Mom's The Day

Just one name.

Anna Jarvis (May 1 1864 - Nov 24 1948)

Who is she? Well, it's highly suggested that you look her and her story up.

In a nutshell, she was the woman who fought to make Mother's Day happen. A day where all mothers would be honored and who were in her own words, 'The person who has done more for you than anyone in the world.' An effort that was spawned out of the love for her own mother, Ann Jarvis and her efforts at being a peace activist during the American Civil War. Needless to say her campaign efforts bore fruit with several US states accepting Mother's Day in 1910 and became a national American public holiday in 1914. And was of course adopted by various nations, cultures and societies across the globe since then.

Having successfully founded Mother's Day, she was then forced to fight against its commercialization by, you guessed it, greedy corporations looking to exploit and profit what Anna had intended to be a day of commemoration and appreciation rather than profit. A day where she had meant for individuals to show their honor, appreciation and love by writing a personal letter or some similar form of expression.

In her own words:-

'A printed card means nothing except that you are too lazy to write to the woman who has done more for you than anyone in the world. And candy! You take a box to Mother- then eat most of it yourself. A pretty sentiment.' 

Anna Jarvis passed away in 1948 buried next to her mother and her sister with no children of her own and with this wish never truly fulfilled.

My mother (L) & The mother of my son (R)

Though both of these important women in my life would not have even aspired to such a life or end that Anna Jarvis had endured, I am pretty sure that they, along with all women in the world would be able to relate to what she stood for. I do love them both deeply, more than any currency or object can reveal in place of that declaration. And thus for this and future Mother's Days, there shall be no store bought presents, trinkets or preset and printed Hallmark cards to depict my unbounded appreciation for what they have done and are continuing to do. It shall be done in the true spirit of what Mother's Day was intended to be with a tool that I feel I'm quite apt in. Words. Words of sincerity, of respect, of honour, of love, most of all of love.

So before you plan for your next Mother's Day celebration, just stop and reflect for a moment on what Mother's Day is truly about.