HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY GREEN GIRLS!: HAPPY UNMOTHER'S DAY, TOO

So by now you may have heard about the recent survey suggesting that if a stay-at-home mom could be compensated in dollars rather than personal satisfaction and unconditional love, she'd rake in a nifty sum of nearly $117,000 a year based on a reported average of 54.6 hours per week.  Even though the study has already been picked apart by economists, armchair pundits and those who probably aren't mothers, I think all moms can agree that mommyhood is priceless.  So Happy Mother's Month - at least it should be - to all of you who find yourself with neverhaveamoment-itis.

And don't forget that this month is the official inaugural year of Pregnancy Awareness Month (PAM).  Founder and holistic lifestyle expert Anna Getty aims to empower pregnant women with information, how to ideas and inspiration to incorporate PAM's four key initiatives: education, exercise, nutrition & wellness and nurturing into their life routines and to show women how easy it can be to make healthy changes in their lives for themselves and their children.  PAM launched with a lifestyle event sponsored by Cookie Magazine at the Skirball Cultural Center focusing on nurturing.  Sign up for the PAM newsletter to get some fabulous mommy giveaways, check out other fab mommy events and scoop some tips from other expert mommies. 

How much are we anticipated to spend on mother's day this year?  According to US Industry research,  Americans will spend approximately $2.6 billion on flowers, $1.53 billion on pampering gifts (spa) and another $68 million on greeting cards.  Not to mention about 7.8% of the US jewelry industry's annual revenue for the year.  And what's Mother's Day without thinking about the way to many mother's hearts - food - with Americans expected to spend close to $3.51 billion this year dining out for Mother's Day - brunch anyone?  The usual suspects of gifts were most popular this year including cards, flowers, gift cards and jewelry and according to BizRate, gas prices may have fueled people to go online to drop some duckets on mom - up from 6% to 20% and deaprtment store shopping dropped by about 4%.  When you care enough to click, right? Even more interesting, men spend an average of $60 and women $110.  Gents?  What's up with that? 

Where did Mother's Day come from anyways?  It couldn't have been a Hallmark creation, for cryin' out loud.  Could it?  Believe it or not, most attribute the custom of honoring mothers, the way we do today, to the 17th-century English tradition of Mothering Sunday.  FactMonster states that Mother's Day in the United States originated in 1872 with Julia Ward Howe, a writer, abolitionist, and suffragist who wrote the words to "Battle Hymn of the Republic." In 1911, President Woodrow Wilson made it a national holiday.  The more we think we're different, the more we realize we're the same.  Among the countries who give props to their moms are:

Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, China, Anguilla, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,  Bermuda, Bahrain, Bolivia, Bonaire, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, People's Republic of China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Curacao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Eqypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Iraq, Iran, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Malawi, Malta, Malaysia, Myanmar, Mongolia, Mauritius, Morocco, Nepal, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, Russia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, South Africa, St. Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, Slovenia, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Republic of China (Taiwan), Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Tunesia, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yemen, Zimbabwe

And here's a great Mother's Day gift from one mother to another...Green to Grow, maker of bisphenol A and phtalate-free bottles, has a program to connect families who no longer need their baby bottles with local, non-profit organizations that accept donations for mothers who need bottles to feed their babies, but can't afford them.  It's a way of helping families who need a little extra support, doing your part to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, and experiencing the true joy of compassionate service.  You can find out more about the Bottles to Babies program and where to find nation-wide donation sites here.

And what about the UnMothers out there - myself included.  It's not like I'm going to be Samantha from  Sex and the City and throw a I'm Not Having a Baby Birthday Party or anything like that, but after sending my mother some good wishes and a little token (I live in a different city than she), I found myself without a brunch date and even if I could get into a swank brunch eatery, I probably could squeeze past the stoller brigade today anyways.

What's the next best thing for UnMothers?  Eating as though you are pregnant for one thing.  I'm hanging out with my gaybor (gay neighbor) and bestie, the Original Brown Boy himself, Perry.  He tells me he feels like his gut is in its 11th month and I swear, I feel as though I'm pregnant by association with most of my gal pals preggers and all.  We're washing down Mother's Day with margaritas, chips and salsa at our secret watering hole/dive - sure to be hoppin' with others raising a glass to y'all who have kids.  So why not?  Here's to all you mothers out there, present and future!

Have a Mother's Day story you want to share?  You know what to do - email me at askgigi@greengirlguide.com

If green is the new black, shouldn't you know what you're wearing?

-Mia Wasilevich

Comments

[Boutique Mix Fashion]

great post!!!!!