Mother’s Day is a celebration and honouring the mother of the family, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world. Personally, I celebrated my biological mom, sister, mother in law, and my spiritual mom, as all 4 form a very integral part of who I am today. I feel lucky to have these women in my life with ages ranging from 30 years to 75 years.
How it started
Did you know Mother’s Day was first celebrated in 1908, when Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother at St Andrew’s Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia. St Andrew’s Methodist Church now holds the International Mother’s Day Shrine. Her campaign to make Mother’s Day a recognized holiday in the United States began in 1905, the year her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, died. Ann Jarvis had been a peace activist who cared for wounded soldiers on both sides of the American Civil War, and created Mother’s Day Work Clubs to address public health issues. Anna Jarvis wanted to honour her mother by continuing the work she started and to set aside a day to honour all mothers because she believed a mother is “the person who has done more for you than anyone in the world”. Wikipedia
Moms as health workers
Now that is something to celebrate, woman fighting and trying to improve public health issues. Just this morning my 6 year-old said that her teacher is very clever but only mommy knows when I am getting sick. Maybe it is more a woman thing, let us call it instinct to want to care for and help children and others. Not that I am taking any of it away from our men. But looking at my own life it is the woman becoming nurses, teachers, stay at home parents etc. And yes, none of them have these big, million-dollar companies. What they do have are homes where we as children feel safe, important, and loved. And thank you to the men in our lives giving us the opportunity to be who we need and want to be. I will let you step into my life for a minute to see who I celebrate this month of May, especially during this year.
My youngest sister is a theatre nurse at a private hospital. And yes, always these days on the background is the talk about Covid-19. At first, we were very blasé about what is coming, then afraid for her working in a hospital. And now we are just proud. The nurses are making TikTok dance videos to keep themselves uplifted and motivated, and sharing these with friends and family. And that is what we do as woman, when the though gets going, the going gets though. My sister makes me angry, makes me laugh, makes me cry and makes me feel loved, all in the space of 1 second. Only she understands me fully.
All my mothers
My mother, one of 6 children, never finished high school and was thought to be doing the only thing she could think of doing, being a mother and housewife. Today she has her own bakery, supplying all sorts of sweet and wonderful eatery to her local town. And it all started in her kitchen when she was a stay at home mom. We are all married now, but regularly goes back to mom for some “mom time” like only she can give us.
My work mom is this old lady that mentored me when I started working. She was also a teacher for 20 years at a “boys only” school, teaching science. She has this big heart for people that struggles and has it tough in life. She taught me that you can rise above your circumstance and be of value. And always have respect. Today she is 78 years old and is the most respectful person I know.
My mother in law is not like the normal mother in law. I do not even call her mom. She told me on my wedding day: “I am not your mother; you have a mother that loves you. But what I want to be is your friend”. I thought it very strange, but also realised she stepped in as a friend, giving guidance and structure where it was needed when my children were born.
Teach the children
When I am teaching my children about Mother’s Day, I teach them it is only a little bit about me, and so much more about woman of the world. I want to teach them about woman making a difference. The teachers at the school that helps every child grow and learn, the auntie at the local shop giving out lollypops, the doctor in the hospital making sure you are comfortable before she leaves for her home, the old lady on the sidewalk selling beautiful flowers and many more woman should be celebrated. Let us teach children to honour a person and be respectful, regardless of age, race, and circumstance. Because every person you see walking around has a mother that has her own story.
