Happy Mother's Day... or something like that!

Although the origins of Mother's Day can be found in antiquity, such as in the ceremonies honoring Rhea, the mother of Zeus and other gods, the origin of modern Mother's Day lies in the American women's movement. The Americans were the first to institutionalize this day as "Mother’s Day." In Germany, Mother's Day was mainly introduced in the 1920s by the Association of German Florists, who saw this day as an opportunity to increase sales, proceeding deliberately non-politically. Since then, it has been celebrated on the second Sunday in May. Today, Mother's Day is not equally popular with everyone, especially since it was linked to the ideology of the "Germanic master race" during the Nazi era.

Confusion can arise if one lives in France but has a mother in Germany. In France, Mother's Day is usually celebrated on the last Sunday in May. The origins of this day go back to the period after World War I. The government promoted Mother's Day to increase the birth rate and highlight the role of mothers in society—a response to the low birth rate, especially in comparison to Germany, which had annexed Alsace-Lorraine since 1871.

For me personally, this day has not always been easy. From a young age, I had a desire for children, but initially, I lacked both a suitable partner and the right circumstances. Additionally, my endometriosis posed significant challenges. The incessant advertisements, men with bouquets and the messages on social networks made Mother's Day particularly difficult to endure.

Thanks to fertility treatments, I was able to become a mother at the age of 36. My first Mother's Day was incredibly beautiful and brought me immense relief! Today, I truly treasure the homemade gifts from my daughter and the bouquet from my husband. However, I also keep in mind all the women for whom this day is not easy for various reasons.