April 30, 2008

Although the exact date varies, well over 40 countries around the world honor mothers with a special day. As in the United States, a number of countries including Italy, Australia, and Turkey pay tribute to mothers on Mother’s Day, which falls on the second Sunday in May. International Mother’s Day is always celebrated on May 11.

The origins of Mother’s Day are deeply rooted in history. Some say the earliest known recognition of the event goes back to ancient Greece and the springtime celebrations in honor of Rhea, the mother of gods. In the 1600’s, England observed a day called Mothering Sunday, when large numbers of poor servants were given the day off and allowed to travel home to spend the day with their mothers.

In the United States, Mother’s Day has been traced back to Julia Ward Howe, who also wrote the words to the Battle Hymn of the Republic. She organized meetings in Boston and dedicated the given day to peace. However, the idea for Mother’s Day is usually attributed to Anna Jarvis, who apparently held a 1907 service in a West Virginia church to honor the memory of her own mother. As the celebration of mothers began to spread across the nation, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Mother’s Day a national holiday in 1914.

Here are some idea starters for honoring the mothers in your life. Use your own creativity to come up with other possibilities:

Don’t forget your mother-in-law, your stepmother, your foster mother, your aunt who did not have children of her own, but always cared for you in a special way, or the lady from your childhood who treated you as a son or daughter.

And be flexible. Don’t feel like your celebrations of Mother’s Day need to be confined to the second Sunday in May. Anytime a week or so before and after is a great time to observe this annual tribute to the spirit of motherhood. Remembering this keeps us from trying to crowd too much into one day, and it can go a long way in easing the holiday tensions that are so common among stepfamilies.

The role of stepmother can be especially challenging and may sometimes seem like a thankless job. Being a stepmother takes courage and creativity, and most stepmoms carry out their role with grace and are a true blessing to their families. For those stepmothers who are close to you, reach out with a hearty thank you and a gift that symbolizes your admiration and appreciation.

When death has claimed the life of your mother, particularly if her passing has been in recent years, the delights of Mother’s Day are tinged with sweet sadness. Allow yourself to feel her absence, to miss her, to experience the sadness. Know that she lives on in fond memories, in your life, and in the lives of all whom she touched. A visit to her gravesite or memorial can be a fitting way to honor her.

If you are spiritually inclined and believe in an afterlife, send your deceased mother a shower of love, appreciation, and light. Or consider a special time of prayer for your mom, perhaps in private, perhaps joined by others who also loved her. Despite the manifold social changes of modern life and our enormous technological advances, the South African proverb still rings true: "The hand that rocks the cradle rules the nation and its destiny."

Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability and national origin.