Motherhood is not for the faint of heart.  My desire to become a mother was so strong, it led me down the path of IVF for several years and more disappointments than I could imagine, but I never gave up because I knew it was part of my story to become a mother.  At the ripe age of 42, I was blessed with the most beautiful, joyous, cup half full baby boy. 

Motherhood is an honor.  The ability to create another human being inside you is a miracle in itself, and then there is the lifetime of experiences with this other human being that teaches me new things about myself and the world everyday. The most delightful, exasperating, character building, selfless and joyous experience I have ever known. 

I only have one child, and I often wonder how any mother does it with more than that.  My own mother bore nine children, and I think most people who know her believe she should be sainted.  She devoted her life to her children, while still maintaining a sense of self.  I am still in awe and wonder of her ability to maintain her sanity and grace throughout the years.  We are all blessed to call her Mom! 

To all of the Moms out there! I want to honor and share my appreciation for all you do in the name of Motherhood and making sure our next generation will do their part in making this world a better place.   

Thank you for the countless hours providing your children with love, warm meals, clean clothes, help with homework, taxiing around, reassurance that all will be okay, more love, teaching good manners and encouraging simple acts of kindness.  The list could go on for pages, but you get the idea.  It is probably the hardest job in the world with the least amount of appreciation so take some time this Mothers Day and really acknowledge all that goes in to what you do and appreciate your contribution for all you do and your gifts to the world. 

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY! 

Love, Sarah

NOW FOR A LITTLE HISTORY NOTE: 

I am always curious about the history of holidays and why we celebrate them.  Mothers Day is no exception.  The celebration of mothers can be traced back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, who held festivals in honor of the mother goddesses Rhea and Cybele.  More recently, in this country, Mother’s Day was created by Anna Jarvis in 1908 and became a U.S. holiday in 1914 when Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation designating Mother’s Day, held on the second Sunday in May, as a nation holiday to honor mothers. 

Anna Jarvis was on a mission to celebrate her mother Anna Reeves Jarvis who helped start “Mothers’ Day Work Clubs” to teach local women how to properly care for their children.  These clubs became a unifying force in a very divided time in our history, the Civil War. Following her mother’s 1905 death, Anna Jarvis conceived of Mother’s Day as a way of honoring the sacrifices mothers made for their children. 

Ann Jarvis was not impressed with the commercialization of this holiday.  She intended it to be a day of personal celebration between mothers and families.  Her version of the day invlolved wearing a white carnation as a badge and visiting one’s mother.  

Jarvis denounced the holiday’s commercialization and spent the latter part of her life trying to remove it from the calendar.