Deseret News | Mother's Day is a commercially inspired farce

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Mother's Day is a commercially inspired farce

... | 1:18 a.m. May 11, 2009

i like how the author of this piece went of about the French, VERY original, i've never heard anyone in the U.S. complain about them for stupid needless reasons... (maybe someone should write an article called: What's The U.S.A.'s Obsession With The French?)

just a mom ( haha) | 1:42 a.m. May 11, 2009

Seriously, If my fam loved me they would show me respect every day not just a random Sunday in May. The dishes I "didn't have to do because it was my special day) well....I'll have to do them on Monday. The pressure to pretend to enjoy the breakfast in bed, the odd looking, no real purpose, homemade in school items, is really a lot to do all on a Sunday, before church. Then the speeches in church about all of the wonderful mothers that I'll never measure up to...it's too much. Thanks for the thought guys, but, I'd rather you help around the house 365 days...in a row, and keep your rooms clean and all of you junk off the stairs and off the counters and when I close my bedroom door don't bang on it yelling "MOM, are you in there" Love the idea...don't need the pressure. Happy Mother's Day anyways.

Wow | 4:11 a.m. May 11, 2009

I guess Ann Cannon is trying to sound funny but in the end it just sounds bitchy.

Comments continue below

Thank You | 6:46 a.m. May 11, 2009

Thank you so much for writing what I feel. I love my mom and I try to show it everyday of the year and not just once a year. I know a lot of people that feel the same way. Generally those that love the holiday are those that expect expensive gifts and expect everyone to serve them all day. A friend summed it up so well on her blog. She said " I'm a mom and I get to celebrate my family and do things for them each day. It's not a day to sit back and let them do everything for me. I am blessed to be a mom and I get to serve them". There are a lot of people that wished they were moms and can't be.

What? | 7:49 a.m. May 11, 2009

What a useless waste of space. I hope the NAC did not pay for this article. You have got to be kidding me. I am upset I read it.

Thanks Ann Cannon | 7:51 a.m. May 11, 2009

I'm glad you mentioned Halowen, that holiday without any doubt is the biggest, stupiest, idiotic holiday EVER! Tell me any of you just what it stands for or why we celebrate it. It's nothing more than another commercialized piece of crap. Give me a break oh greedy ones, and STOP your pick pocketing.

Utah Lady | 7:53 a.m. May 11, 2009

And there are those who love and enjoy their family all year long, who don't expect much on Mother's Day, but are grateful for it anyway.

I think sometimes we look for things to complain about.

Not a mother | 8:19 a.m. May 11, 2009

I am not a Mother, but I am married. I was surprised how many people went out of their way to wish ME a Happy Mother's day.

I found it very interesting.

noreastnv | 8:21 a.m. May 11, 2009

Two more hallmark hollidays that are silly. Fathers day and Grandparents day,

a mom,agrandma,& a great | 8:26 a.m. May 11, 2009

Maybe mothers day mean this to you and you have the right to voice your thoughts in writing after all we live in "America" not france. Anyway I am an old woman,mother grandmother and great grandmother. It takes a holiday like this or Christmas, Thanksgiving etc to bring the whole family together. I'm not sure how long I will live but every chance I get to get the whole family together Is great. I wish they would make up more holidays because as the family gets bigger and more busy its hard to see my family alot,These are just my thoughts thanks for letting me say them.

Are you serious? | 8:37 a.m. May 11, 2009

What? is right! I didn't even finish the article it was that useless. Mother's Day is a great opportunity to pause and reflect on the goodness of our mother's and all the mother's in this country. This holiday applies to everyone. Everyone has a mother or mother figure in their lives that they need to show gratitude to, and society ought to be more grateful for the work that mother's and father's do to raise their children to be good and contributory members of society. Next time you publish and article, write something worth reading.

Grateful . . . | 8:46 a.m. May 11, 2009

Okay, I love Mother's Day. My kids are nice to me all year, but they make sure they do a little extra on Mother's Day. And its not the presents. My son wrote me a song. My daughter gave me heirloom tomato plants. Yep, really expensive gifts. We spend time together--you know, hang out, enjoy each other's company. Its a great day. I think its best to be grateful for what we do have, and quit worrying about what we don't have.

And btw, Halloween hater, its supposed to be fun--and I LOVE IT! If you spend a lot of money on it (or any other holiday), that's your fault, not the retailers.

Mothers day | 8:47 a.m. May 11, 2009

It's just another pagan day. Life goes on.

Irritated | 8:51 a.m. May 11, 2009

I think some people need to be a little less angry at the world. As a stay at home mom, I very much appreciate mother's day. I am very devoted to my family so the idea of one day where they are devoted to me, is a pretty good one. Besides, it's not just about the gifts that you get on mother's day. It's about the time you get. How many random days does everyone in the family drop everything just for you, just because? And the "greedy" comment about Halloween, it's a kid's holiday and I'd hardly call them pick pockets.

TJB | 9:53 a.m. May 11, 2009

The only reason Mother's Day gets a bad wrap is becuase we think it has to be about being the perfect mom.

Maybe for some of us, and preferably most of us, Mother's Day can be an opportunity to remember and talk about the great contribution that motherhood is to the world. In a day when we seem to concentrate on a woman only contributing to society if she has some prestigious title, e.g., legislator, CEO, doctor, etc., Mother's Day offers a great opportunity to remember and discuss the fact that the title of mother is by far the greatest of them all. No other work can compare to the successful work of a mother in what it contributes to the world and the lives of the child/ren.

And don't read into this that I am saying a woman shouldn't work outside the home........many can do both roles of working outside the home and being a mother. I'm just saying that we too often forget that the role of mother is the most important of the two and makes the most difference to the world.

Anonymous | 10:06 a.m. May 11, 2009

Have any of your ever had a BIRTHDAY? That is the day you should get recognition and appreciation from your kids and your husband.

What my mom wanted this mothers day? A service given to someone else. Last mothers day? A good life to honor your ancestor women.

Those mothers who use this holiday to solicit guilt and accolades from your children are missing the point.

Happy Mother | 11:34 a.m. May 11, 2009

What a good day to reflect on what our Moms have done for us. Forget the cards, commercialism, etc. Just visit as a family and love the memories of times gone by. Sometimes it is a good time to visit the cemetery to remember many happy Mother's Days gone by and visit with family there. We now have a daughter-in-law to share the day and laugh about grandchildren. The day is what you make it. I know how to make an easy dinner and clean up by throwing away the paper plates and cups. Love my family!! Thanks to them for making me a Mom!!

I am amazed.... | 11:38 a.m. May 11, 2009

at the number of comments on this week's column...with the degree of emotion. For those like me who read Ann's column every week, I enjoy the wit and humor...and honesty. As a woman approaching 50, who is a single, never-married, never-had-children, active member of a very family-oriented church, I love this article. There are so many women who influence our lives for good...MOTHERS...who we should honor EVERY day.

How ungrateful! | 1:32 p.m. May 11, 2009

Ummm, I normally like your columns, but this one really offends me. Are you telling me that all the things your family does make you upset. How ungracious. I think you need an article on gratitude for the people who love you! I hope your family does nothing for you next year. That is what you deserve.

Hmm, where did your humor go? | 2:17 p.m. May 11, 2009

I normally love your column, too, but this one is just a hair past sarcastic. Is Mother's Day really that bad? I love it and will continue to encourage it at my house. My kids get so excited to give me their little gummy globs they made at school. The sparkle in their eye is gift enough. It GIVES my chldren a whole day to focus on someone besides themselves. Whether I get anything isn't the point. What they learn and my gracious acceptance of their heartfelt gifts is more important. They learn from my response how graciously accept someone elses offering. And I truely love the feeling of the day. A good day to remember my own sweet mom who died many years ago. Keep Mother's Day coming! And by the way, I didn't get even one Hallmark card, but only handmade drawings and poems- original works of art and love.

I'm with you! | 2:18 p.m. May 11, 2009

Ann, I'm with you on this one! Mother's Day is a made-up holiday, and it's just another reason to feel guilty about not doing enough for either your own mother or your children. I don't need it, and I don't want it, even though I'm a mother of four. Let's face it: anyone who signs up for this job for the glory is going to be disappointed! But, as with Valentine's Day, everyone is too scared to take a stand. Thanks for your honesty.

I like Mother's Day | 6:53 p.m. May 11, 2009

I'm a single mom who raised three kids from ages 7, 5, and 3 by myself with no help from the extended family. Personally, I like that my kids recognize my efforts in raising them. We do Mother's Day without much commercialism - a card and a small gift (under $20). It's great!

rw | 12:07 a.m. May 12, 2009

I think I read a different column than many of you. In the column I read, Ann isn't opposed to celebrating motherhood. She just doesn't like that it, like most of our holidays, has been commercialized. If you don't think Mother's Day is a commercial holiday, then you weren't listening to the radio and watching television during the last couple of weeks. She also laments the attitude of some that a token acknowledgment one day a year fulfills an obligation to the most important person in our lives. For another brilliant piece on the same topic, read The Lanyard, by Billy Collins. Ann does not hate the French. She took light friendly jabs at both the French and the Americans. She wasn't even on the same playing field as people who really hate the French. (For the record, I love the French. Je parle francais.) And we could have a much safer, positive, holiday than Halloween, one involving dressing up and imagination. Anns column, at least the one I read, does not disparage motherhood. Rather, it calls for a higher respect for mothers, and all women.

Yet.... | 5:36 a.m. May 12, 2009

Even the woman who 'invented' ended up hating the day and tried unsuccessfully to stop what she had started. I too wish she had minded her own business. Hallmark holidays are really a pain.

The Commercial Scapegoat | 7:06 a.m. May 12, 2009

@rw: Might as well condemn the whole country if commercialism is not to be had during a holiday. Heck, there are furniture sales on Arbor Day Weekend!? Any reason to get people into the store to buy, stores will take.

The only problems with mother's day come entirely from women and their nature... You'll never get a man complaining that Father's Day is too commercial, even though stores are just as vocal then as now.

Women complain if you don't treat them the same everyday of the year. Women complain when they aren't recognized and some other woman is... women complain when a big deal is made about them. And just try skipping mother's day next year, and then you'll hear no end of complaints!!

rw | 12:13 p.m. May 12, 2009

Not to get off-topic, but I'm going off topic :-). Out-of-control commercialism, i.e. greed, does damage many things. It led to our current economic collapse, it distracts us from the true meaning of otherwise perfectly good holidays. I was talking to a prominent cancer researcher the other day who feels that greed has torpedoed the sciences in our country. People don't want to go into pure research, they want the sexy, lucrative careers. Even in the sciences. Commercialism has its place, but when we let it dominate, we suffer. As for complaining women, sure. They complain. But most of the most obnoxious complainers in the media, and on comment boards, seem to be men. Apparently there's a lot to complain about :-). We should respect women every day of the year. And men, and children, and animals... and the French.

Michael | 12:58 p.m. May 12, 2009

Mothers' Day goes back at least four centuries when it was known as Mothering Day. This was a religious observance held on the Fourth Sunday in Lent. The church, in those days, read from the Bible according to a regular calendar called a lectionary (as most churches do to this day), and upon that day, as I understand it, one of the passages appointed to be read included Galatians 4:26, "But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all." This was taken as an opportunity to ackowledge and show respect to mothers, with flowers, prayers, and thanksgivings. This moment of touching tribute has been taken out of the church, and thus secularized. Who should be surprized that it is now commercialized like Christmas and Easter? Sad, really.

Anonymous | 1:20 p.m. May 12, 2009

I remember Christmas when the season started in December and not October. I remember family, food, friends and few gifts.

Once Memorial Day was to honor our nation's war dead. Today a military cemetery is a great place to be lone on this holiday. You buy gas and toys to tear up public lands and maybe shoot a few stop signs.

There's nothing that can't be screwed up by American commercialization of everything. In America the free market creates bikini panties for ten year old girls. The worship of corporations and the free market is conservative mantra. Conservatives believe the free market does no wrong. I guess knowing the e coli in their burgers comes from fecal contact doesn't bother them. Just put more precessed American cheese on your burger.

My should Mother's Day be any different? Spent money to show mom how much you care for her. Love is just another commodity in our free market values.

sad mothers | 1:32 p.m. May 12, 2009

Mothers Day happens to be a sad day for a lot of people. There are so many women, mothers or not, who can not have kids who are trying but can't. Mothers Day only makes them feel like more of a failure than ever. It should be a celebration of Motherhood... There are many women who for whatever reason did not have children... some in particular made a huge impact on my life. When Mothers Day comes around I celebrate these women in my life along with my own Mother for the good people they are!
I don't personally know any woman who doesn't look at Mothers Day with some kind of resentment.

Whoa People | 2:43 p.m. May 12, 2009

Maybe all the people who hated this post should go back to school and learn how to read. I think you are missing the point. Let me spell it out for you. HONORING MOTHERS=GOOD. MANIPULATIVE COMMERCIALISM=BAD.

Really people... chill out! | 5:18 p.m. May 12, 2009

hahaha Ann, i totally agree. Though, it is kinda fun to get to honored at least once a year! But yes, hallmark holidays... kinda pointless and ironic! ps you are wonderful!

Sad Mother's Day? | 10:38 a.m. May 13, 2009

Holy Cow. I lost two babies. Do I want all the mothers who actually gave birth to live babies the day mine died, sit around and mourn or put aside celebrating their child's birth? Absolutely not! It's a very self-centered person who can't allow others to celebrate the good in their lives without bringing their own grief in to spoil the party. Yes I was sad every time a baby was blessed in our ward. But does that mean they should go bless their baby at home in private to spare my feelings? Absolutely not. Feeling sad is part of life as is feelkng on top of the world. I say, let mothers feel on top of the world for at least one day for crying out loud. So it's commercialized and contrived. It's better than commercializing a whole truckload of evils that exist in the world.

M.G. in F.L. | 5:37 p.m. May 14, 2009

Dear Ann, Could have been better. I enjoyed my daughters singing and dancing 4 musical numbers for my mothers day present. Also enjoyed the article on your parents, it was great, you should have written it. Next time write about your mother and memories.

Joyce | 6:09 p.m. May 17, 2009

Hurrah for Ann! She said it the way most women feel it. Those Hallmark holidays are garbage and end up making people feel selfish & neglected if not so honored. One friend felt bad when her HUSBAND didn't acknowledge Mother's Day! He's not your mother. I always hated Secretary's Day; very uncomfortable when the boss wanted to take me to lunch or give me flowers, ugh. Halloween can be fun but I never let my kids trickortreat; took them bowling, movie or some other activity dressed in costume. Too much sugar and gimme gimme gimme. Down with Hallmark holidays.

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