Happy Mother’s Day

Payton Fee, of Exeter, Pa., holds a Mother's Day sign through the sunroof of her family's car for a relative who lives at Highland Manor in Exeter, Pa., on Sunday, May 10, 2020. Dave Scherbenco / The Citizens' Voice / AP

Mother's Day is celebrated each May to honour the women who gave birth to us, stood by us from toddlerhood to adolescence, and continue to counsel and love us.

This year, like the previous one, is unique. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, many mothers spent months at home with their families. As learning has moved to kitchen tables, living rooms, and backyards, some have taken on the additional role of teacher. Some wear personal protective equipment to care for COVID-19 patients or elderly Americans in nursing homes. Some mothers became ill and had to be separated from their families in order to recover from coronavirus. Some people have tragically died.

Nonetheless, Mother's Day is a holiday to be celebrated with appropriate fanfare and affection, even if it does necessitate some ingenuity. Homemade cards can be used in place of store-bought cards. A home-cooked brunch will suffice in place of a restaurant visit.

Mother's Day is observed in dozens of countries worldwide. Julia Ward Howe, an abolitionist, social activist, and author of the poem "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," proposed the modern American version in 1870. Anna Jarvis, a West Virginia woman who wanted to honour her late mother's memory, created the holiday. She started a campaign to make it a holiday in 1907, two years after her mother died, and it became a national holiday in 1914.

However, as early as the 1920s, Jarvis was complaining about the holiday's commercialization. She once chastised those who celebrated the holiday by sending only a printed greeting card, saying, "A printed card means nothing except that you are too lazy to write to the woman who has done more for you than anyone else in the world." And there's candy! You bring a box to Mother — and then eat the majority of it yourself. What a lovely sentiment!”

Last year, second graders in Frenchville went above and beyond the typical celebration to consider why their mothers should be named Mother of the Year. Their responses are heartwarming, practical, humorous, and serve as excellent reminders of why we celebrate mothers on Sunday.

“First and foremost, she makes the best omelettes,” wrote Sophia Michaud. “Second, she is very nice to me. She takes me biking when she has the time. She's also quite adaptable. For example, I doubt many mothers would allow you to keep a lizard from South Carolina as a pet. Another thing is that she enjoys and is skilled at chess.”

“When my clothes get dirty, she washes them. Hunter Guerrette remarked, "She makes the best spaghetti." “She assists me with my homework.” When I'm sick, my mother takes care of me. My mother entertains us by playing games and taking us to see Toy Story.”

“One reason is that she works extremely hard. Drew Marquis wrote, "She also has incredible cooking skills." “She is always very kind to both people and animals. She always looks after me, my brother, our dogs, and my father. Last but not least, she is overflowing with love!”

A mother's responsibilities are daunting. She is frequently the primary caregiver for children. She must impose discipline while also providing ongoing nurturing and instilling a sense of security and unconditional love.

Mothers are similar to airline pilots. When their children reach the age of responsible adulthood, they do not receive lavish praise because that is what is expected of them.

So it's only natural to reflect on the important role our mothers played and continue to play in our lives, and to thank them — for the good food, homework help, pet lizards, and unconditional love.