 each, cash only at door.
www.bunchfamily.ca 

She Does The City’s cuisine experts present some delicious recipes for a Mother’s Day that’s frugal AND filled with love. 

For a Mother’s Day dinner on the patio:  Roasted Citrus Glazed Trout with a Tomato/Avocado Salsa

Dinner for you, your mom, the significant other, and your monster-in-law: Oedipus Ragout and Mommy Polenta

For those of us scrounging to make a delicious meal with whatever we can find at the back of your parent’s fridge: An Italian Feast on the Cheap

A classy Mother’s Day tea for a mom-and-daughter duo describable only as Sassy Broads.

And for those of us who need a little help getting through the day: Blueberry Vodka Martinis

MOTHER’S DAY OUTINGS: 

For aging hippies: 

Mamapalooza at Bread and Circus Theatre

Feminist moms celebrate with music, art, poetry, and more.
INFO

For outdoorsy fit moms: 

The Toronto Bicycling Network is hosting a bike along the spit:

Go for a leisurely ride at the Leslie St. Spit. Meet for a 10:00 a.m. departure at the Boardwalk Pub, just east of Coxwell Ave on Lakeshore Blvd.
www.tbn.ca

For do-gooders:

Meagans’ Walk. 
8th Annual Meagan’s Walk: Creating a Circle of Hope

A five-kilometre walk beginning at Ontario Place and ending with a human hug at SickKids.

This event gives hope and awareness about the devastating effects of pediatric brain tumours and raises much needed funds for research in this area. 

Sunday May 10
Starts 8:30 AM @ Ontario Place East Entrance
Ends: 12:00 PM

Fee- $10 or $35 (includes 2 parents and up to 4 children) 
www.meaghanswalk.com

For the fashion savvy do-gooder:

Pick your mom up a $12 rethink targets breast cancer at Joe Fresh

Read about this week’s  sexy launch party at Ossington’s new burlesque bar Jezebel:

For the arts-loving mom:

National Ballet is offering a 20% seat sale discount from now until the 8th for their production of Carmen.

www.national.ballet.ca – promo code MOTHER

For ADVENTURE MOM!

Want to give her something she’ll remember for the rest of her life? Georgian Bay Airways offers four distinct Fly & Dine round trips that offer culinary experiences that are a delight to the eye as well as the palette. Take off from Parry Sound and get a scenic tour of the gorgeous Muskoka landscape and dip down for lunch lakeside. Truly a unique Canadian experience for you and your mom to share.

More Info

Check out Fly & Dine video:

In a pinch – an Edith Piaf album and vintage red will do the trick.

Mother’s Day aside –

Here’s where you’re drinking this weekend

And these are
the art shows you are going to – don’t miss out on Friday’s open house at Walnut Studio….the hub of women art in this city!

…just make sure you aren’t hung-over Sunday for Mother’s Day brunch – THE WORST THING YOU CAN DO!!!