Is Mother's Day just a "ritual observance which celebrates not so much mothers and motherhood as the American genius for wedding sentimentality and profitable commercialism," as U. S. labor activist and feminist Olga M. Madar said in 1970?
Is it true that, "As a class, mothers are tender and loving, but as a voting bloc they would not hesitate for an instant to pull the seat out from under any congressman who suggests that Mother is not entitled to a box of chocolates every year in the middle of May," according to U. S. journalist and humorist, Russell Baker?
Mother's Day certainly is very profitable to flower and candy shop owners, and it may be the focus of lightly satirical comments, but above all it honors women who spend much time and energy, experience the pains and joys, and earn the love and rewards of motherhood.
Quotations from past U. S. Presidents honor their mothers. George Washington said, "My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her."
Thomas Jefferson wrote, "Motherhood is the keystone of the arch of matrimonial happiness."
Abraham Lincoln praised his mother, saying, "I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life. All I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother."
And Harry Truman stressed, "No one in the world can take the place of your mother. Right or wrong, from her viewpoint you are always right. She may scold you for little things, but never for the big ones."
Noted American writers have given tribute to their beloved mothers. 19th century poet Emily Dickinson wrote, "A mother is one to whom you hurry when you are troubled."
Mark Twain informed his readers, "My mother had a slender, small body, but a large heart - a heart so large that everybody's joys found welcome in it, and hospitable accommodations."
Pearl Buck penned, "Some mothers are kissing mothers and some are scolding mothers, but it is love just the same, and most mothers kiss and scold together."
Twentieth century American novelist Peter de Vries told us, "A suburban mother's role is to deliver children obstetrically once, and by car forever after."
Authors from other countries around the world have extolled the virtues of motherhood also. Seventeenth century English poet George Herbert stated, "One good mother is worth a hundred schoolmasters."
Irish playwright Oscar Wilde wrote, "All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That's his."
Victor Hugo, 19th century French novelist, noted, "A woman's arms are made of tenderness and children sleep soundly in them."
Going back 2000 years ago to ancient Greece, Aristotle told his listeners, "Mothers are fonder than fathers of their children because they are more certain they are their own."
Anonymous proverbs about motherhood have come down to us through the ages: "Heaven is at the feet of mothers" (Arabic); "God could not be everywhere, so he created mothers" (Jewish); "An ounce of mother is worth a pound of clergy" (Spanish); and "A man loves his sweetheart the most, his wife the best, but his mother the longest" (Irish).
Humorous, but loving, quotations about motherhood abound. Comedian Milton Berle questioned, "If evolution really works, how come mothers have only two hands?"
American journalist Sydney J. Harris wrote, "The commonest fallacy among women is that simply having children makes them a mother -which is as absurd as believing that having a piano makes one a musician."
Contemporary American writer Tenneva Jordan noted, "A mother is a person who, seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie."
Two anonymous, smile-inducing quotations include "All mothers are working mothers" and "A mother is the only person on earth who can divide her love among ten children and each child still have all her love."
More seriously, the Bible, in Proverbs 31:28, speaks of a virtuous mother: "Her children arise up, and call her blessed."
A little-known 19th century American writer, Eliza Cook, wrote of her dead mother, "I miss thee, my Mother! Thy image is still the deepest impressed on my heart."
But death does not end a mother's love, according to Nathaniel Parker Willis, another 19th century American author: "One lamp-thy mother's love-amid the stars, shall lift its pure flame changeless, and before the throne of God, burn through eternity-holy-as it was lit and lent thee here." Happy Mother's Day 2011!
This piece written in memory of and deep love for my mother, Edith Louise Kagan (Jan. 22, 1917, to Jan. 2, 2002).
