So, I think my racing club is trying to kill me . . .

I just found out the first autocross of the year is scheduled for May 11. If that doesn't sound familiar, its Mother's Day. Normally, I'd just skip it, but this year there are two complicating factors. 1. Its at my favorite venue of the year, by a long shot. (Example of said venue here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tm218p-Y4Q) 2. Given the rest of the schedule, if I don't want to drive across the state, I may not race again until July.

So I mention this little problem to SWMBO and get the classic answer "Oh, that's OK, you can go." She also added "But you'd better get me something good for Mother's Day." So here's the issue. Based on past experience, "It's OK, you can go" can mean anything from "It's OK, you can go", to "You can go, but there will be consequences" to (admittedly, the worst case scenario) "I'll kill you in your sleep if you do."

Since there's no poll feature, here's question for the collective: Based on past experience, is "You'd better get me something nice for Mother's Day" a warning shot or an indication that, with an appropriate level of Mother's Day gifting (I'm thinking of a Kindle Fire) I may escape relatively unscathed?

No way in Hades would I go. You would need to get her Mark Wahlberg just as the down payment for that load of misery.

kazoospec wrote: with an appropriate level of Mother's Day gifting (I'm thinking of a Kindle Fire) I may escape relatively unscathed?

Me thinks you're underestimating.

Why not celebrate on a different day, it's just an arbitrary date.

yeah I was going to say just surprise her the weekend before. And dont half ass it. :P

Tell her you celebrate mother's day EVERYDAY and "mothers day" doesn't mean anything.

That should get the fight out of the way now so you can go race later.

Get her a day spa gift with an appointment for that day or something and she will be occupied and you go race. Win win.

You know what? She probably actually means "it's OK, you can go".

That still doesn't mean you should go. Take one for the team, stay home, and treat her to a nice day. Then yell at the idiot autocross manager for scheduling an event on Mother's Day.

So SWMBO is your mother?

It's a trick!!! just like that "let's not buy each other anything for Christmas" deal....then Christmas day she pulls out 6 gifts for you and wants to know where hers is......

bravenrace wrote: So SWMBO is your mother?

I assume she's the mother of his kids, in which case I strongly suggest not being a dick.

bravenrace wrote: So SWMBO is your mother?

Beat me to it.

This comes up every year. She's not your mom. The only problem with your situation is that either your wife thinks she is your mom, or for some reason she thinks you should be buying her presents because you want to go racing.

Your wife is out of line. Stop being a Bob Costas and nip it in the bud.

I say do it. She can't be pissed at anyone other than herself for giving you permission, logically. I know that's what i'd do. (And yes, I am married, and I do have a child.)

Duke wrote: You know what? She probably actually means "it's OK, you can go". That still doesn't mean you *should* go. Take one for the team, stay home, and treat her to a nice day. Then yell at the idiot autocross manager for scheduling an event on Mother's Day.

If she didn't say it with attitude, this all the way^^

Lancer007 wrote: Get her a day spa gift with an appointment for that day or something and she will be occupied and you go race. Win win.

+1 for this and then take her out for a nice dinner on the night. These combined will greatly mitigate or perhaps even neutralize the damage.

Duke wrote: You know what? She probably actually means "it's OK, you can go". That still doesn't mean you *should* go. Take one for the team, stay home, and treat her to a nice day. Then yell at the idiot autocross manager for scheduling an event on Mother's Day.

You have to live with this woman right? I'd skip the autocross--- there will be others. In my experience mothers (either your's , or the mother of your children) take Mother's Day VERY seriously. Treat her to a nice day-- subtly remind her of your choice, and reap the rewards. You'll earn brownie points, and be the good guy. The cones can wait.

Divorce her and get a woman that would want to go with you AND the kids to a family friendly day of autocross.

I took my (now wife) to an autocross for her birthday about 5 years ago. After that, we went to the track to autocross / track day / kart at least once a week.

Maybe take her with you?

I would also think you could "reschedule" the day. Hell, it moves from year to year anyway.

Rob R.

"Celebrate" the previous Sunday? Better early than late, IMHO.

That's about all I've got. Not married & no kids and my own mother doesn't really care, although we go out to dinner if our schedules permit, although never actually on Mother's Day to avoid the crowds.

SOOOOO glad I'm unhitched...

Since when does the ENTIRE day need to be devoted to the mom/wife on Mother’s day? Can you not still do a nice Dinner after the auto-x event? Plus one on getting a day spa package for her while you are at the event, or even doing something the night/weekend before.

I find it somewhat selfish the notion that the whole world has to stop because it is one of “those” days (valentine’s day, anniversary, mother’s day, birthday, chrismaquanzakuh, etc). Maybe I’m just weird and totally non-PC, but I hate these predetermined days where I’m supposed to be made to feel “special”. Every day we get to wake up should be special.

It really comes down to the given person. If they are in anyway needy / codependent, save yourself the trouble and stay home and hopefully earn some brownie points. But don’t push earning those brownie points too far by repetitively saying “I missed a track day for you!”

Joe Gearin wrote: You have to live with this woman right? I'd skip the autocross--- there will be others. In my experience mothers (either your's , or the mother of your children) take Mother's Day VERY seriously. Treat her to a nice day-- subtly remind her of your choice, and reap the rewards. You'll earn brownie points, and be the good guy. The cones can wait.

I think even NASCAR takes mothers day off from competition.

I feel for you. I was excited about the Indy Grand Prix on the road course prior to that silly roundy roundy race later in the month, until I found it was on Mothers day.

I'd take pain enhancing drugs then crush my nuts in a vice while sitting on a depleted uranium spike before I considered so much as suggesting a car related activity on Mothers day weekend, but them my SWMBO take Mothers day very seriously. She also takes Fathers day really seriously too, so I get totally pampered on that weekend so I don't complain.

I'd take her at her word and plan on going. Get her the kindle fire and leave it for her to unwrap when she gets up in the morning.
I don't know what kind of wives you guys have, but mine would understand.

Holidays are lame, and gift giving is a sham. I frequently go to the Daytona 24 on SWMBO's birthday...