They transform their bodies and minds for nine months, just to meet us. They make the pain go away. They always stand up for us against the world. Is there anything moms won't do?
Chicken noodle soup? No problem.
Need help with that math project? Let her at it.
Bad breakup? Watch out for Mama Bear!
No matter what life throws at us, moms are always there ready to endure it with us. This is why for more than a century moms have been celebrated across the globe. In fact, the celebrations go as far back as the Civil War.
Ann Reeves Jarvis, known in West Virginia as the Mother of Mother's Day, came together with the women in her community in the late 1850s to create clubs geared toward fighting the poor health conditions in their towns. Known as Mothers' Day Work Clubs, members were often called upon to help the homeless and families with tubercular mothers.
During the Civil War, Jarvis and her clubs helped the military with their sick soldiers. Earning high praise for their services to the community, the Mothers' Day Work Clubs were also called upon after the war to help alleviate any post-war discord.
The official holiday began right after the turn of the century thanks to the work of Anna Jarvis, the daughter of Ann Reeves Jarvis. A day was set aside to celebrate the sacrifices mothers make for their children, and many towns and states adopted the celebration as an annual holiday by 1912. Jarvis' determination paid off two years later in 1914 when President Woodrow Wilson declared the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day.
Though the holiday originated in the United States, mothers around the world are being celebrated through various traditions. For instance, as a part of a three-day festival dedicated to motherhood, families come together in Ethiopia for large feasts, singing and dancing. In Peru, children give their mothers handmade gifts, and then receive a gift from their mothers in return.
In some parts of the world, Mother's Day is celebrated on a different date, sometimes based on religious or historical events. And though we have been celebrating for more than 100 years, some countries are new to the holiday. Kyrgyzstan, for example, observes Mother's Day on May 19, and it was first celebrated in 2012.
All mothers are unique and should be honored in ways that applaud their uniqueness. If flowers and chocolates just won't do the trick, try thinking outside the box. Perhaps volunteering at her favorite charity would warm her heart. Or maybe a midnight hike at her favorite state park to check out the constellations is in order. Start a new tradition by learning how another country celebrates and try a few things.
Jane Sellman once said, "The phrase 'working mother' is redundant." And over time children have watched their moms pull off many superhero-sized feats, despite the obstacles standing in their way. These inspiring people who sacrifice their lives for the lives of their children and others should be celebrated.
This Mother's Day, no matter where you are in the world or even if you're new to the party, don't let any pesky obstacles get in the way of honoring the moms in your life.
