Sunday, May 14, 2006

Mother's Day Musing

Is it a bad thing that on Mother's Day one of my thoughts is that a very nice gift would be to NOT be a mother for a day? Only one day a year, definitely not a permanent thing since for the most part I love being a mother. Still, the daily unending routine of parenting is very challenging and I must admit that I never really appreciated all my mom did for me until after I had Sam and gained some perspective.

In the paper today I read that the origin of Mother's Day was a call for peace by Julia Ward Howe in 1870.

"That a general congress of women without limit of nationality,
May be appointed and held at someplace deemed most convenient
And the earliest period consistent with its objects,
To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,
The amicable settlement of international questions,
The great and general interests of peace."

This has morphed into celebrating the more day-to-day activities of motherness which isn't all bad in my mind but is hardly in the original spirit of the day. Maintaining peace in the family is a small step toward the original goals of the day.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I know exactly what you mean. I once suggested to Chip that for Mother's Day I would like the house to myself, and would he please take the kids somewhere. He thought I was joking of course, and did not honor my request. We don't really do the Mother's day and Father's day thing though, other than to say "Happy Mother's (Father's) Day", so I guess that's why he thought I was kidding.

Anonymous said...

I wish i wasn't a mom at least every other day...happens in the teen years...

Anonymous said...

Mother's day will be better when Sam is old enough to buy you fabulous GIFTS!

Anne V said...

I'm glad I'm not the only one that feels this way and suspected I wasn't! Maybe for Father's Day I should volunteer to take Sam away for the day - a very strong hint for him what I'd like next year.

Now where are my fabulous gifts?

Anonymous said...

But Anne, you take Sam out of the house ALL the time. Many days are father's day at your house (and mine :-) )

Now surely you received some sort of handprint art from Sam for Mother's day, No?

Anne V said...

Last year I got lovely handprint art from Sammy. This year I got a decorated jar that had been planted with poppy seeds, one of which is actually growing. We'll see how long it survives. It's cute stuff but just isn't the same as a day off.

Anonymous said...

I want to come home and not find ten pairs of shoes at the back door and last night's dishes not still all over the counter. And how bout their bathroom clean for once. that would be the perfect present for me...come to think of it..i didn't even get a card. And i paid for the brunch they took me out to. i've been ripped off.