Mother’s Day Sunday, May 14, 2017

In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a law establishing the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. Anna Jarvis, founder of Mother’s Day, envisioned the holiday as a day of personal celebration between mothers and their families. Once Mother’s Day became a national holiday, it wasn’t long before florists, greeting card companies and other merchants capitalized on Mother’s Day’s popularity. Although Jarvis had initially worked with the florist industry to help raise Mother’s Day’s profile, by 1920 she had become appalled at how the holiday had become so commercialized. She condemned the commercialization and advised people to stop buying Mother’s Day flowers, greeting cards and candies.

I’m not here to speak against women receiving gifts, treats and/or knick knacks for Mother’s Day. That’s not my place . However, I feel what better way for the United States to commemorate mothers than to provide equal pay, affordable and accessible healthcare, childcare, paid maternity leave etc. It’s much better than empty well wishing from disingenuous politicians who vote against women the rest of the year.

Happy Mother’s Day!