On Sunday, May 8, 2022, we celebrate Mother’s Day.
Women comprise 64% of the population of real estate agents in the U.S., according to the NAR, and 60% of licensed brokers.
With 57 as the median age of a real estate agent, it’s safe to say that among the ranks, there are lots of moms.
So, to all of the mothers out there, I wish you an early Happy Mother’s Day!
How the holiday got its start
Although it’s easy to assume that Hallmark created this holiday, it did not. In fact, this annual celebration of motherhood has an interesting path.
It was the brainchild of Anna Jarvis who was seeking a way to pay tribute to her mother as well as mothers across the globe.
A tireless campaign
Jarvis’ mother, who gave birth to 11 children had a dream that someone someday would found a memorial to mothers commemorating them for their service.
Jarvis, along with her supporters, started a letter-writing campaign to city officials. She also spoke frequently on the topic at her church.
However, nobody was interested in Mother’s Day. But, she kept at it and, in fact, was able to get assistance from John Wanamaker, a Philadelphia philanthropist.
It took them two more years to make West Virginia, Jarvis’ home state, the first in the nation to set aside a day to honor mothers.
Four years later President Woodrow Wilson made Mother’s Day an official national holiday and set aside the second Sunday in May just for moms.
Retail hijacks another holiday
What should have been a happy ending for Jarvis turned to frustration when retailers jumped on the holiday as a way to increase their profits. From florists to chocolatiers to gift card retailers, Mother’s Day became a retail holiday.
An ironic twist
Anna Jarvis felt that her mother’s idea had been hijacked, so she decided to throw her energy into a campaign to have the holiday rescinded. She organized boycotts and spent the rest of her life campaigning to have Mother’s Day repealed.
Regardless, of how the story ended for Anna, I truly enjoy celebrating Mother’s Day and honoring the mothers in my life.
If you’re interested in sending out a celebratory greeting to the mothers in your sphere, there’s still time. Send Mother’s Day postcards out first-class mail by April 29th to ensure they arrive in time.
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