We hear more and more people complain about the increasing commercialisation of our cultural celebrations. Be it Christmas, Halloween or Easter there is always a voice or column somewhere reminding us about its ‘true’ meaning or how it has changed since they were a child. Fair enough, change is inevitable, sometimes it is good sometimes it isn’t, and one person’s take on it can be very different from another, it doesn’t mean one is wrong though. There was a time, not so long ago, when Mother’s Day seemed faddish and unnecessary to many people, and those who did embrace it usually just gave a card. Over time it has grown, many people now plan special meals on this day, either out or homemade and gifts have become almost ubiquitous. For us this is one change that’s for the better. Being a mother is a thankless job. The hours are terrible, the pay non-existent and often the people you do it for are anything but grateful, most of the time at least. Aside from the literal physical endurance required through pregnancy and the actual act of giving birth mothers carry their children with them for the rest of their lives, you never stop being a mother. Mothers need to be teachers, nurses, chefs, bankers, psychologists, advisors and confidents to their children. They need to lay down the law yet offer encouragement and hope, apply a kick up the backside or an arm round the shoulder and know which one is required and when. They are on call, all day, everyday. They’ve seen you at your very worst, at your most unlovable and loved you more despite it, they feel your triumphs and your failures as if they were their own and think about you every single day of their lives. Birthdays are important, some more than others, but they mark your growing, the passing of time. But Mother’s Day stands alone as an opportunity to acknowledge the lifetime of care, love and devotion you’ve been given, the selfless acts carried out in your name and the ongoing worries, hopes and concerns that are carried around and will be for the rest of their lives. A Mother’s Day gift shouldn’t be perfunctory, it should carry a little thought and it should say ‘thanks, today I’m grateful for everything you’ve done, even if I don’t show it every other day of the year.’ If you are a mother have a lovely Mother’s Day, if you are a child, well you know what to do.
Stephanie Barnet Marketing Executive Shearer Candles
