By Mary M. Alward
The United States and Canada celebrate Mother’s
Day on the second Sunday in May. It is a day when we pay tribute
to the women who gave us life. We buy our mothers gifts of candy,
cards and flowers to show her how much she means to us.
More than forty-six countries around the globe have a special day
when they pay tribute to mothers. England for instance, celebrates
Mother’s Day on the fourth Sunday of Lent. International Mother’s
Day is always celebrated on May 11, and the US sets aside the fourth
Sunday in October for mother-in-law Day.
There are conflicting accounts of the history of
Mother’s Day. One account says the first known Mother’s
Day took place on the second Sunday in May in Albion, Michigan.
Juliet Calhoun Blakeley initiated the holiday. Two days before her
fifty-ninth birthday, three young men were found drunk in the streets
of Albion. One of them was the pastor’s son. On Sunday May
11, Juliet’s birthday, the pastor was so upset that he had
to leave the service before it was over. Juliet, who was seated
nearby, took the pulpit and asked other mothers to join her. Juliet’s
sons who were traveling salesmen were so moved by their mother’s
gesture that they returned every year to pay tribute to her. They
urged others to honor their mothers on the same date. Because of
the brother’s actions, the Methodist Episcopal Church set
aside the second Sunday in May to honor all mothers.
Another version of the origin of Mother’s
Day says that the celebrations took place in the late 1800’s
in different places in the United States.
Most sources give the credit for Mother’s
Day to Anna M. Jarvis. It is generally agreed that the first Mother’s
Day celebration took place in 1907, in a tiny church in West Virginia
when Anna Jarvis arranged a special service to pay tribute to her
mother. It was seven years later that President Wilson declared
Mother’s Day a national holiday.
The roles of women began changing rapidly after
that in both Canada and the United State. Women started to explore
the vast world beyond their duties as wife, housekeeper, mother
and homemaker, though they still took these roles seriously. They
continued to do so through World War One and the Great Depression
but World War Two drastically changed women’s role in society.
When thousands of men marched off to war, women
went to work as welders, riveters and in munitions plants. They
were the backbone of the war effort. They worked long hours, often
for far less pay then men made to do the same work. These women
on the Home Front laid the cornerstones of the Women’s Lib
movement. More women enrolled in social security from 1941 to 1946
then men. They earned higher wages from 1941 to 1946 than ever before
in history. Minimum wage was twenty-five cents per hour but war
plants offered a one-dollar per hour starting fee. These women learned
to drive cars and operate machinery. They made more contributions
to the Red Cross and Salvation Army than ever before.
The day the war was over; the defense plants closed
and sent the women back to their homes. But the women had tasted
independence and had found they were capable of earning a paycheck.
Over the next fifty years, women would take a step up in the world.
 As the years progressed, circumstances pushed women back into the
work force. Divorce, death and single parenthood as well as the
high cost of living made it necessary for women to work. Baby boomers
gave their children too many material things and today’s mothers’
work, not only out of necessity but also because they want to have
a career and be independent. There is also the factor that they
want to have money to buy what they want when they want it. The
busy life of a working mother is not an easy one. They have to ensure
their children are in the hands of a responsible and loving caregiver.
The role of a mother has changed drastically since
that Sunday in May 1907. Today, women not only work but must also
be homemakers as well as mothers. Many are single parents and must
play the role of both mother and father. This is a big challenge
but most women are up to it and my hat is off to each and every
one of them.
Today,
we celebrate Mother’s Day without giving much thought to its
origin. But, just as Anna Jarvis did almost a century ago, we pay
tribute to our mothers with honor, love and respect. Though mothers
of today face new challenges, they are still the foundation of their
homes and our Nation. The love of mothers that was officially recognized
by Anna Jarvis so many years ago is still celebrated today throughout
the world. But why should we only recognize a mother’s love
once a year? Mothers are special and I believe that though we only
have a special celebration once a year, that we should pay tribute
to our mothers every day of our lives. After all, they have supported
us and nourished us in some way since the day we were born and they
will continue to do so for the rest of their lives.
Mother’s Day is here. Today, we will pay special
tribute to our Mothers but remember, pick up the phone or drop by
for a visit on a regular basis throughout the year. This is the
best gift you could give your mother. Oh, and don’t forget
to give her a hug and tell her, “I love you Mom.” It
will boost her spirit, bring a smile and make her feel special,
which she is. Without our Mother’s we would not be where we
are today.
Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers everywhere.
Article written by Mary M. Alward.
All opinions expressed are that of the writer.
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