Mothers Acting Up was created by four friends who – while raising their children together – became increasingly disturbed by the choices their government was making, and how those choices were impacting the lives and future of every child on the planet.

They knew the grim statistics about children’s wellbeing around the world; it was clear that children needed many more voices speaking out on their behalf. They believed that mothers – the primary caretakers of children around the world – were potentially an incredibly powerful lobby for children, BUT often didn’t see themselves as political, or hadn’t yet seen it as their role, their job, their honor to speak out for children. Mothers Acting Up was created to invite mothers to stretch our traditional mother roles to include publicly and passionately advocating for the world’s children.

The Mother’s Acting Up movement was officially launched on Mother's Day 2002, reclaiming it as the day Julia Ward Howe originally envisioned in 1870: a day set aside for mothers to unite for the wellbeing of our global family. After purchasing all the hot glue guns in town, the first Reclaiming Mother's Day parade was held with banners, flags and truly over-the-top hats & costumes. Over 100 people, some walking on stilts, celebrated mothers as a powerful political force to protect the rights and wellbeing of children all over the world.

Since 2002, MAU has developed 5 Principles and 4 programs all intended to inspire, educate and engage a growing movement of mothers (and others). MAU has active members in 49 states (North Dakota eludes MAU) and 23 countries who have held 60+ Mother’s Day events across the country; taken monthly actions and annual collective actions; and advocated for the world’s children through personal choices, community forums and in the offices of decision makers. MAU intends to engage a million mothers (or as many as it takes) in advocating for the world’s children, until children’s wellbeing is front-page news and our public & corporate policies are measured by how they impact children wherever they live on earth.

And the rest is history...that you, that we, are making.

MAU Principles of Activism
(Don’t leave home without them…)  

Be exuberant: Since we're ACTING UP for the rest of our lives, our activism has to be joyful. No one wants to rally around anger; studies show that negative advertising causes women to politically disengage. This movement is about the JOY of standing up for what you believe & publicly declaring your priorities. Let's gather in the streets, not with bullhorns, but singing.

Follow the money: Every dollar spent, each tax dollar collected is a vote. It's time to get educated about what we’re funding with our budgets — from personal products to the government policies our tax dollars support. If anyone knows how to shop, balance a budget and make sure everyone eats, it's mothers. Make sure your dollars vote for a healthy future. 

Connect the dots: In a global economy, all children’s wellbeing is connected. They breathe the same air, eat fish from the same ocean and live as neighbors with each other. It’s time to measure the true impact of our political and personal choices by how they affect children everywhere. Your child’s future health & happiness depends on connecting the dots today.

Take right and left hand actions: There are two ways to create change: direct aid and systemic change. Direct aid attends to immediate needs — donating food or providing shelter. Systemic change involves a dedicated lobby working for policy change with persistence and patience. The two handed approach is the best way to create lasting change.

Know the power of collective action: It’s time to show up on the radar screen! One voice calling for universal health care is great. One hundred voices, better yet. One MILLION voices and policies will change. Together, we can create a better world for our children. The greatest challenge is to focus our energies on what unites us.