She was specific about the punctuation. It should be singular possessive so that each family can honor their own mother. That very statement implied that it would not be a plural possessive commemorating all women in the world. And so, U.S. President Wilson used the singular possessive when he signed the law creating the official Mother’s Day holiday in 1914.
It’s a bit ironic to me that Anna Jarvis worked diligently for two years to get the President to recognize this holiday when she was at the same time so specific that it should honor one’s own mother. The irony stretches further when she spent the remainder of her life and her riches damning the commercialization of the very day she’d created.
A printed card means nothing except that you are too lazy to write to the woman who has done more for you than anyone in the world. And candy! You take a box to Mother—and then eat most of it yourself. A pretty sentiment.
Ah, we all have our causes and Anna Jarvis had an extraordinary mother to honor.
On the second Sunday of May in 1907, Anna Jarvis celebrated the life of her mother, Anne Marie Reeves Jarvis. She was also mother to 10 other children, four who reached adulthood.
Mrs. A. M. R. Jarvis was a progressive and influential woman who worked to fulfill the needs of her community. As her children died from diphtheria, scarlet fever, whooping cough, and other illnesses, Anna Marie speculated on the relationship between the deaths and the living conditions in Grafton, West Virginia. Outhouses near the homes, windowless rooms that lacked air circulation and sunshine and food that was improperly stored or created from sickly animals all fell within her purview. Mrs. Jarvis organized a Mother’s Work Club with the motto Mother’s Work — For Better Mothers, Better Homes, Better Children, Better Men and Women. Anna’s group of mothers acted as a community action alliance working to eliminate old outhouses, creating inspection services for meat and milk and advocating for airing out houses and cleaning.
When the American Civil War broke out in 1861, Anna Marie Jarvis urged her Mothers’ Day Work Clubs to declare neutrality and provide help to both Confederate and Union soldiers. Her five clubs fed and clothed soldiers from both sides and when illness ravaged the camps, Mrs. Jarvis and her mothers’ clubs provided nursing to soldiers of both parties.
Once the war ended, elected officials called upon Mrs. Jarvis for help in ending postwar strife. She planned a “Mothers Friendship Day” for Confederate and Union soldiers and their families. The event caused many to understand that old animosities were destructive and must end. Mrs. Jarvis also taught Sunday School for 25 years and lectured on topics such as “Literature as a Source of Culture and Refinement,” and “The Importance of Supervised Recreational Centers for Boys and Girls”.
So on this day, I’m honoring Mrs. Jarvis, a woman with community spirit, innovative unselfish giving, a bipartisan commitment to community health and food safety, and progressive ideas on literature and the importance of play – a mother of substance.
Happy Mother’s Day!
Agrigirl's Blog 
heather S Tooker
/ May 12, 2013Great choice from a woman of substance!, have a greats Mother’s Day !
Tammy
/ May 27, 2013Thanks Heather. Hope your day was grand too!
Auburn Meadow Farm
/ May 12, 2013Wow – Mrs. Jarvis was amazing! Ive read about her dislike of what we turned her holiday into, but had no idea what a powerhouse she was. Thanks, Tammy!
Tammy
/ May 27, 2013Seems like the daughter was the one upset by the day. I think she went overboard on that point but her mother was absolutely amazing.
hotlyspiced
/ May 12, 2013This inspiring woman had so much tragedy yet she didn’t let it defeat her. What an incredible woman xx
Tammy
/ May 27, 2013Didn’t she though? She did something about it in spite. I love that.
Lynn
/ May 12, 2013Incredible! What a positive impact she made!
Tammy
/ May 27, 2013Really a good story, isn’t it Lynn?
lucindalines
/ May 12, 2013Thanks so much for sharing this. I am reposting this on my blog at lucindalines, I think members of my family would be very interested in this history.
Tammy
/ May 27, 2013Thanks so much Lucinda. I get the sense that you have some strong women in your family too!
lucindalines
/ May 27, 2013To say the least. Some in our home town can’t handle us all at one time, their loss! Ha!
lucindalines
/ May 12, 2013Reblogged this on lucindalines and commented:
Hey everyone, sorry not to write my own Mother’s Day blog right now, but I think this one is well worth sharing.
DH
/ May 12, 2013I believe that I may have married Mrs. Jarvis reincarnate! You’re an incredible mother, executive, chef, community activist and wife. Happy Mother’s Day Tammy!
Tammy
/ May 27, 2013I had a great day!
cindyricksgers
/ May 12, 2013What a wonderful history lesson! I had no idea! Thank you, Tammy!
Tammy
/ May 27, 2013You’re welcome Cindy.
nrhatch
/ May 12, 2013Have a wonderful Mother’s day. 😀
Tammy
/ May 27, 2013That, I did!
Lisa H
/ May 12, 2013A beautiful tribute, Tammy.
You are a wonderful mother and so happy you are part of our life! Happy Mother’s Day!
Tammy
/ May 27, 2013Thanks Lisa.
dayphoto
/ May 12, 2013Well done! Happy Mother’s Day to you, Tammy!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com
Tammy
/ May 27, 2013I had a great day.
souldipper
/ May 12, 2013Tammy – this post could be mistaken as one about you! May you, as another mother of substance, be reminded of how loved and appreciated you are.
Tammy
/ May 27, 2013What kind words Amy! This is definitely what I aspire to.
Estrella Azul
/ May 13, 2013A wonderful woman indeed!
Tammy
/ May 27, 2013😉
Inger Wilkerson
/ May 13, 2013I had never heard of her before–thanks for sharing!
Tammy
/ May 27, 2013Nor had I.
Sapna Gupta
/ May 13, 2013Anne Marie Reeves Jarvis was a remarkable woman and her daughter’s story of marking Mother’s Day is so interesting. Until now, I had no idea how the day came to be commemorated. What a fascinating post – thank you!
Tammy
/ May 27, 2013Nor had I really ever thought about it.
Know Thank You
/ May 13, 2013It’s nice to hear of caring mothers, ones whose compassion inspired even those who might otherwise take them for granted. A beautiful story.
Tammy
/ May 27, 2013Agreed!
The Farmers Taft
/ May 14, 2013Passion + compassion = Ferocity. Love it! Thank you for the backstory.
Tammy
/ May 27, 2013I’m sure there are other good stories if we take the time. Thanks for reading it!
Island Traveler
/ May 16, 2013What an amazing woman. Her works and legacy lives on to all who celebrate their parents with love, affection and respect everyday. Happy Mother’s Day.
Tammy
/ May 27, 2013She was truly an amazing woman! Very inspirational for me.
Debbie
/ May 27, 2013Fascinating post. I had never stopped to think how Mother’s Day started. I should have done because that is inspirational What a mother, and daughter.
Tammy
/ May 27, 2013Thanks for stopping by Debbie. I find her story remarkable.