Making Mother's Day More Meaningful

Mother's Day is our chance to honor the women who bind families together and raise children from babies to adulthood.

Raising good kids is one of the most challenging, and also the most meaningful, things I've ever done. I tried to teach them to respect their fellow human beings.

I, myself, don't need more material things on Mother's Day. Mostly, I wish that every mother had the same security and resources that I've had. Unfortunately, around the world, millions of mothers find themselves without the money, medicine, community standing, or even the food to provide their children with a good start in life.

Malnutrition contributes to almost a third of all child deaths. About 1,000 women die from complications in pregnancy or childbirth every day, and most of those deaths are preventable. Rural women are especially disadvantaged.

There is a Mother's Day gift that can do something about this. What if we took the day as a chance to make an investment in a woman, a family, somewhere in the world?

Example:

Phoebe Onyango from Kenya is a mother of four children. Before connecting with Heifer, Phoebe's children were malnourished, and malaria was a constant danger because they couldn't afford even a mosquito net. But today, after receiving the gift of goats from Heifer, Phoebe has a thriving farm. There is plenty of food to eat and a sustainable source of income. Her children are growing up healthy, and they are all protected by mosquito nets at night. Through the sale of vegetables and milk, Phoebe and her husband have increased their income sevenfold, allowing them to also pay for their children's school. "When Heifer leaves we will be able to sustain ourselves," Phoebe says.

Heifer International gifts multiply. Each participant is required to give the first offspring from their animal to another family in need.

I've already dropped hints to my kids: A Heifer goat would be most excellent. Maybe even two. I have a big family. I can't think of a better Mother's Day gift than helping other mothers to raise their children out of poverty and into enduring prosperity.

Phoebe and family below:

 

Comments

[karen lyons kalmenson]

07:30 AM on 05/13/2012

a mother is someone who nurtures and cares
whenever needed, she is always there
a mother is someone who has a kind word to say
especially after a long, trying day.
a mother is someone who will protect
wind rain and elements, she will deflect
a mother swims in the ocean, soars in the sky
walks or crawls on our planet
her young always in her eyes
a mother is wild, a mother is tame
a mother was once a child
at times, she has no name.
but she is a mother
a life she has treasured
there is no scale on this planet
by which this gem can be measured
KLK☺♥☻

[Kerouac451]

02:11 PM on 05/10/2012

"and they are all protected by mosquito nets at night"

They might be more protected but for the banning of DDT. Which would have saved millions of lives. Regardless, Mother's Day is a vehicle for us to show appreciation to the women in our lives that are mothers. That's it. It isn't a religious holiday requiring humanity to worship at the altar of woman. Perhaps Phoebe's husband and children can show appreciation to her as only those intimate with a person can. Maybe you Mia Farrow, have all the material comforts you need, but it's perhaps presumptuous (arrogant seemed strong) of you to suggest that we should not give a gift to our OWN mothers, before donating it to Phoebe who we have never met. Philanthropy is alive and well in America as INDIVIDUALS donate more and more money then any other country in the world PER CAPITA. Charitable giving in this country outpaces inflation to where American giving has risen as a percentage of GDP for 50 straight years. So how about we save Mother's day for the women in our lives that could probably use some attention and save the other days of the year for everybody else. Which is essentially what we are already doing.

http://www.american.com/archive/2008/march-april-magazine-contents/a-nation-of-givers

[UniversalGiving]

03:06 PM on 05/09/2012

Thank you for this lovely post about one way to bring meaning to the holiday--what a wonderful way to truly celebrate all mothers, and help the ones who need it. These are wonderful examples of oppotunities to give. UniversalGiving is also providing some options for giving to mothers in need: http://www.universalgiving.org/

[archarabia]

04:08 PM on 05/08/2012

I'm sorry to burst everyone's bubble, but (speaking as mom to 3), this holiday, like fathers day, has little to do with honoring it's namesake

[Anonani]

12:08 AM on 05/09/2012

It is what you make it or not. There is much to be said about giving of yourself....selfless giving can be quite nice.

[Annie Snyder]

03:46 PM on 05/08/2012

I lost my own mother to Alzheimer's, I've honored mother's day the same way I have every year since, with a donation to the Alzheimer's association. I do this in hope that some day no family will ever again watch their mother die the slow, agonizing, years-long death mine did. I will have to look into this charity and consider adding it to my mother's day observation.

[am10]

01:59 PM on 05/08/2012

Since becoming a wife and now mother, I really can't stand Mother's Day. In addition to two soccer games and a baseball game, I'm supposed to visit mom, mom-in-law, step-mom and grandmom. Screw it. Get off your arses like I am mothers and meet me somewhere.

[Anonani]

12:52 PM on 05/08/2012

Ms. Farrow, Mia, thank you for giving me something to think about. Some of us have not always had the easiest of relationships with our mothers. It is often complicated. But, we try to become the mother that we wish that we had growing up. But, I can do my little part as you have suggested to give a struggling mother, who has even less than I, something to help out.

Thank you and Happy Mother's Day to you...your mothering of your children is inspiring because it seems real...not perfect...but real.

[Nic the wonder puppy]

12:41 PM on 05/08/2012

I'm giving the person in this house who is called mother the gift that keeps giving, I will not go in the house

[Lightfoot Letters]

11:07 AM on 05/08/2012

"Mother's Day is our chance to honor the women who bind families together and raise children from babies to adulthood. " - Mia Farrow, Actress and activist. That is a beautiful and well deserved observation. However, 'women who bind families together ' not true for the majority of women today and has not been true starting in the late 1970's early 1980's. It is a different more progressive world we live in for better or worse!? For those few women who still bind families together and raise children from babies to become self sufficient independent adults, like my own Mom, the honor is yours !?

[violettefemme]

01:01 PM on 05/08/2012

Because....you know all mothers, all women, know the circumstances of their lives, their families, know the day-to-day events and needs, issues, problems, lacks...you know.

You know. You.

[Lightfoot Letters]

10:23 PM on 05/08/2012

You make a good point. But, when you look at the violence on campus, the divorce rate, both parents working with kids in government programs, women that are demeaned/ridiculed by Hollywood, the media, and NOW for taking care of their kids, the weak spoiled male adult and the young mothers that raised same, there is only one conclusion. Progressive moms are not the nourishing group like my grandmother, aunts or my mom. I am older enough to see the difference on a wide scale. Mom is the most important job in the world and always has been. Young women as a whole, are totally un-aware of their own position of importance in the human condition. They are too busy being sex objects a place where the weak male would have them stay. Yes, there are exceptions and other various reasons as you alluded to...but none as important as mom!?
And, yes I think I do know.

[bosse]

10:22 AM on 05/08/2012

It is great Mia has helped children from other nations. She could hae financially supported those efforts and took care of many poor children around NY, too

[AJCAVReport]

09:23 AM on 05/08/2012

Mother's Day is this Sunday May 13th. Happy Mother's Everyday!!!
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