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Mother’s Day is quickly approaching. I hope that you will take the opportunity to remember your mother on Mother’s Day for all that she has done.
This year it is observed on May 9th. I would like to offer some recognition to mothers and state some facts about how Mother’s Day was started.
Mother’s Day is celebrated to express our appreciation for our mothers. Although it falls on a different day each year, it is always on the second Sunday of May.
Research shows that the Greeks were the first to celebrate Mother’s Day. With the spread of Christianity throughout Europe it became a celebration to honor the “Mother Church”. Then England in the 1600’s started celebrating “Mothering Sunday” on the fourth Sunday of lent to honor mothers in England.
In 1872 the United States, through the devotion of Julia Ward Howe began celebrating a day honoring peace and motherhood. The idea did not catch on until 1907 with a campaign by Anna Jarvis for national Mother’s Day. Unlike the endeavors by Julia Ward Howe this was now celebrated in almost every state. In 1914 there was a Presidential Proclamation by Woodrow Wilson stating that the second Sunday in May would be celebrated as Mother’s Day.
Originally Mother’s Day was spent going to church and writing letters expressing sentiments to mothers. Throughout the years this has evolved to include cards, presents, flowers and dinner. Mother’s Day now ranks as the second highest gift-giving holiday in the United States. Many restaurants have their busiest day on Mother’s Day. Many cards and e-cards are sent. In addition it is the busiest day for long distance calls. Sons and daughters take this opportunity to call and express their love and gratitude to their mothers.
On this day other countries, such as Denmark, Belgium, Australia, Turkey, Italy and Finland, also celebrate Mother’s Day. Other countries honor their mothers but do so on different dates.
A quote by Anna Jarvis, “Mother’s Day is in honor of the best Mother who ever lived – the Mother of your Heart.”
Mothers (and mothers-in-law) have various meanings to us all and are the basics of many jokes. No matter how good, bad, loving or not so attentive you think of your mother we do owe much to our mothers for bringing us into this world. We would not be who we are without our mothers.
Think of all a mother does. She sits by your bedside when you are sick. She is always there to listen to your problems, share in your excitement, teach you good manners, keeps your clothes clean and ready to wear. The list goes on and on. I was a single mother and I know personally there were many days there were not enough hours in the day to get all I had to do accomplished. My two daughters were the glue that held my life together. I was truly honored to be their mother.
I would like to share a story I came across many years ago. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
“The Meanest Mother”
I had the meanest mother in the whole world. While other kids ate
candy for breakfast, I had to have cereal, eggs or toast. When others
had cokes and candy for lunch, I had to eat a sandwich. As you can
guess, my supper was different than the other kids’ also.
But at least, I wasn’t alone in my sufferings. My sister and two
brothers had the same mean mother as I did.
My mother insisted upon knowing where we were at all times. You’d
think we were on a chain gang. She had to know who our friends were and
where we were going. She insisted if we said we’d be gone an hour, that
we be gone one hour or less–not one hour and one minute. I am nearly
ashamed to admit it, but she actually struck us. Not once, but each
time we had a mind of our own and did as we pleased. That poor belt was
used more on our seats than it was to hold up Daddy’s pants. Can you
imagine someone actually hitting a child just because he disobeyed? Now
you can begin to see how mean she really was.
We had to wear clean clothes and take a bath. The other kids always
wore their clothes for days. We reached the height of insults because
she made our clothes herself, just to save money. Why, oh why, did we
have to have a mother who made us feel different from our friends?
The worst is yet to come. We had to be in bed by nine each night
and up at eight the next morning. We couldn’t sleep till noon like our
friends. So while they slept-my mother actually had the nerve to break
the child-labor law. She made us work. We had to wash dishes, make
beds, learn to cook and all sorts of cruel things. I believe she laid
awake at night thinking up mean things to do to us.
She always insisted upon us telling the truth, the whole truth and
nothing but the truth, even if it killed us and it nearly did.
By the time we were teen-agers, she was much wiser, and our life
became even more unbearable. None of this tooting the horn of a car for
us to come running. She embarrassed us to no end by making our dates
and friends come to the door to get us. If I spent the night with a
girlfriend, can you imagine she checked on me to see if I were really
there. I never had the chance to elope to Mexico. That is if I’d had a
boyfriend to elope with. I forgot to mention, while my friends were
dating at the mature age of 12 and 13, my old fashioned mother refused
to let me date until the age of 15 and 16. Fifteen, that is, if you
dated only to go to a school function. And that was maybe twice a year.
Through the years, things didn’t improve a bit. We could not lie
in bed, “sick” like our friends did, and miss school. If our friends
had a toe ache, a hang nail or serious ailment, they could stay home
from school. Our marks in school had to be up to par. Our friends’
report cards had beautiful colors on them, black for passing, red for
failing. My mother being as different as she was, would settle for
nothing less than ugly black marks.
As the years rolled by, first one and then the other of us was put
to shame. We were graduated from high school. With our mother behind
us, talking, hitting and demanding respect, none of us was allowed the
pleasure of being a drop-out.
My mother was a complete failure as a mother. Out of four
children, a couple of us attained some higher education. None of us
have ever been arrested, divorced or beaten his mate. Each of my
brothers served his time in the service of this country. And whom do we
have to blame for the terrible way we turned out? You’re right, our
mean mother. Look at the things we missed. We never got to march in a
protest parade, nor to take part in a riot, burn draft cards, and a
million and one other things that our friends did.
She forced us to grow up into God-fearing, educated, honest adults.
Using this as a background, I am trying to raise my three
children. I stand a little taller and I am filled with pride when my
children call me mean.
Because, you see, I thank God, He gave me the meanest mother in
the whole world.
written by Bobbie Pingaro (1967)
In remembering my mother (she passed away in 1997) I do not remember someone who expressed great love or concern. Nonetheless, I remember her as my mother and thank her for all she did for me. Do not look at the negative things you remember or think of your mother or your growing up years. Take those things and turn them into positive aspects in your life. You can still embrace your mother with love. It is your choice how you want to deal with those memories. Because of my mother I have become the person I am. I value the importance of loving my children and grandchildren and finding beauty, excitement and blessings in every day of my life.
I hope that you will take the opportunity to reach out to your mother on Mother’s Day. There will, unfortunately, come a day when she will not feel your touch, nor will you feel her touch. Be sure to remember your mother on Mother’s Day!
I wish a very happy Mother’s Day to mothers everywhere. Thanks for all you do!
Judy Conway
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