Lost Parent Diary

May 11, 2008 @ 7:19 pm - Written by Andre
Moms | permalink | trackback url

Well, I don’t think it is, but Anna Jarvis certainly did.

I know what you’re thinking: “Did she hate her mom or something?” Quite to the contrary, she loved her mother so much that she campaigned a long time to make it a public holiday. After years of hard work, President Wilson declared it so in 1914.

So, why did she turn a full 180 degrees and, along with her sister, spent their entire family fortune campaigning against the holiday up until her death?

She put it best in her obituary,

“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—and then eat most of it yourself. A pretty sentiment!”

She has a point. I think mother’s day is a bit too commercialized. But, what isn’t? In a way, being able to send a card or call our moms once a year lets us feel a lot less guilty about not being as in touch with our mom as much as we’d like to.

Question to the readers

Do you agree with Anna Jarvis’ reaction to Mother’s Day?
Do you think Mother’s Day is a way for us to feel less guilty about not appreciating our mothers enough?

May 12, 2008 @ 11:06 am, by spain dad

Living an ocean away from my mom has forced me (mostly because of shipping costs) to find alternative ways to say “I love you” on Mother’s Day than simply sending a card or a gift.

I’m not sure if my mom appreciates my method, but I always make a point to call her on Mother’s Day (or sometimes a day or two before, so we have time to talk) and tell her what I appreciated about her from the past year.
May 12, 2008 @ 11:41 am, by Andre

Spain Dad,

I completely agree. Being abroad certainly complicates things. I try to remember its mom’s day (Euro mom’s day is on a different day than US after all) and give her a call, even if for a minute.
May 13, 2008 @ 3:48 am, by Jeremy (Discovering Dad)

I don’t agree with the sentiments, and I don’t feel guilty; however, I think my mother knows how much I appreciate her, even though we don’t talk all the time (usually, we talk 1-2 times per week). Gifts and cards are not the only way to show appreciation for someone, but I think it is one way that works for most. Just my opinion though.
May 13, 2008 @ 3:52 am, by Will

It’s a holiday without need if you truly appreciate your mother. Otherwise, just as Anna Jarvis alluded to, one day a year isn’t going to cut it.
May 14, 2008 @ 12:34 pm, by Andre

I agree with Will and Jeremy.

If you love your mom and she knows it, every day’s Mother’s Day!

I haven’t been so good at keeping in touch with my mom, but as time goes by, I get more and more of an appreciation for her and her role in my life.