Mothering Sunday - with wings



Always treat your mum for she wears a Halo and Wings!

Celebrate Mothering Sunday—always and with wings it would seem!

 

Each year there seem to be more designated dates in the year, celebrating the weird and not always so wonderful occasions.  For example did you know that the 27th March was, according to one website the 'Quirky Country and Music Song Titles Day'?  Rolls off the tongue doesn't it - just like many of the quirky songs it seeks to honour!  You will I'm sure have guessed with such a title it is an American day of commemoration.  Many of these surreal celebrations do begin in America and then seem to make their way over here often because of the commercial gains - cards and gifts.  However, did you know that Mothering Sunday is a Christian festival and Mother's Day has its origins in America and it falls on a different day to ours too. Centuries ago Mothering Sunday referred to the day in which children (as young as 10 years old) returned to their 'Mother Church' having left home to work (typically this included work as domestic servants and apprentices).   Naturally this became a time of families reuniting and children were thought to have walked along picking flowers to take to church or give to their mothers.  Despite having no connection to the American 'Mother's Day' we have adopted this title and it has come to be about thanking our mums for all that they do.

 

I like the history of Mothering Sunday and the idea of families coming together again and I'm happy to call it Mother's day too, even if it isn't the correct British name.  I also like the idea of celebrating and thanking mums for all that they do for us (especially since I am a mum myself!).  Never-the-less it can still be a very commercial occasion and you will be hard-pushed to not have realised that the 30th March (this Sunday) is the date this year.  I was recently in my usual supermarket doing my weekly shop when I came across big, floral, pink and green signs reminding me to 'treat her this Mother's Day'.  I had to smile to myself when I looked at the shelves below the sign, which were stacked with sanitary products!  I tried to decide how this could fit in with the day and can only assume that husbands out with their children looking for gifts may need a subliminal message reminding them of how particularly taxing being a mum can be at certain times of the month.  This in turn will prompt him to buy the biggest and most extravagant present to ensure that she absolutely feels completely loved and appreciated, every day of every month, of every year.  The power of marketing is acting at a greater Machiavellian level than we may have realised but I may benefit this time so I will not question further!  Ultimately we know that retailers are after our custom and will go to all kinds of lengths to encourage us to part with our money - one such mother's day promotion went to the length of offering cut-price hair-cuts and treatments; entitled 'Mother's Day Madness'.  I have to question the word madness - is my hairdressing salon in cahoots with the supermarket and trying to appease stressed, hormonal women who are frankly mad?!  Ok, I'm sounding paranoid - sorry that's my hormones talking.  (I did get my hair-cut but I literally had been meaning to book an appointment - I promise).

 

So perhaps Mothering Sunday has become a little too commercialised but I can forgive this because joking aside, I don't take my role as a mum for granted and nor do I take for granted what my own mum has done for me and continues to do for me.  Of all the many days that could be celebrated, a day that celebrates the unselfish acts and sacrificial love of one human being towards one or more others without the motivation of what they might gain for themselves is a quality to be praised. However kindness begets kindness; as mums everywhere sow their unconditional, ceaseless love they reap gratitude from their off-spring (hopefully not on just one day a year) and this too is a quality to be valued and encouraged always, with wings if necessary!

 

Happy Mothering Sunday - may you feel loved and appreciated for the important, priceless and valuable job you do.

 

Me with my lovely children...

 

 

....and me with my lovely mum!