May is a delightful month: everyone is bustling around happily doing hundreds of things; flowers are blooming; the grass is finally green; and the threat of snow is behind us. More importantly, the month of May is designated for mothers.
Mother’s Day possibly dates back to the Greek’s celebration of Cybele, a great mother of Greek gods. Christians have designated the month of May in honor of Mary, the mother of God. In the United States, Mother’s Day began after the Civil War, inspired by Julia Ward Howe as a call to unite women against war, and for peace and disarmament. Her daughter, Anna Jarvis, continued her mother’s quest and established the first memorial day for women in Grafton, West Virginia on May 10, 1908. The second Sunday of May was officially declared Mother’s Day in 1914 by President Woodrow Wilson as the day for American citizens to show the flag in honor of those mothers whose sons had died in war.
Now, 100 years later, mothers are still honored, but perhaps not in the same respect. Mothers are honored for their contribution to their family, for nurturing and guiding their children, for their steady hand and loving heart; for the calming hugs and firm discipline, not to mention the long list of things they do for their family (most of which no one else wants to do), not the least of which may be cooking.
Mother’s Day has become the most popular day of the year for dining out. Mothers do need a break from their domestic routine. Going out to eat may be a treat for Mom, but what about the rest of the family? Shouldn’t they experience the daily chore of deciding what to cook each day, slaving over the hot stove, cleaning up the kitchen, etc.? Let the family know how hard you work by assigning them to cook. Even a simple meal prepared by dad and the kids can be a treat. We moms will love whatever you make.
