Do you know where the celebration of Mother’s Day came from? Just as so many other wonderful people and ideas have come from the Greeks, so, too, is the origin of Mother’s Day. Ancient Greece had a spring celebration in honor of Rhea, the Mother of the Gods.

In the United States Mother’s Day was first suggested in 1872 by Julia Ward Howe (who wrote the words to the Battle Hymn of the Republic) as a day dedicated to peace. In 1907 Ana Jarvis began a campaign to establish a national Mother’s Day and in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson made it an official national holiday.

To all of you good and nurturing mothers, including you step mothers who have stepped into a need, you deserve your day for you have given much. To any of you who may have failed to be a good mother, may you apologize to your children and work to get it right while you still have time. Everybody needs a good mama! To you mothers-to-be, know that it is a sacred and fortunate role. It is crucial to the development of a physically and psychologically healthy child. Do it right!

To children of good and nurturing mothers, honor her and thank her for her love and sacrifice which has made you such a wonderful person! To children whose mothers were clueless, tell her where she screwed up and vow to do better for your kids.

To husbands of mothers, thank your wife for giving you the privilege of being a father and being a partner in raising your children. Give her a personalized card, flowers, and make the bed!

Those of you who read this column with regularity know that one of my central tenets and concerns is how a child’s brain is formed (wired) in early childhood by the parents — especially the mother. The following poem by Turlough O’Carolan speaks well as to the influence of a loving and welcoming mother.

A mother’s love determines how

We love ourselves and others.

There is no sky we’ll ever see

Not lit by that first love.

Stripped of love, the universe

Would drive us mad with pain;

 But we are born into a world

 That greets our cries with joy.

               

How much I owe you for the kiss

That told me who I was!

The greatest gift — a love of life —

Lay laughing in your eyes.

Because of you my world still has

The soft grace of your smile;

And every wind of fortune bears

The scent of your caress.

Happy Mother’s Day to all you wonerful mothers — especially my mother, my wife, Sherry, and my daughter Brittany!!

Dr. Stathas can be reached at (706) 473-1780 or Stathas@plantationcable.net.