Those of you whose Mothers are still alive; call ’em, visit ’em, take ’em to dinner! Do something good for them!!!
The history-
The origins of Mother’s Day are attributed to different people. Many believe that two women, Julia Ward Howe and Anna Jarvis were important in establishing the tradition of Mother’s Day in the United States. Other sources say that Juliet Calhoun Blakely initiated Mother’s Day in Albion, Michigan, in the late 1800s. Her sons paid tribute to her each year and urged others to honor their mothers.
Around 1870, Julia Ward Howe called for Mother’s Day to be celebrated each year to encourage pacifism and disarmament amongst women. It continued to be held in Boston for about ten years under her sponsorship, but died out after that.
In 1907, Anna Jarvis held a private Mother’s Day celebration in memory of her mother, Ann Jarvis, in Grafton, West Virginia. Ann Jarvis had organized “Mother’s Day Work Clubs” to improve health and cleanliness in the area where she lived. Anna Jarvis launched a quest for Mother’s Day to be more widely recognized. Her campaign was later financially supported by John Wanamaker, a clothing merchant from Philadelphia.
In 1908, she was instrumental in arranging a service in the Andrew’s Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia, which was attended by 407 children and their mothers. The church has now become the International Mother’s Day Shrine. It is a tribute to all mothers and has been designated as a National Historic Landmark.
Just remember, if it weren’t for them, WE wouldn’t be here…
My Mother passed away in 2018, so for you lucky persons who still have yours alive, make sure they know how you feel about them. Leave nothing you mean remain unsaid.
My mom died in 1978.
Today is also V-E Day! In 1945, my mom was 17, and my dad was 19 and in uniform.
This is my mom’s first Mothers’ Day in Heaven, and it’s a little bit of a rough spot. At least for me, and I imagine for my sisters as well.
Peace be on your household.
To all mothers today, past and future!
Remember to treat the mother’s in your life like it’s Mother’s Day everyday.
Back to the beginning of time, all the mothers of those now alive were wildly successful. They lived long enough not to die as infants, they didn’t starve, they were healthy enough to have children who had other children, and so forth to us. It’s quite remarkable and humbling.
All- Agreed! LL- Excellent point. And the number of children that died in the early years was horrendous, to put it mildly. My dad had seven brothers/sisters that lived (four did not). My mother was one of three surviving kids.