Mommies Dearest

Mother’s Day is coming, so it’s a good time to explore the world of moms. Even if our mothers are not around, we all had one. And we can think about our friends’ mothers, our teachers who are mothers, even our pet mothers. And don’t forget Mother Earth!

CONNECT:

• What is the history of Mother’s Day? Find out at http://www.mothersdaycentral.com/about-mothersday/history/
• Discover how Mother’s Day is celebrated around the world: http://www.mothersdaycelebration.com/mothers-day-around-world.html
• How do you write Mother and Mother’s Day in different languages? Find out at http://www.dayformothers.com/mothers-day-in-different-languages.html
• The Los Angeles Times salutes famous mothers in history: http://articles.latimes.com/2011/may/08/image/la-ig-moms-20110508
• Animal moms take care of their young; just look at these Time magazine photos to see their amazing efforts: http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1987961,00.html

CREATE:

• Be crafty for Mother’s Day; try making something original for a mom: http://www.bhg.com/holidays/mothers-day/crafts/mothers-day-crafts-for-kids/ and http://www.parentmap.com/article/25-homemade-mothers-day-gifts-that-kids-can-make
• Share a poem with a mother – or create your own. Here’s a starting collection: http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/holiday/mothers-day-poems.asp
• Try whipping up a meal for Mom: here are some easy recipes: http://www.kidsgen.com/events/mothers_day/recipes.htm
• How well do you know about your mother and Mother’s Day? You can make a quiz, starting with ideas from http://www.dayformothers.com/games/quiz-on-mothers-day.html

CARE:

• Yes, we need to take care of Mother Earth. Here are some ways to help: http://gardenclub.homedepot.com/earth-day-activities-kid-friendly-ways-to-celebrate-mother-earth/
• Is there a mother you know who is a hero? You can contribute her story to the MY HERO Project: http://www.myhero.com
• Teenage mothers can have a challenging time raising a child. http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/parenting_as_a_teenager.html/context/1000 provides some insights; even though it’s from Australia, the issues are universal.
• There are lots of mothers who are in hospitals, retirement homes, and so forth. You can show your car by sending them a Mother’s Day card or original photo showing an animal mother. Get photo tips from National Geographic: http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/activities/moreactivities/photography101/

CAREERS:
Nowadays, the majority of mothers work at least some time outside the home. Here are some pointers for having a career while being a mom:
http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/10-careers-for-power-moms.htm
http://www.forbes.com/sites/meghancasserly/2011/03/03/the-best-jobs-for-working-moms/
http://www.workingmother.com/research-institute/what-moms-choose-working-mother-report