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By Emmy McKirgan

How did Mother’s Day Begin? 

Anna Marie Jarvis founded mother’s Day to honor her deceased mother. She fought for a day where mothers would have a special day of their own – where they would be honored, acknowledged, and appreciated. In 1908, Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother in Grafton, West Virginia, USA. This event marked the first-ever modern celebration of Mother’s Day.

Mother’s Day first became an official holiday in West Virginia in 1910, held on the second Sunday of May. Four years later, United States then-President Woodrow Wilson declared Mother’s Day an official holiday in the US. 

In 1915, Canada made Mother’s Day an official holiday. Since then, Canadians have celebrated this special day. Although Mother’s Day is no longer a public holiday, it is still a vital celebration observed in Canada each year.

 How do you show your love? 

Anything you would like to do to show your mother, aunt, sister, or other female role models how much they mean to you! 

Often children make their moms cards, crafts, or the like. Older kids do chores around the house without being asked to. While adult kids often give flowers or take mom out to dinner. As a mom, I appreciate any of those things!

The biggest takeaway is to make the person feel special and appreciated. Often motherhood is challenging. No manual goes along with children. It can be complicated and demanding. Usually, a thankless job with many requirements – long lists of to-dos’, chauffeuring, mediating between fighting children, laundry, cleaning, and supper, to name a few. 

Don’t get me wrong; there is an indescribable feeling of having a child and holding that precious gift in your arms for the first time! Never having loved anything quite so much! It is a pure and unfiltered love that would go to the edges of the earth for your child – to see them happy, healthy, and thriving! To protect them from anything that could harm them. 

Honoring those moms(aunts, grandmas, etc.) who are no longer here! 

Honoring your mom can be more difficult if your mom is no longer here. I find it hard to pick something to celebrate her as she’s been gone for over 29 years. I’ve cried, laughed, looked at photos, made albums, planted flowers in her memory, went to the cemetery to talk to her (when in Ontario). Yet, somehow, I feel it’s not enough; I wish I could do more each year. 

What I wouldn’t give for an extra hug, a smile, or hearing her voice. To have her tell me I can do anything I put my mind to. 

To feel her near me and be able to tell her about my life, the victorious, the complicated, and everything in between. Then, have her nod in understanding and tell me it will be ok. To say to me, God has me, and it will work out. And, most notably, to not feel alone. To have her by my side. To show me how much she loves me. 

I have been blessed to have three grown children now. (Once upon a time, I was told I would not be able to have children due to kidney disease). I am reminded of her spirit living uniquely in each of them. So as sad as I am, she is no longer with me physically – she is with me, in essence, through them.