Mother’s Day is celebrated on Sunday, May 12, 2024.

Did you know Mother’s Day originated with a woman named Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia? Anna’s mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, organized “Mothers’ Day Work Clubs” to combat unsanitary living conditions among poor women in West Virginia. The elder Jarvis was concerned about the high infant mortality rate and wanted to educate and help mothers who needed it the most.

On May 12, 1907, Anna held a memorial service at her late mother’s church. Within five years, practically every state observed Mother’s Day. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson made it a national holiday.

Mother’s Day has come to include grandmothers, aunts, sisters, cousins, friends and women who care for children as their own. The following six ideas can help commemorate the special women in your life.

• Most women love a homecooked meal – especially one they don’t have to prepare themselves! This Mother’s Day, visit other moms you know, both friends and family, and bring homecooked goods to share. Make it a potluck!
• Thank the moms in your community by writing notes of gratitude. Tie the notes to carnations and leave the flowers on the moms’ doorsteps. Ask your kids to add their creative flair with glitter, stickers and acrylic paint.
• Ask your family to celebrate you on Mother’s Day by launching a new tradition based on one from your own childhood. Perhaps your family attended church that morning and came home to feast on a delicious lunch. Or maybe you watched comedies all day focused on mothers. The possibilities are endless!
• Some mom-and-daughter fun on Mother’s Day includes buying wooden friendship bracelets and decorating them or creating hair accessories – such as headbands or butterfly clips – that both mother and daughter can wear.
• Make a paper bouquet. Cut flower petals from orange, purple or yellow construction paper. Use a glue stick to glue the petals together, forming flower shapes. Glue green paper straws to the back of each flower for a stem.
• Make handprint dish towels! Spread a thin layer of fabric paint or acrylic paint on a paper plate. Have kids press their hands into the paint and then place them on a plain white dish towel. Hang the towels to dry. Handprint dish towels are a colorful, memorable addition to any kitchen!