There is plenty I could say about Mother’s Day, which was officially proclaimed in May 1914 by President Woodrow Wilson. He certainly didn’t invent motherhood, but he did launch the commercialism connected with it. Everyone is supposed to acknowledge mothers: husbands should send cards to their wives; store clerks replace ‘have a nice day,’ with ‘Happy Mother’s Day’; my supermarket hands out a carnation to every women buying groceries.
I am very grateful for my mother and I believe I’ve been a ‘good enough’ one myself, so my energy around motherhood is very positive. Mother’s Day doesn’t bring up feelings of inadequacy or tragic losses or voids.
But what about the women who aren’t mothers, or who have horrific mothers, or who are estranged from their children or their mother? I’m not suggesting that they dismiss the topic, but I am noting the insensitivity inherent in the overuse of saying, ‘Happy Mother’s Day.’ We are conscious about saying “Merry Christmas’ to everyone me meet. Perhaps we could be sensitive and thoughtful in a similar way.
I am very grateful for my mother and I believe I’ve been a ‘good enough’ one myself, so my energy around motherhood is very positive. Mother’s Day doesn’t bring up feelings of inadequacy or tragic losses or voids.
But what about the women who aren’t mothers, or who have horrific mothers, or who are estranged from their children or their mother? I’m not suggesting that they dismiss the topic, but I am noting the insensitivity inherent in the overuse of saying, ‘Happy Mother’s Day.’ We are conscious about saying “Merry Christmas’ to everyone me meet. Perhaps we could be sensitive and thoughtful in a similar way.