Read the top ten ways to Reclaim Mother's Day!

Share your Reclaim Mother's Day activities!

Click here for a complete listing of Mother's Day events.

Mother’s Day 2008: YES!

The world's children have found a brilliant new advocate: mothers!

Reclaiming Mother’s Day events are inspired by the life, words and actions of Julia Ward Howe. In 1870 she wrote a Mother’s Day Proclamation and called for a day when the world would honor what mothers hold most dear: the lives of our children, of all children. The events celebrate the vision that Julia spoke of 100 years ago: mothers everywhere rising up together around that which unites us rather than divides us — our global family.

Reclaiming Mother’s Day events are the signature outreach event for most MAU Communities, because they are the most visible, exuberant, media-grabbing way to engage your community. And — let’s be frank — they offer a rare opportunity to walk on stilts and dress in outrageous costumes. Julia Ward Howe wrote in her journal, “Why do not the mothers of mankind interfere in these matters, to prevent the waste of that human life of which they alone bear and know the cost?” Perhaps we didn’t know we were invited . . . Mother’s Day events publicly invite every last mother to Take Action.

Bring your community together through events that reflect and inspire you — community cakewalks, tea parties, knitting fests, a mama’s open-mic night in the public square . . . The sky and your imagination is the limit. The events combine the essential components of costumes, free cake and action. When mothers* publicly express our commitment to children — our communities, media and government sit up and take notice. Let’s sing it out in the streets, “We will protect our children with our personal & political strength — wherever they live on earth!”

Julia wrote, “Arise, arise, all women who have hearts!” Every year we answer her call.

Watch the 2007 Reclaiming Mother's Day slide show