A Mom Dreading Her Son’s Wedding - Feeling Left Out

Weddings are a joyous event meant to be shared between families and friends. While parents should be happy for the marriage of their children, there may be times when feelings of being left out can leave moms feeling overwhelmed. This is especially true when it comes to the wedding of a mom’s son. Here, we will discuss the various emotions that a mom feels when her son holds his wedding without her involvement and how she can work through them.

On the one hand, a mom can feel left out if her son chooses not to invite her to the wedding festivities. This is especially common in cases where mothers do not get along with their son’s in-laws or are estranged from the family. The exclusion can make a mom feel like she is not important to her son’s life and can be a painfully difficult experience for anyone going through it.

On the other hand, a mother may feel left out because her son wants to take all the decision making out of her hands and rely on his fiance or in-laws for support. This can be especially true in modern-day weddings where couples prefer to pick out the venues and decorations themselves. A mom may start to feel that she is no longer needed or valued in her son’s life.

Another common source of feeling left out is when a mom tries to help and her son pushes her away. She may offer her opinion on the decorations or the catering menu and her son may simply dismiss it without taking it into consideration. This can be an incredibly hurtful experience for a mom who wants nothing more than to lend a helping hand in planning the big day.

In any case, once a mom realizes that she is feeling left out, she should take into consideration all the reasons why this might be happening. It could be that her son wants to live independently and plans to go through with most of the pre-wedding events himself. This is not uncommon for couples. Alternatively, it could be that her son does not want to include her in the festivities due to her poor behavior towards his fiance or in-laws. If this is the reason, then it is important for the mom to address and work through any personal issues.

Either way, if a mom feels left out of her son’s wedding, she should take an active role in doing something to make the experience special. For instance, if the mother feels comfortable, she can offer to take over some of the planning elements in areas that her son may need help in, such as the design of the invitations or the final touches of the cake. Mothers may also consider offering up gifts that facilitate the wedding planning process such as wedding album photobooks or decorations for the ceremony.

There are many other small contributions a mom can make aside from the traditional wedding gifts. Having some meaningful conversations with her son before the wedding could be beneficial as well. She could share memories of him growing up and words of advice for their married life. She may also be able to make small requests for the day, like being present during the rehearsal dinner or having a signature cocktail. Small gestures like these can make the entire experience feel much more significant and emotional for everyone involved.

Feeling left out as a mom during her son’s wedding is a real emotion that should not be taken lightly. Recognizing the source of this feeling and addressing it in a healthy manner may be the biggest help here. It is important for a mom to remember that the wedding of her son is a joyous event and no matter how involved she is with the planning, she should always cherish the special bond she has with her son.