Brunch, flowers, and candy.  Those are the three main ingredients of Mother’s Day.  Would you be surprised to learn that the founders of Mother’s Day would actually be pretty angry about that?

Julia Ward Howe, who wrote the “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” established a day for mothers in 1872 as a peace activist protesting the brutality of war.  Her goal was to create a “general congress of women” to promote international peace.  In other words, the holiday has its roots in an anti-war movement.

Later, Anna Reeves Jarvis picked up the torch and began organizing “Mothers’ Work Clubs” to combat disease and infant mortality by teaching hygiene and sanitation.  This was followed by the establishment of “Mother’s Friendship Day” to unite families from both sides of the Civil War.

Still later, Anna Jarvis (daughter of Ann Reeves) grew so disgusted with the commercialization of the holiday that she spent her life, and her inheritance, fighting to abolish it.  She was even arrested for protesting at a convention of candy makers who had latched on to increased profits from Mother’s Day.

I’m not saying we shouldn’t honor our mothers.  God knows the many sacrifices they have made for their children and families.  But it seems to me that a whole lot more can be accomplished in our society if we at least try to honor the original intent of this holiday; even just a little bit.

For example, what if after the Mother’s Day brunch, we turned our attention to advocating for universal health care, paid leave, and affordable childcare?  What if every Mother’s Day a national peace organization was selected for coordinated support?  That would certainly be in the spirit of Howe and Jarvis’ vision. 

The status of women our country has absolutely progressed in positive ways over the years.  That said, the progress has been painfully slow, incomplete, and largely cultural rather than institutional.  

For example, I remember when I was a kid seeing women’s marches calling for passage of the Equal Rights Amendment to the constitution.  It never passed.  Despite passage in the U.S. House and Senate, it required 38 states to approve it as well and it fell three states short.  As the process dragged on, 5 other states withdrew their endorsements.  Eventually, the deadline for passage expired (in 1982).  

Keep in mind, this amendment was first introduced in 1923.  It is amazing that today, after 100-plus-years, it is still apparently a bridge too far. 

Honoring our mothers is a tradition we should always uphold.  Mother’s Day, however, should not distract us from rectifying the unequal status of women in our country and around the world.