Tonja’s Thoughts… May 3, 2010
As April ended and the celebration of National Poetry Month began to slowly dissolve from my poetic mind, I am now thinking about May. Actually, I pretended to be more excited about poetry during April, but the truth is that I am excited about poetry everyday of the year and I’m always celebrating it. There are some who “don’t get it” and fail to comprehend why poetry is so exciting. It is understandable that some people have no connection to or interest in poetry, so they can rest now that National Poetry Month is over.
Unlike poetry, everyone on Earth has a connection with May’s biggest celebration: Mother’s Day. Whether you are one of a couple of hundred humans on the remote island of Tristan da Cunha or if you are one of millions of people living in Russia, you entered this world thanks to the miracle of birth. For 99.9 percent of the population (I respect the one percent who believe they entered the world through other means), there is a biological mother somewhere that gave birth to you. Are mothers not miraculous creatures deserving praise everyday of the year? Look at the millions of people you see each day and envision that a mother is responsible for that life (good or bad) being here on Earth. We will accept the one day that is designated in May to celebrate us, but understand we are to be celebrated 365 days per year!
I feel we all owe homage to Julia Ward Howe who composed the Mother’s Day Proclamation of 1870, which was inspired by her distress over war killings and her strong desire to celebrate peace and motherhood. The concept of celebrating Mother’s Day belongs to Mrs. Howe, but Ann M. Jarvis is to be applauded for dedicating her life to making sure Mother’s Day would become the well-celebrated holiday that occurs every second Sunday in May in the United States. Some countries celebrate on the same day and in the same fashion as the U.S., but many countries have different months and/or days that they celebrate Mother’s Day.
Mother’s Day Proclamation
by Julia Ward Howe
Arise, then, women of this day!
Arise all women who have hearts,
Whether your baptism be that of water or of tears
Say firmly:
"We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands shall not come to us reeking of carnage,
For caresses and applause.
Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of
charity, mercy and patience.
"We women of one country
Will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs."
From the bosom of the devastated earth a voice goes up with
Our own. It says, "Disarm, Disarm!"
The sword of murder is not the balance of justice!
Blood does not wipe out dishonor
Nor violence indicate possession.
As men have of ten forsaken the plow and the anvil at the summons of war.
Let women now leave all that may be left of home
For a great and earnest day of counsel.
Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.
Let them then solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means
Whereby the great human family can live in peace,
Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar,
But of God.
In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask
That a general congress of women without limit of nationality
May be appointed and held at some place deemed most convenient
And at 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 proclamation was written in 1870, but it is so applicable in 2010.
Some of you were not raised by your birth mothers and may not even know her; however, it does not change the fact that we all have a reason to think about Mother’s Day. Some of you have happy memories of a mother who nurtured you. Some of you have horrible memories of a mother who abused you. The celebration of motherhood in May does not mean that all mothers are perfect, are always right, are completely loving and nurturing, have all of the answers, or even deserve praise. The point is that we all have thoughts about Mother’s Day because somewhere in this world is a person we addressed with a motherly title or we referred to them as a mother. Some of you were raised by birth mothers, adoptive mothers, stepmothers, foster mothers, or nannies. Some of you were raised by fathers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, friends, Godmothers, or great-grandmothers who were substitute mothers that took on the responsibility of being your mother. Whether your biological mother or a stand-in mother nurtured you, you have a reason to celebrate or at least think about Mother’s Day and motherhood.
NOTE: I would like to hear some of your thoughts on motherhood and what Mother’s Day means to you. If you have a poem, a letter, or just a note you’d like to share, please send it below.
As children, some kids called some women “play mothers” and this was designated for those whom they pretended was their mother. Even though I cannot recall calling anyone my play mother, there were four feminine spirits I imagined could have been my mother or I might have chosen them to be my mother. They expressed motherly love toward me on occasions during childhood and adulthood. I cherish the positive memories I have of them.
My paternal grandmother, Mama Fannie, was extremely dear to me and I am grateful that I have fond memories and photos. She was truly an inspiration who ended her stay in 2002 at the age of 101. One of my maternal aunts, Edna, was dear to me and I am grateful to have shared positive experiences with her that I treasure. My paternal cousin, Jacki, was someone I often imagined could have been my mother since we had similar agreeable traits. My mother-in-law, Beverly, left me with peaceful and fond memories of a maternal character. I tender a dedicatory Happy Mother’s Day to each of them.
Sunday, May 9, 2010 is Mother’s Day. It is alright if you do not feel the mushy type of love that is churned out in greeting cards and you don’t believe in the commercial hoopla of buying flowers, candy, jewelry, appliances, clothing, or whatever else is advertised. You can opt to write a poem, a song, a letter, a note, or make a phone call. You can draw a picture, take a photo, create a card, make a cake, or give a hug. Feel free to do whatever guides your heart and represents your true feelings as you honor the mothers in your life -- past and present.
To mothers around the world and especially to my own mother, I wish you peace, love, superior physical and mental health, and joyfulness all year long.
Happy Mother’s Day!
p.s. Thank God for blessing me with my beautiful daughter. She has made the greatest role and
joy of my life possible. I’m truly happy and proud to be her mom.