Honor the early history and spirit of Mother’s Day in the U.S. (It actually goes as far back as the ancient Greeks.) On the first Mother’s Day celebration (1858) at a W. Virginia church, Ann Jarvis united mothers to fight infant mortality. During the rest of the 1800s women’s peace groups perpetuated the idea of bringing together mothers for just causes. After the Civil War Julia Ward Howe called on mothers to unite against war and promote social justice. In 1872, Anna Jarvis suggested an official Mother’s Day. She got the idea from her own activist social worker mom, who, noticing that adult Americans were neglecting their mothers, felt strongly that all mothers should be honored for their contributions.
Greeting card companies, florists, candy-makers, and others have commercialized the day, turning it into a sentimental occasion. Of course, moms appreciate the attention from their kids. Wouldn’t it be appropriate, too, to celebrate them as people who accomplished the difficult task of raising children while contributing time and effort to their community and world?
Although you’ve been gone many years, happy Mother’s Day, Mom, and thank you for all you did for our family and the positive differences you made in so many lives.