Once again, it’s that time of year again that we honor and celebrate Mothers everywhere,whether they are alive and well,MIA or have passed on.Regardless of how you may feel about your own mom,one thing for sure,you have to be grateful that you are on this Planet.You wouldn’t be here without her. And that goes for your Father too but that’s another day,another post.
On May 13th we focus on the women who have given birth and/or raised,inspired and taught us by example for better or for worse.On May 13th we remember our Mom’s Mom too and so on and so on.Like the inevitable progress of evolution I like to think I am an upgraded,new and improved version of those who came before me and now that I am older and raging teenage hormones and angst have ceased can I understand and appreciate my mother for being more than just a mom.Moms aren’t one-dimensional creatures, focused entirely on domestic matters: They are not perfect but they are full human beings with their own vices and virtues as well as wide-ranging interests.My own mother ,as an example,was quite the rock’n'roll party girl when I was growing up, she left a passionless marriage of 30 years at the age of almost 60,embraces social media and online dating, and now is also an avid erotica writer and garden landscaper.
So why do we celebrate Mother`s Day?
Here’s a little history about how the Day came to be:
`Julia Ward Howe first issued her Mother’s Day Proclamation in 1872 as a call for women to join in support of disarmament. In the 1880s and 1890s there were several further attempts to establish an American Mother’s Day, but these did not succeed beyond the local level.
The current holiday was created by Anna Jarvisin Grafton,West Virginia in 1908 as a day to honor one’s mother. Jarvis wanted to accomplish her mother’s dream of making a celebration for all mothers, although the idea did not take off until she enlisted the services of wealthy Philadelphia merchant John Wanamaker. She kept promoting the holiday until President Woodrow Wilson made it an official national holiday in 1914. The holiday eventually became so highly commercialized that many, including its founder, Anna Jarvis, considered it a “Hallmark Holiday”, i.e. one with an overwhelming commercial purpose. Jarvis eventually ended up opposing the holiday she had helped to create. She died in 1948, regretting what had become of her holiday.
In the United States, Mother’s Day remains one of the biggest days for sales of flowers, greeting cards, and the like; it is also the biggest holiday for long-distance telephone calls.” Read more
……And thus,The No Mother’s Day movement begins. A few days ago,I came across an article in the Huffington Post. After having read it, I wondered,Is this movement a good thing? Is it a way to cop out/opt out and feel guilt free for not making the phone call,buying her something special? spending some quality time together?
Afterall, it is only one day a year that nudges us to make the extra special effort of saying
“Thanks Mom..for everything and for being You”.
I sent the article to my mom and asked her to have her say.Did she agree?disagree?
This is her response
`For me Mother’s day is a mix of emotions on whether to celebrate it with silence or the expression of love that children have shown their Mother for so many years gone by. I am very neutral on the subject. I do believe that everyone should do what’s in their heart and how it makes them feel.. not for a cause and to prove a point. There is so much pro this and anti that in today’s world already. Let’s not deny our children a chance to honor their Mother in the way that makes them feel good; however it may be. They deserve it..`
So on that note,This Mother’s Day I will not be buying flowers, jewellery or chocolates (not that I ever did) but instead will be taking my mother for a long overdue burger lunch and tell her She’s been a fine example of what it means to be a Broad.
And with that, I carry the torch and go forth.
Signed, Ms.D-Madame of The BroadHouse
