Over 100 years ago, Ann Reeves Jarvis began bringing women together to help others and to promote peace. When she died, her daughter, Anna, dedicated one day a year to formally recognizing her mother’s great work. A few years after Ann’s death, in 1914, the second Sunday in May was officially declared “Mother’s Day” by President Woodrow Wilson.
Like many other holidays, and to Anna’s dismay, this day quickly became commercialized. This concept drove Anna mad (literally) and she spent the rest of her life fighting to bring back the original intent of the day; all to no avail.
This year, on the one hundredth anniversary, while families around the nation gathered to dote on their mother(s), I spent the day at brunch with some incredible female friends, drinking and discussing all of the most and least important current events. After brunch, I returned home where I enjoyed conversation and wine with Sleepless (while Ice Cream Man slept on the couch – standard operating procedure).
“I can’t imagine doing anything else today,” Sleepless told me and added, “I’ve spent the last five Mother’s Days with you and Rated R.”
Looking back, it appears we’ve both been spending the day as was originally intended: celebrating the best mothers and women we’ve ever known – ourselves. From now on, (if I remember) I plan to call the second Sunday of May “Jarvis Day” and I hope to give it the justice Anna (and Ann) Jarvis had hoped it would have.