waysir
Lydia Nu
Marilynee Klinkrodt
Bay Area moms celebrate motherhood Kiana George Mother’s Day originated in the 19th century when Ann Reeves Jarvis started “Mother’s Day Work Clubs” to teach mothers how to care for their children. After the Civil War, the clubs were a unifying force that helped promote reconciliation. In the early 1900s, Anna Jarvis, Ann Reeves Jarvis’ daughter, created a Mother’s Day celebration to honor her mother’s death and all the sacrifices mothers make for their children globally. In May of 1908, Anna Jarvis organized the first official Mother’s day event at a church in West Virginia. After the event gained popularity, Anna Jarvis created the Mother’s Day International Association Group and prodded government officials with letter campaigns, booklets, telegrams, and in-person discussions to get the holiday established nationally. In 1914, President Woodrow
Wilson signed a bill declaring Mother’s Day as an official U.S. holiday. Mother’s Day is now defined as the second Sunday of every May in which the world celebrates the mother of the family, motherhood, and a mother’s influence on society. From holding a baby in her belly for up to 40 weeks to raising her infants through the innocence of childhood and the turmoil of teenage years, a mother will always protect, guide, and most importantly, love her child. Motherhood is a rich, fulfilling journey but also a test of one’s limits. In a survey of 16 mothers, many agreed that being a mother has taught them patience, forgiveness, compassion, and unconditional love without judgment. “Being a mom is the toughest job I have ever loved. It has taught me to be humble and patient,” Marilynne Klinkrodt, mother of Andrew and Julia, said.
Although parents are generally regarded as teachers to their children, some mothers said that children also teach the parents as well. The experience of having a child leads to many learning opportunities for mothers. “Your children have just as much to teach you as you do them,” Jennie Saro, mother of Jake and Jared, said. Lydia Nuwaysir, mother of Carlmont students Sabrina and Eric Jackson, feels that motherhood is a unique journey that allowed her to become her best self through both growth and change. “When I became pregnant with my daughter, I was very worried about how I would ever be able to love her as much as my son. But once she was born, I realized love has no boundaries. It truly doesn’t. She was her own perfect little soul, and I loved her just as fiercely and passionately as my son,” Nuwaysir said. “I learned that children are a mirror,
8 HIGHLANDER FEATURE
