“All women are mothers because all women bring life to the world in some way.”

Holley Gerth

Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate the mothers of the family as well as those with whom we share a maternal bond. These people can include our mothers, aunts, grandmothers, sisters, role-models, teachers, care-givers, or others. We can also honor those that face the challenge of not being able to have their own children.

Most of the world has a special day or celebration for mothers. In Japan, carnations are a popular gift and considered a symbol of a mother due to their sweetness, purity, and endurance. In Ethiopia, mothers are celebrated with a three day festival which also marks the end of the rainy season. In Peru, celebrants also make special effort to remember mother’s who are no longer with them by gathering at cemeteries.

So, how do we celebrate our maternal figures while experiencing a global pandemic? There are still excellent ways to honor and celebrate even if you are social distancing, in quarantine, or unable to travel to see your mothers.

• Play a virtual card game.
• Interview her about her childhood.
• Make a hand made card.
• Write a thoughtful letter.
• Put together a photo album.
• Sing a song together.
• Pick wild flowers.
• Bake a cake or cupcakes together.
• Use Skype or FaceTime to have a meal together.

NOAH wishes all our maternal figures a happy and healthy Mother’s Day!