A brief history of Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day was first celebrated in 1907 by Anna Jarvis at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia. She wanted to honor her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, a peace activist who cared for wounded soldiers and created the day originally as a way for mother’s to protest war. Anna Jarvis campaigned to make Mother’s Day a recognized holiday in the US, and believed that all mothers deserve to be celebrated for everything they do.
Towards the end of Anna’s life she fought to abolish Mother’s Day. She thought the holiday became over commercialized and was actually arrested for protesting it at a corporate event.
Cool facts about moms
The oldest mother on record was 74 years old when she gave birth to twins.
A mother’s brain can shrink during pregnancy but will grow back to its normal size within six months after giving birth.
On average, mothers sleep 1-2 hours less per night than childless women.
According to a study, a mother’s hug can lower her child’s stress levels, and the benefits can last well into adulthood.
In some species, such as octopuses and spiders the mother sacrifices herself for her offspring, providing her body as food for her babies.
A mother’s voice is the first sound a baby recognizes, and studies have shown that it can have a calming effect on infants.
Some species of animals, such as elephants and whales, have a matriarchal society where the females lead the group.
The average mother spends around 18 years of her life taking care of her children.
In the US, Mother’s Day is the busiest phone day of the year, with around 122 million calls made to moms.
So be sure to call your mom on Mother’s Day. Or as the founder of Mother’s Day Anna Jarvis originally intended, write a heartfelt letter of gratitude to your mother. It’s the thought that counts.
If you intend to buy something for your mom or grandma, check out ElderHealth’s Gift Guide for Mother’s Day.
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