“The influence of a mother in the lives of her children is beyond calculation.” —James E Faust
Mother’s Day has been around for many years. I never questioned it; I just found an appropriate gift and a mushy card. But have you ever questioned the real meaning of Mother’s Day?
The official Mother's Day holiday arose in the 1900s due to the efforts of Anna Jarvis, daughter of Ann Reeves Jarvis. Following her mother's 1905 death, Anna Jarvis conceived of Mother's Day to honor the sacrifices mothers made for their children.
Most mothers sacrifice for their children. Some give up careers, sleep, doing special things for themselves, or socializing with others. Mother’s Day allows us to say thank you.
Many extraordinary things often happen on that day. Families get together to honor Mom. There may be barbeques, meals at a lovely restaurant, or the kids messing up the kitchen to provide either breakfast or dinner. Hopefully, Mom did not have to cook or clean. Many churches remember moms. Often mothers are asked to stand; usually, there is a flower or a small gift for the mother. My church even has a portrait area to take pictures with your family. Some restaurants often have a special brunch for mothers. These gestures are wonderful, and mothers deserve to be treated well.
How to Make Your Mom Feel Special on Mother's Day
· Make a handwritten card.
· Buy her flowers.
· Let her get some sleep.
· Plan a family activity.
· Give her a day off from doing her least favorite tasks.
· Send her off on a hotel getaway.
· Get creative with gift cards.
· Make a day free of decisions.
Mother’s Day is not a happy day for everyone. Some have lost their mother, and there is a void. Others are unable to have children and are grieving, and some have not had a good relationship with their mothers and struggle with all the “happy” mothers with their children.
What can you do to help someone who is grieving on Mother’s Day?
· Remember, grief is a form of love.
· Let yourself feel what you feel.
· Know that every emotion is ok when you are grieving.
· Honor the person who died.
· Let others help when they can.
What can you do when Mother’s Day is hard?
· Make a plan.
· Tune out.
· Create a Ritual
· Ask for support.
· Find an outlet.
Mother’s Day is not my favorite day of the year. I lost my only child 28 years ago to an adoption failure, and my mom died eleven years ago. I work at looking at some of the good things about the day. I am fortunate and have friends that remind me that I will always be a mom and include me in celebrations. I also try remembering some of my happier times as a mom and a daughter. So, I thought it might be nice to share a favorite memory of my mom.
My mom died of cancer. She went through aggressive chemotherapy and was extremely sick for much of the time. When the chemo was completed, she lived the best life she could. One night she was in the mood for pizza. I went to pick up the pizza, and when I came home, she had set up trays, had the wine ready, and said we would have a party. It was a lovely evening. We ate, talked, and watched a movie. I am grateful for that special time.
Enjoy your Mother’s Day! For those of you that have a hard time on this day, take care of yourself.
Please take the time in the comment section to tell me about your favorite memory of your mom.
HAVE A GREAT WEEK!
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