Moms just want the simple things this Mother's Day

Mother's Day honors mothers and celebrates motherhood, maternal bonds and the influence of mothers in society — because they are the glue that holds families together.

Although I have been a mother only for four months, it has been rich with lessons and experiences.

For example, I have learned that I can, in fact, take a six-minute shower, or that I can cook dinner, wash dishes and do laundry — all one-handed.

As families honor Mom today, we should remember when and why it all started.

The modern holiday was first celebrated in 1908, when Anna Jarvis had a memorial for her mother, Ann Maria Reeves Jarvis. The elder Jarvis had founded Mothers’ Day Work Clubs. These brave women campaigned to improve sanitary conditions in cities and helped treat wounded soldiers in the Civil War — both Union and Confederate.

Two years after her mother’s death, the younger Jarvis had a “Mother's Day” and adamantly campaigned to have it be a recognized holiday in the United States.

Although she was successful in 1914, she already was disappointed with its commercialization by the 1920s.

I can’t blame her. After all, I would rather be able to relax and enjoy my family’s company — versus running around like a maniac — than receive jewelry or a vacuum cleaner.

Moms don’t need you to spend money. Rather, they want acknowledgement and appreciation for everything they do “behind the scenes.” The want to hear that you love them for who they are and that you want to spend time with them. They want affirmation that all the time and energy they put into making others happy is worth it.

My husband recognizes the importance of my first Mother’s Day.

“I’m been thinking about what to get you and I just don’t know,” he said. “Will you just tell me what you want?”

I thought about it for a few minutes.

“Not to worry,” I said.

He laughed, but I only was half-kidding.

It reminded me of a conversation I had with some older co-workers several years ago.

“The minute you have a child,” one of them said, “a sense of worry settles upon you and it never goes away.”

Truer words have never been spoken.

It’s Mom’s job to worry — about scheduling, nutrition, comfort, organization, preparation — you name it, Mom has thought of it. After all, our end goal is to make our children happy and to forge positive experiences. Whether we work out of the home or stay at home, juggling everyone else’s wants and needs — often at the expense of our own — is no small feat.

And we always doubt ourselves, wishing we could do more, do better, do it all.

So, this Mother’s Day, give Mom what she truly wants: your attention, your affection, your respect. It really is the best gift of all.