It comes around every year at this time...Mother's Day. But what does it mean, really? It is a day honoring mothers, imported from Britain by social activist Julia Ward Howe, intended as a call to unite women against war (after the American Civil War.)
The holiday was declared officially by some states beginning in 1912. In 1914 President Woodrow Wilson declared the first national Mother's Day, as a day for American citizens to show the flag in honor of those mothers whose sons had died in war. According to the National Restaurant Association, Mother's Day is now the most popular day of the year to dine out at a restaurant in the United States.
Being a Mother is the most life-altering, difficult and important task many women will undertake. We should all acknowledge the tremendous self-sacrifice, wisdom and generosity of spirit it requires to be a good mother. Happy Mother's Day.
