May 07, 2008 05:06 pm
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Mothering Sunday, also called “Mothers’ Day,” in the United Kingdom and Ireland falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent. It is believed to have originated sometime in the 16th century from the Christian practice of visiting one’s mother church annually, which meant that most mothers would be happily reunited with their children on this day.
Most historians also believe that young apprentices and young women in servitude were released by their masters that weekend to visit their families. It has become so ingrained into our thinking that Mother’s Day has evolved into one of the most celebrated holidays on our calendar.
Why? Because she’s mother, or as Tenneva Jordan suggests: “A mother is a person who, seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.”
Though social activist Julia Howe Ward’s original intent back in 1870 was to protest the war when she wrote the Mother’s Day Proclamation as a call for peace and disarmament, Howe failed in her attempt to obtain formal recognition of a Mother’s Day for Peace. But her efforts were strongly influenced by Ann Jarvis, a young Appalachian homemaker.
Beginning in 1858, Jarvis attempted to improve sanitation through what she called Mothers’ Work Days. She organized women throughout the Civil War to work for better sanitary conditions for both sides, and in 1868 she began work to reconcile Union and Confederate neighbors. She was a peacemaker.
When Ann Jarvis died in 1907, her daughter, Anna Jarvis, started the crusade to found a memorial day for women. The first such Mother’s Day was celebrated in Grafton, W.Va., on May 10, 1908, in the church where Ann Jarvis had taught Sunday school.
The custom soon caught on and spread throughout the country to 45 states. The holiday was officially declared by some states beginning in 1912. Then, in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson declared the first national Mother’s Day as a day for American citizens to show the flag in honor of those mothers whose sons had died in war.
Over time, even Anna Jarvis became somewhat disillusioned with the commercialization of Mother’s Day. It had become something she and others never intended it to be. Even today, according to the National Restaurant Association, Mother’s Day is the most popular day of the year to dine out at a restaurant in the United States.
For Kansas City, Mo., based Hallmark Cards, it has become one of their best days of the year to sell millions of cards. Along with the postal service, they generate millions in profits each year at this time.
Someone shared with me an interesting tidbit called “Before I was a Mom.” Ladies, see if you can identify with the writer.
Before I was a mom — I slept as late as I wanted and never worried about how late I got into bed. I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.
Before I was a mom — I cleaned my house each day. I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby. I didn’t worry whether my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations.
Before I was a mom — I had never been puked on, pooped on, spit on, chewed on or peed on. I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts. I slept all night.
Before I was a mom — I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests ... or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.
Before I was a mom — I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn’t want to put it down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn’t stop the hurt. I never knew something so small could affect my life so much. I never knew I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a mom.
Before I was a mom — I didn’t know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn’t know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn’t know that bond between a mother and her child. I didn’t know something so small could make me feel so important.
Before I was a mom — I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a mom. I didn’t know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a mom.
“A suburban mother’s role is to deliver children obstetrically once and by car forever after,” said prolific writer Peter De Vries. My, how things have changed over the years, or have they?
Mothers are very special, not simply because they brought us into this world, but because they largely influence how we live in this world they brought us into. I like the Brit’s terminology — so have a happy Mothering Sunday!
Randy Sheridan of Burleson
is a speaker, counselor and
mediator. He can be reached
at drsheridan@aol.com.
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