A little bit of history and a lot of compassion

I read a very horrible post last night, by a woman who didn't want to share Mother's Day with her Mother-in-law and that Mother's Day should be about her. I have no idea where this idea of Mother's Day has come from, though she assured me it was common. Interestingly, she was so strong in her beliefs, she wanted to remain anonymous. (So maybe the post was written purely to get a reaction, and in that case, congratulations, it did).

The UK Mothering Sunday was the fourth Sunday in lent, and workers away from home were encouraged to return to visit their mother (remember no one got weekends off back in the 1600's!). So it was a one day of the year kind of visit. A big deal for the Mother.

In the US, Anna Jarvis, who never had kids (but obviously had a Mother), was an activist and social worker. She believed that a day should be set aside to honour all mothers, living and dead, and 'pay tribute to the contributions made by them', to combat the 'growing negligent attitude of adult Americans towards their mothers'.

She actually went on to petition to have it cancelled once the commercialisation took over - she was very against the cards and chocolates. The point was to visit or write a letter. To put in effort to share time with your mother, the woman who had done so much for you.

So anonymous post writer, Mother's Day is about your Mother-in-law. It's about the adult child who no longer lives with his mother. Your husband should visit his mother. You should visit yours. Your husband doesn't need to celebrate you as a mother, your children do. They are living at home and probably still too young to really celebrate it in any way expressing genuine gratitude, and gifts don't really do that anyway.

Now is the time for your Mother-in-law's mother's day celebrations. Your time will come when your children are adults and have left home. Let's hope they don't marry someone as selfish as you.

Linking up for #FYBF and #WeekendWrapUp