Mother's Day tribute

Trading Post Chat

By SAVANNAH CUNNICK

Well, here goes my attempt with a TRIBUTE TO ALL MOTHERS on their special day: HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, LADIES!

There is no way that I can sum up all there is to say about MOMS. So for now, this is my best shot at appreciation for all these women who can choke on air, fall UP stairs and trip over completely nothing while tackling the multitude of duties that face you EVERY DAY!

Those jobs such as : housecleaner, chef, chauffeur, nanny, nurse, accountant, waitress, gardener, events organizer, dog walker and pet sitter....all these chores and more....with NO SALARY or TIPS....but yet find that those precious hugs and kisses are payment enough.

Of all the rights to being a woman....the greatest is being a mother!

Ever wonder how MOTHER'S DAY became an official day on our calendar? Well, it was President Woodrow Wilson who proclaimed that MOTHERS NEED TO BE CELEBRATED. The first public thank you was on May 9, 1914. But, the American incarnation of Mothers' Day was created by Anna Jarvis in 1908. It was first celebrated at St. Andrew's Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia...and now holds the International Mother's Day Shrine. During the 19th century, mothers of soldiers in the American Civil War would meet in favor of peace and against war. It comforted moms who had lost sons to war or were in danger of losing. In 1868 Anna's mother, Ann Jarvis, created MOTHER'S FRIENDSHIP DAY with the purpose to reunite families divided by the Civil War.

During this time, mothers joined clubs who strived to improve sanitation and health for both the Union and Confederate encampments undergoing a typhoid outbreak. In 1934, President F.D. Roosevelt approved a Mother's Day stamp.

Today, our momma's day is the third largest holiday in the United States for sending cards. Over two billion is spent on flowers, one and half million on gifts and sixty-eight million on greeting cards. Yes, we ladies love to be pampered...but to be respected and loved for who we areis the greatest gift you can give your mother! A big hug and kiss doesn't hurt either...! I can remember receiving the dearest little homemade cards from my little sons, Timmy and Billy. So heartfelt and the drawings were wonderful. I still have them in a special little keepsake box which would be the choice I would make if I was told that I could only take ONE thing with me when I leave this earth.

Did you know that CARNATIONS are the customary flower of Mother's Day? Carnations were formerly used for treatment of fever. They were at one time (and still could be) used to spice wine and substitute for expensive clove back in the day.

Red carnations are presented or worn in honor of the living mother, whereas white carnations honor the deceased.

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I asked my neighbor's little son: Do you say prayers before eating? He answered: No ma'am, I don't have to...my mom's a GOOD cook.

Aunt Martha said that she used to tell Cousin Clarence that CARROTS are good for your eyes. Have you ever seen a rabbit wearing glasses?

Aunt Patsy remembers yelling that ridiculous statement that more than one mother threatened with: I'm warning you...if you fall out of that tree and break both your legs, don't come running to me!! Other than having to learn how to drive a bulldozer to clean my kids rooms...I must say, my boys were pretty good little fellas!

JD tells me that I must have RADAR...because I could be in another room clear across the house and say...what are you doing in that cupboard?

He can't believe it. I tell him that it's from lots of practice raising my kids. JD tells me that the definition of a SWEATER when he was growing up was something you wear when your mother gets cold.

Well, we all have stories and memories of when we were growing up. Remembering the things our mothers would do. Making our home special and doing all the chores they did to keep us all safe and happy. My dad was always working outside of the home, so my Mom did it all. He made the bacon and she cooked it!

She loved to garden and always mowed the yard and weeded her gardens. Aside from all the household chores and decorating the house with such skill, she also was a constant room mother, girl scout leader, chauffeur to dance and piano lessons and cooked the best FRESH blackberry pies you have ever eaten! She wore many hats, but was just happy when the socks matched. As I grew older, it seemed that no matter what we went through or how much we would argue...I always knew that she would always be there for me. That's what a Mom does...

Hey, there is NO perfect mother...but lots of GOOD ones. Holy Crackers!!!!....we ALL make mistakes...but there is no need to focus on them. Brush it off. Make changes if necessary and move on. We all have flaws. We have flashbacks from things we don't want to remember. It's not EASY being a mother. If it were, fathers would do it more often.

Don't compare yourself to other moms. We're all a HOT MESS. Some just hide it better than others.

Being a mom means we can DO IT ALL....all the time, with a stellar attitude, no matter what. No wonder we're set up to be guilt-ridden.

You are allowed to be HUMAN. Mistakes are proof that you are trying. Life does not have to be perfect to be wonderful. We go through stages along with our children.

So HAPPY CHAOS and get over it! Comes with the territory, Gals!

So, once again and here we go: HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all of you wonderful mommas, mother-in-laws, grandmas, aunties and friends.

Best wishes for a wonderful day and for continuous days of your special gift of motherhood. Chat with you next week.

HUGS, SAVANNAH