While I think my own mother likes Mother’s Day as it is, it is interesting that the early mothers’ days were more about mothers as activists rather than individuals.  

While various holidays celebrating mothers have occurred through history, Mother’s Day as it is celebrated in North America has roots in feminist pacifism.  Julia Ward Howe is considered a founding mother of mother’s day and was reported to have proclaimed the first Mother’s Day in 1870 calling on mothers to:

“Arise then…women of this day!
Arise, all women who have hearts!…

Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.
We, the women of one country,
Will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs.

…From the voice of a devastated Earth a voice goes up with
Our own. It says: “Disarm! Disarm!”

you can find the full text at: http://womenshistory.about.com/od/howejwriting/a/mothers_day.htm
And more about the original meaning of Mother’s day at: ttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother%27s_day

On a more lesbian note, I also found an interesting article on how to manage mother’s day in a family with two moms and a book of photos of lesbian moms and their children.

“Parenthood does not have a cookie-cutter definition.”

The documentary film Mommy, Mommy is scheduled to air this December on CBC Newsworld on “The Lens”:

- Tuesday, December 4th at 7pm and 10pm Pacific Standard Time (PST)

- Saturday, December 8th at 8pm PST and 11pmPST

This documentary film focuses on the quest for a loving lesbian couple to fulfill their dream of becoming parents, and persevering against the homophobic bureaucracy that stands in their way.

Please tune in and show your support for the right of gay and lesbian couples to be adoptive parents!

To check out an online feature about Mommy, Mommy on the CBC Newsworld website please visit the updated url:

http://www.cbc.ca/thelens/program_041207.html  

Mommy, Mommy was directed by Sylvie Rosenthal and produced by Ernest Webb, Catherine Bainbridge and Christina Fon of Rezolution Pictures International (Montreal).

For a sneak peek at the film, check out the preview now available on Youtube! http://youtube.com/watch?v=KslF-275wGc

Please tell friends, family, coworkers, community organizations and anyone else you think might be interested in this topic to watch the film and support the important cause of same-sex couples having the right to become loving adoptive parents in Quebec and the rest of Canada.

This is a story very close to my heart, and once you get to know the people this film is about, I’m sure you will feel the same way.

Thanks for watching and spreading the word!

Séri Jacobs
Project Manager,
Viral Marketing Manager