When my wife looked at me this past Monday with fear in her eyes and exclaimed “What day is Mother’s Day?” I had a good chuckle. About once a year we each have that moment: stricken with the thought that we’ve forgotten Mother’s Day and will forever live in “bad child” purgatory. 

We never actually forget the day, thankfully. However, it’s not often that we’re reminded of why we’re celebrating our Mothers on this day, or of the historical roots of this holiday as a movement routed in compassionate care and peace-building. Thankfully, with a full week to spare (Mother’s Day is May 10th in North America), our friends at Inter Pares have embarked on a new campaign to “rescue Mother’s Day from being just a consumer occasion.”

So, instead of picking up the phone, calling the flower delivery shop, and taking the easy road out of “bad child” purgatory, this Mother’s Day, I’m going to take back the holiday’s original meaning. I’m going to give a tribute to the women in my life by supporting women who are bringing about generations of change.

If you’d like to do the same, you can join the campaign at www.TakeBackTheDay.ca.

P.S. If you’re reading this Mom – Sorry, I’ll bring you some local, organic, fair-trade flowers next year when we’re back in Canada.