Sunday, May 10th is Mother’s Day. This day of celebration and recognition originated in 1876 when Anna Jarvis heard her mother, Ann Jarvis, pray in a Sunday school lesson. She prayed that one day someone would create a memorial mother’s day and that this day would be a commemoration of the services mothers render to humanity in every field of life.
On May 10, 1908, Anna sent 500 white carnations to her church in honor of her late mother as a memorial. That day was considered to be the first Mother’s Day celebration. Later, on May 9, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation declaring the second Sunday of May “a public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country”. Evidence suggests that the original idea for Mother’s Day was to be a day for mothers in general, rather than a day for one’s own mother. The original idea was that mothers would get together for a day of service to help other mothers less fortunate than they were.
WHEN YOU THINK OF THE WORD MOTHER, WHO COMES TO MIND? IS IT A BIOLOGICAL MOTHER, FOSTER MOTHER, TEACHER, FRIEND, NEIGHBOR…?
As we come upon this Mother’s Day, it’s encouraged that everyone adhere to these early principles. Celebrate and honor the mothers in your life, and yourself if it applies, help other mothers, and give service. When you think of the word mother, who comes to mind? Is it a biological mother, a foster mother, a teacher, a friend, a neighbor, etc.? Who has provided repeated, reliable, dependable actions of care, affection, and care taking for you and in what ways? Are there ways in which you practice that care taking role for others? Mother’s Day is a time that we can celebrate these connections in our lives.
There have been many documented research studies that have shown us the importance of connection with others. Research tells us that the benefits include increased happiness, better health, and longer life. Connections with others gives us help, emotional support, advice, perspective, validation, fun, and more.
Furthermore, in staying with the ideas of Ann Jarvis and Mother’s Day, it is important to build a community around yourself and your children. Build a circle of support, through family, friends, community, neighbors, church members, etc., that can provide you and your child with support, assistance, care, resources, companionship, and knowledge. This circle can provide fun, ideas, energy, resources, social opportunity, understanding, empathy, and more. Plus, during this time of quarantine and staying at home, community is more important than ever!
Below are a list of organizations that are active and open to new members in Indy (click on the links to learn more and sign-up):
- -Various MOPS groups, MOMSnext, Teen MOPS, M Collective (all city-wide)
- –Indy Dads Group
- –Grand Parents/Kinship and Foster Care Support Group
- –Numerous Mom Groups, Dad Groups, and Parenting Support Groups and Meetups