This is an excerpt from an article on MD. I'd love to hear your comments. How do you feel about Mother's Day? Should it have more meaning ?
Being a mother changes everything. But no amount of trinkets, flowers or words can fully speak to the depth of the full body/life makeover that happens once a baby bursts into our world. That?s why this Mother?s Day, I want more than a box of chocolates and a card from the local newsagent - not that I don?t appreciate the thought by the way - I want to know that my mothering and my membership in this great club of motherhood matters beyond my family?s four walls.
When we become mothers for the first time, we become conscious of the world around us in a very intimate way. Even if we try to avoid the terrifying news of climate change, war and poverty or the desperate plight of AIDS orphans in Africa, these realities seep into our consciousness. Because as mothers we cannot help but measure everything by how it impacts the future wellbeing of our children; and in today?s global climate, the lives of children in far away lands have become inextricably connected to our own.
Thankfully, a group of mothers from Boulder, Colorado are turning the tide on Mother?s Day and encouraging other mothers across the world to do the same. They call themselves Mothers Acting Up and since 2002, they have been inspiring Mother?s Day events that couple the celebration of our motherhood, with taking action on behalf of the world?s children. They address worldly issues with parades instead of protests, balloons instead of banners, singing instead of angry chanting and - believe it or not - do all of this whilst walking on stilts! This January they brought their new breed of activism to our shores, with the launch of Mothers Acting Up UK: www.mothersactingup.org.uk.
I cannot think of a better way to spend Mother?s Day this year, than making a difference by acting up alongside my children ? especially if I still get chocolate!
posted by a mother acting up!!!!!