Mother's Day or Mothers' Day

[PuppyMonkey]

That was the first argument in our house his morning.

I know, I know - it should be Mothering Sunday.....

I clicked to say 'Mothering Sunday'

I suppose it depends on your household set up. Are you polyamorous?

Not usually, but there are lots of mums in the world not just one.

Polyamoroys (sheltered life here)

I'd say Mothers' Day as generally more than one mother ie talking about a day for mothers generally.

Mothering Sunday here

Mothers' day is an artificial, commercial day in May in other parts of the world.

Most greetings cards etc say "Mother's Day". It used to bother me, but I just accept it as the agreed usage - after all, I only have one mother, so it is the "Day of / for (my) Mother", so I think it can be justified.

However, if we had a day for children, I suspect it would be called "Children's Day" not "Child's Day", although I guess the argument would be that you can have more than one child. The clincher might be what would you call a day dedicated to wives: "Wife's Day" or "Wives' Day"?

I think it's Mothers' Day, as it's a day for all mothers.

I think using the hypothetical example of Children's Day, rather than Child's Day makes it quite clear.

(Some people have more than one wife, DadDadDad, speaking of polyamory.)

So, most of the world (including greetings cards companies) have chosen to go with "Mother's" options. Presumably, they've had the pedants writing in, but have taken the line that if everyone else does it that way, then it's acceptable.