Giving and living

Editorial

Mother's Day. Whose day is it anyway?

Sunday, May 14, is a day to honor those who have experienced the continuing wonder of motherhood. It's a day to remember those who care and nurture; laugh and cry; love and listen; commiserate and celebrate. It's a day to remember all those who give life - and all those who continue to make life worth living.

It is a day when little ones lovingly present handmade treasures and carefully printed cards; when older children pool allowances to splurge on special gifts. It is the busiest day of the year for florists and long distance telephone carriers, a record holiday for restaurateurs and chocolatiers.

Moms deserve the beautiful tributes, the breakfast in bed and the dinner out. And yet, Mother's Day is not just about moms. It's about kids and parents, families and friends.

It's about taking seriously our responsibility as mothers - and fathers - to assure that all children are safe and secure, healthy and happy, responsible and strong. It's about Julia Ward Howe, credited for being one of the founders of Mother's Day, who in 1872 urged setting aside a special day for mothers to advocate peace. It's also about Anna Jarvis, a 19th century Appalachian homemaker and health-care advocate who pressed for a holiday to honor women activists,

And it's about Donna Dees-Thomases, who was so disturbed by the shooting last August at the Jewish Community Center preschool in Granada Hills, Calif., that she organized the Million Mom March to rally for gun control. Events are planned in some 60 other cities across the nation, including Phoenix, where marchers will gather at Patriots Square Park, 2:30 p.m., May 14.

In the end, Mother's Day must be about us all: marching on Sunday; helping a child learn to read; mentoring a disadvantaged teen. It's about promoting the well-being of children and families. It's about taking a stand, writing a letter, speaking out.

It's about appreciating the gift of life, and giving of ourselves to assure that it has meaning for us, our families and others.

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