OTTAWA — With spring comes Mother’s Day, and with Mother’s Day comes planning. Where to take her for brunch? What kind of flowers to give her? And most importantly, how close to the big day is it okay to ask her for money?
As many of us struggle to balance work, family, two side hustles, and a semi-monetized hobby, it’s only natural to look to the stability and comfort of a mother’s love, and also her wallet.
“Mother’s Day means a lot to me,” said Danielle Lang, 27, of Ottawa, “but so does paying my Rogers bill. How do I make sure one thing doesn’t ruin the other?”
Lang’s dilemma is not unique. An informal online poll revealed that 100% of Canadians planned on asking their Mom for money within the next 30 days. But opinions on the matter vary significantly.
“Don’t ask after March 29th. When Mother’s Day arrives, you want the money-begging to be six weeks in the past, minimum,” said 34-year-old Dan Leblanc of Winnipeg, who asked for $400 to help cover rent since high gas prices have cut into his UberEats earnings.
Amber Park, 37, a bartender/PSW/dog walker in Vancouver thinks you can ask much closer to the day, as long as you take action to cleanse “the shame palate.” Park explained, “If you’re going to see your mom at least once more before Mother’s Day, go ahead and ask. Unless you’re asking for more than $500, in which case you need a two-visit buffer, and no, FaceTime doesn’t count.”
Paul Robins, 46, a former Meta programmer turned substitute teacher/math tutor/cater waiter/ in Halifax, said he knows from experience when not to ask mom for money. “Don’t do it when the bill for her Mother’s Day brunch arrives. Seriously. Don’t do that.”
For those who fear Mother’s Day is now too close to pop the question, Lang has good news.
“You can ask your dad for money any day of the year,” she laughed. “Because nobody cares about Father’s Day.”
