Thread: Forgot mother's name day and feel guilty about it

Name days to our family are almost as important as birthdays, if not a little bit more since we only celebrate birthdays within the family and name days are supposed to be known to all friends/family members.

Well, my mother's name day was yesterday but since I live abroad I have no contact with the national calendar/dates etc. and I am extremely bad at remembering such occasions (although I have improved with birthdays). I talked with my brother on the phone but he didn't mention it (parents were away). My father also tends to send me a text when it's an important date (and I also remind him at times, i.e. their anniversary, which he forgot this year).

I talked with them all today and my mother mentioned that I 'also' forgot her name dame (i.e. others did as well) but she didn't say it to hurt my feelings or in a nasty way or anything like that. Sounded more sad about it, which I totally understand, I always manage to call her on that day. She said it's alright etc. Thing is, she mentioned it right after I mentioned that it's one of my friend's birthdays soon and I didn't know what to get her (the friend's husband has stage 4 cancer and I'm very worried about her, she's about 15 years younger than my mother).

Anyway, there's nothing I can do to bring back yesterday and not remembering something once does not mean I love her any less, but since I live abroad and there's nothing I can do for my family to show them that I love them other than calling them almost daily, to forget to call makes me feel guilty. Especially regarding mum, since it's so hard to find something that pleases her (she claims she doesn't want anything and I shouldn't spend any money on her etc etc.). I don't even know what to send her, I'm very bad with presents

Anything you can tell me to make me feel better? She's so wonderful and loving that she deserves better from me, but I don't know what to do

Now I actually got very teary eyed, which rarely happens...

What with reading so much about cancer today and how very little time my friend's husband has I just feel terrible...