To most people, Mother’s Day seems like a Hallmark holiday that was made to sell cards and flowers. Seriously, where did this day originate? Well, let me tell you. It is a long and complicated history, but Anna Jarvis was the one who commercialized it in the 1900s. Her mother passed away in 1905, and she wanted a day to honor the women who sacrifice so much for their children. With all the male-based holidays there were, Jarvis wanted a celebratory day for women.
Ironically enough, Jarvis’ idea of Mother’s Day was wearing white, attending church, and personal celebrations between families and their mothers. When it became a national holiday in the '20s, she was appalled with how card companies and florists were capitalizing on her idea. So she started suing anyone who used the term ‘Mother’s Day’ and speaking out against florists and charities. Anna spent most of her wealth to fight this issue.
Crazy, huh? So to avoid going broke and still letting your mom know you care, let's take Mother’s Day back to its roots. Here are 12 ways to show your mom you care about her without buying her a thing:
1. For the children whose mothers are no longer physically here, have yourself a personal memorial by writing them a letter or picking flowers and visiting their grave (if you are able to).
They are always with you. There is no reason to feel like Mother’s Day is a terrible holiday, because you to can honor them for how great they were.
2. For the super crafty kids, make your mom a cool mural with chalk.
Get creative with the location too.
3. For the not-so-crafty kid, make her a nice card telling the woman who gave birth to you how brave and amazing she is.
4. Take a walk.
My mom hates sitting, so anytime I ask her to walk with me around the park, her face lights up.
5. Offer to help her out with a project that she has been stressing over for weeks.
Moms love organization, so you know that's a good idea. Bonus points if you organize her closet…
6. Don’t make fun of her, argue, or swear in front of her for an entire day!
You shouldn’t be doing this ever, but it's her day, so lay off.
7. Take some nice pictures together and post them all over your social media account.
There are never too many pictures of moms. I love seeing all their smiles and throwback pictures on my timeline.
8. If you can’t be with her, write some snail mail and maybe draw a heart or two.
Tell he something she has never heard you say to her before, and be honest and kind. Throw in a piece of candy you have laying around your house for the hell of it.
9. Use the food out of your parent’s refrigerator and make her a meal.
How many times has she packed your lunch or had dinner on the table for you when you got home? If she’s anything like my mom, maybe not that many times, because she can’t cook, but do it anyway.
10. For the musically talented or instrument players, write her a song!
Remember, she had to listen to you when you first started, and I guarantee she sat through hours of wrong notes being played and your voice cracking. The least you can do is show her how far you have come.
11. Learn how to say “I love you, mom” in 10 different languages.
12. Last, but certainly not least, if you are not the mushy type, today is the day to buck up and let your mom know how much she means to you.
Whether she is an angel sent from above or is going through a tough time right now, let her know that being able to have a mom like her has helped you become the person you are. And I bet you are pretty great.
Do any of these for Mother’s Day and I guarantee you will be the favorite child, if you have other siblings. Not that it is a competition, but you know. Holidays should not be about buying presents just to buy them, and if you decide to get a present for your mom, there is no problem with that either. Just make sure it is meaningful and something she actually wants or needs. Although, I promise that making your mom something will make you feel better because the love your mom feels will radiate right back to you.
Now I am going to take a minute to let my mom know how much she means to me. She is my best friend, and not in the “we party together” kind of way. My mommacita is the first person I call when I have good or bad news. I will be having the worst day, and somehow she knows and gives me a call to cheer me up. We can talk about everything and anything for hours. She has random dance parties with me around our house and gives me space when she knows I do not want to be bothered.
I love how her face lights up when my brother and I get along, how her heart is big enough to love the entire world, and how when life knocks her down, she gets right back up again. She fought for her happiness and gave some things up to take care of my brother and me. Dana Barone is a real life superhero, just like your mom. They should make a movie about the real Wonder Women, moms.
So thank you to my mom and all the other moms who have taken care of me like their own. You rock!
