Principal Message
A tribute to Mother’s Day
Mother's Day is an annual celebration in honour of mothers and the spirit of motherhood. It is celebrated on different days in different countries around the world and its history can be traced all the way back to ancient civilizations, where the Greeks and Romans celebrated spring fertility festivals in honour of mother goddesses.
It has become a global celebration of the love, dedication, and sacrifice of mothers everywhere. It is a day to honour and celebrate the unconditional love and support that mothers provide their children and families, and to thank them for the countless ways they enrich our lives.
The modern version of Mother's Day that Australia celebrates was established in the early 20th century by Anna Jarvis, a social activist from West Virginia. After the death of her mother in 1905, Jarvis devoted her life to campaigning for a national holiday in honour of mothers. She organized the first Mother's Day celebration in Grafton, West Virginia, in 1908, and in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday of May as Mother's Day. The holiday quickly became popular, and soon, other countries around the world adopted the tradition. Mother's Day is now celebrated in more than 40 countries.
This Sunday when your children race to your room to give you your gifts or bring you the breakfast in bed the gestures are rooted in the important role you play in their lives. A mother's influence extends far beyond the walls of our homes and impacts us throughout our lives. Mothers teach the values of kindness, empathy, and compassion, which are some of the most essential values for building meaningful relationships with others. From your words, actions, and deeds, your children learn how to form deep connections, respect boundaries, and value everyone's uniqueness.
It goes without saying that mothers are multitaskers and experts at juggling multiple responsibilities and managing complex tasks with grace. You make this seem easy, but in reality, it is really hard and takes sacrifice. Taking care of each family member's unique needs, providing care, emotional support, and comfort whenever it is necessary is hard work and Mother’s Day is about paying tribute to that. No matter how tough the circumstances are, mothers never lose their sense of purpose, putting their family first and ensuring that their children feel loved, safe, and valued.
In this very complex world that we raise our children in, the role of a parent has evolved further. You are not only caretakers of your children, but also of your communities both local and global and your kindness, generosity and compassion makes the world a better place to live.
As we honour mothers of all generations, some of whom are no longer with us, take a moment on Sunday to thank them for everything that they have done. Let us appreciate the sacrifices they have made, their wise counsel, and their unwavering love. Let us also work together to create a world where all mothers can raise their children without fear of conflict, poverty, or discrimination. On Sunday and for everyday beyond that, we should always cherish and honour the mothers in our lives for their love and devotion. The job is not an easy one and we cannot always get it right, but on Mother’s Day your children honour you and all you do for them with the paintings they’ve created, cards they’ve made and the gifts they’ve wrapped for you. They are a symbol of the incredible love they feel for you.
Dads are pretty great too, but we’ll talk about them in September.
Enjoy your weekend.
Nieta