I love you Mum

Celebrating Motherhood in ancient history
Since pre-historic times Motherhood has always been celebrated, usually in the Spring to celebrate the rebirth of the land and the most fertile time of the year. The mother Goddess was worshiped as the creator of life and goddess figures are found in many archeological digs. In Egypt, Isis was the Queen of Heaven who ruled over all matters to do with mothering. In Greek Mythology Rhea was worshipped as the mother of all the gods.

Mothers Day originated from Mothering Sunday, and can be traced back in the UK to the seventeenth century. In the UK it is always the fourth Sunday of Lent, so the date will always vary from year to year.

History records that churchgoers would worship at their nearest parish or "daughter church" on most Sundays. However, it was important for people to return to their family or "mother" church at least once a year. So each year in the middle of Lent, everyone would visit their "mother" church.

The return to the "mother" church became an obvious occasion for family reunions. It was quite common for children as young as ten years old to work in "service" away from the family home. This led to the tradition of children, particularly those working as domestic servants, or as apprentices, being given the day off to visit their mother and family.

In Victorian times, Mothering Sunday was a day when children, mainly daughters, who had gone to work as domestic servants were given a day off to visit their mother and family. Today it is a day when children give presents, flowers, and cards to their mothers. Sadly it is yet another day that has been hijacked by commercialism.

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Mothers Day in the USA
In the USA, the early English settlers disapproved of the more secular holidays and the Mothering Sunday tradition never really took hold. In 1872 Julia Ward Howe, who wrote the words to the Battle Hymn of the Republic, suggested the idea of an International Mother's day to celebrate peace and motherhood but it was not until 1905 that a campaign to establish Mothers Day really gathered momentum.

Anna Jarvis campaigned for the establishment of an official Mother's Day to commemorate her mother, who held annual gatherings called Mothers Friendship Day in an attempt to heal the pain of the Civil War. In 1914 President Woodrow Wilson declared that Mother's Day should be celebrated as a national holiday on the second Sunday in May.

Anna Jarvis was actually arrested at a Mother's Day festival while trying to stop women from selling flowers. Jarvis said "I wanted it to be a day of sentiment not profit."

Youth fades; love droops; the leaves of friendship fall; A mother's secret hope outlives them all.

Oliver Wendell Holmes

Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible.

Marion C. Garretty
quoted in A Little Spoonful of Chicken Soup for the Mother's Soul

Whatever else is unsure in this stinking dunghill of a world a mother's love is not.

James Joyce

Words to Live By, Mother
by Debbie De Witt
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I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.

Abraham Lincoln

My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her.

George Washington

Sometimes when I look at all my children, I say to myself, 'Lillian, you should have stayed a virgin.'

Lillian Carter
at the 1980 Democratic Convention,
when her son was nominated for a second term as US President

Mother and Cub Polar Bear Nestle Together for Warmth in the Arctic Landscape
Norbert Rosing
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My first marriage ended in divorce. This was obviously devastating for my son and daughter, even more so when their father decided to move abroad. Sadly, it was not just a quick hop by plane into Europe, the flights take 14 hours, so from their early teens my children only saw their father once a year. On the plus side, it meant they would have an exotic three week holiday every year, although it did used to bother me if they had a stop over in a middle eastern country that was not exactly stable.

Then one day my son came to me and said he wanted to go and live with his father. As my children grow older I tend to be more of one of those mothers who will stand behind a child and encourage them to lead the way, rather than stand in front of them and block their path but for me this news was what I had been dreading.

My son was restless and not sure what he wanted from life. He had spent a few years at University but did not complete his degree. The day he came home and told me he did not want to carry on his studies, he was extremely downcast. He said: "I just wanted to make you proud of me". All I said was: "But I don't need a piece of paper to make me proud of you" and that was that.

He is a very good sportsman and wanted to do football coaching. He had passed the relevant coaching badges and he and his step-brother, who lived with my son's father, had decided to set up a football coaching academy for youngsters.

I had remarried and had two more children, but despite being so busy with his much, much younger sisters, the thought of my "little boy" being so far away left me utterly bereft. He was my first born (and born on my birthday) and the pain of him going away and not knowing when I would see him again, was almost too much to bear.

Having to stand behind my son, not stand in his way, was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do as a mother. The fact that he is the most loving son, who finds it easy to say: "I love you Mum", made it even harder.

The day he left he gave me a card with the following poem:

The bond between a mother and son is forever

The bond between mother and son is a special one.
It remains unchanged by time or distance.
It is the purest love ~ unconditional and true.
It is understanding of any situation
And forgiving of any mistake%u2026

The bond between mother and son
creates a support that is constant
while everything else changes.
It is a friendship based on mutual love, respect
and a genuine liking
of each other as a person.
It is knowing that no matter
where you go or who you are,
there is someone who truly loves you
and is always there
to support and console you.
When a situation seems impossible,
you make it through together
by holding on to each other.

The bond between mother and son
is strong enough to withstand
harsh words and hurt feelings,
for it is smart enough to always
see the love beyond the words.
It is brave enough to always
speak the truth,
even when lies would be easier.

It is always there ~
anytime, anywhere ~
Whenever it is needed.
It is a gift held in the heart
And in the soul,
And it cannot be taken away
Or exchanged for another.
To possess this love is a treasure
that makes life more valuable

The poem "The Bond Between a Mother and Son Is Forever" by Stephanie Douglass is from the Blue Mountain Arts publication A Son Is Life's Greatest Gift. Copyright © 2007 by Blue Mountain Arts, Inc. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

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"Mother and Son"
by Lucie Bilodeau

Letting my son go was the best thing I could have done. He lasted nine months and returned home because he said he could not bear to be away from me and his little sisters!

I took Sparky with me to the airport. We stood on the roof of the car park and watched his flight land. Then we made our way down to the terminal to meet him. As he walked through the doors from Customs Sparky hurtled down to meet him (she was about five at the time) and threw herself into his arms. It was very emotional and even the lady standing next to me, who I did not know, started to cry as well!

A woman is like a teabag. Only when in hot water do you realize how strong she is.

Nancy Reagan

If you bungle raising your children, I don't think whatever else you do well matters very much.

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

I looked on child-rearing not only as a work of love and duty but as a profession that was fully as interesting and challenging as any honorable profession in the world and one that demanded the best that I could bring it.

Rose Kennedy

Mother Mountain Lion, Felis Concolor, Rests with her Two-Week-Olds
Jim Dutcher
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If at first you don't succeed, do it the way your mother told you to.

Author Unknown

A sweater is a garment worn by a child when the mother feels chilly.

Barbara Johnson

Mother and Baby Donkeys on Salt Cay Island, Turks and Caicos, Caribbean
by Walter Bibikow
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Motherhood is not for the faint-hearted. Frogs, skinned knees, and the insults of teenage girls are not meant for the wimpy.

Danielle Steel

My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it.

Mark Twain

Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing.

Phyllis Diller

You see much more of your children once they leave home.

Lucille Ball

If you've never been hated by your child, you've never been a parent.

Bette Davis

At the moment that a boy of 13 is turning toward girls, a girl of 13 is turning on her mother. This girl can get rather unreasonable, often saying such comical things as 'Listen, this is my life!'

Bill Cosby

The best way to keep children home is to make the home atmosphere pleasant..... and let the air out of the tires.

Dorothy Parker

Humpback Whale, Mother and Calf, Polynesia
Gerard Soury
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Always be nice to your children because they are the ones who will choose your rest home.

Phyllis Diller

All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That's his.

Oscar Wilde
The Importance of Being Earnest, 1895

When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child.

Sophia Loren,
Women and Beauty

Motherhood has a very humanizing effect. Everything gets reduced to essentials.

Meryl Streep

Mother and Calf Wild Bottlenose Dolphins
Jeff Rotman
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Ana-Belle is my eldest daughter - you can see some of her photography on my Valentine's Day lens

For all the times you gently picked me up,
When I fell down,
For all the times you tied my shoes
And tucked me into bed,
Or needed something
But put me first instead.

For everything we shared,
The dreams, the laughter,
And the tears,
I love you with a Special Love
That deepens through the years

The future destiny of the child is always the work of the mother.

Napoleon Bonaparte

Mom's Favorite Quotes
Carol Robinson
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I was having a bad day. I felt taken for granted and under-appreciated. Otosclerosis does that to you sometimes. My Lovely Hubby took Sparky and Lizzie out for awhile and when they came back they gave me a card, with the following poem:

You Are The Greatest Gift Of My Life

I Don't recall the first time you held me
Or when I first heard your voice
But from the first moment you held me in your arms
You made the most selfless choice

You chose to change your busy life so that my life could begin
You were my shelter from the rain, on you I could depend

You held my hand when I was afraid and helped me to mend my first broken heart
You bandaged my wounds, wiped my tears and kept me from falling apart

You loved me without question no matter what I did
You shaped me into a confident adult from such an awkward kid

Even though you're not always right beside me
Your love is matched by no other
And thank God each day for his greatest gift
Making you my mother

The poem "Mother, You Are the Greatest Gift in My Life" by Stacey Swayze is from the Blue Mountain Arts publication For My Wonderful Mother. Copyright © 2007 by Blue Mountain Arts, Inc. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

A Baby Orangutan Cuddles up Close to Her Mother
at London Zoo, August 1991
Mirrorpix
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Here's some Websites to help you find that perfect present for your Mum!

Red Letter Days - the UK's number one gift experience company (UK only)

Timeless Message - ships worldwide

Fair trade gifts from Gifts With Humanity - ships worldwide

Help ease Mum's aches and pains with Energetix magnetic jewellry

These are the cards I received

My eldest daughter took this photo and made the card - © Ana-Belle


The card from my son


Card from Sparky & Lizzie.
The scan does not do it justice, but the pale lilac card is made from recycled paper (of course).
I am still waiting for the special appearance from George Clooney!

"This is my wish"
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