According to biography.com tributes to mothers date back to the annual spring festival the Greeks dedicated to Rhea, the mother of many deities, and to the offerings ancient Romans made to their Great Mother of Gods, Cybele. Christians celebrated this festival on the fourth Sunday in Lent in honor of Mary, mother of Christ. In England this holiday was expanded to include all mothers and was called Mothering Sunday. 
 

"M" is for the million things she gave me,
"O" means only that she's growing old,
"T" is for the tears she shed to save me,
"H" is for her heart of purest gold;
"E" is for her eyes, with love-light shining,
"R" means right, and right she'll always be . . . Put them all together, they spell "MOTHER," A word that means the world to me. -- Howard Johnson (c. 1915)

   Here's a unique gift for the ladies in your life this Mother's Day: Create a personalized Romance Novel - You co-author these 160 to 180-page novels by providing the names, features and places that personalize these books. There are over 25 characteristics to personalize – even include your dog or cat. A personalized front cover adds the finishing touch. Follow your heart – give the gift of romance – a gift that will be treasured forever. 


  
Free online cards: e-cards for Mother's Day, Holiday spot also has free ecards, and other free ecards are at Holiday notes where you can customize your own very chic e-card. Customize Free Mother's Day Postcards.

  In searching the web I found many sites dedicated to mothers. Whether you stay at home or are a high powered executive jetting around the world you're bound to find some of these very helpful: At Home Mothers  -  Work at Home Mothers  -  Mothers Working at Home  -  For Mothers Working at Home  -  Stay at home Mothers of color  - Mothers of asthmatics   -  Mothers & More is a non-profit organization that cares for the caregiver.  - Mothers Union:  Christian care for families worldwide. - Mothers of twins  -  Mothers of pre-schoolers  -  Single Mothers  -  Single Mothers by choice - The American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. -  MOA: Mothers of America  -  National Association of Mothers  -American Mothers  -  American War Mothers  - Mother's Home  -  Mothers 35 and older  - Mothers 40 and over  -  MADD: Mothers Against Drunk Driving  - Mothers with Attitude  - Working Mother  -  Suite 101 for Working Mothers  -  Catholic Mothers  -  Christian Mothers  -  Mothers Rights  - Erma Bombeck on Mothers Day  -  Mom MD: connects mothers with medicine  -  Google's Mothers Links - Mothers of Invention: Inventions for children by mothers.  - Patents by women  -  In Mama's Kitchen: Home cooking and heirloom recipes.

  A wide range of very nice Mother's Day Crafts on HGTV's web site. 

  Google's exhaustive collection of Mother's Day sites - if you haven't been able to find it elsewhere, it's probably listed here.



  Mother's Day is a time to let Mom know she's special to you. Special things kids can do for Moms. Make her a card, decorate your web pages or desktop, or share a fun book, all at Kids Domain.  Or at Billy Bear kids can get more gift ideas, play games or send Mom a card. 

    Just for fun take a look at some of the sayings by mother's of the famous, like this one by Columbus' Mother: "I don't care what you've discovered, Christopher. You still could have written!" Or, do a crossword puzzle of famous Mothers and Daughters. At On-Line Games for Mother's Day you can play word search, jigsaw and sliding puzzles and more.

  Be sure to visit my sister's web site and see her special Mother's Day Recipes featured this week in Cyber Kitchen and at Food TV. And, if you're looking for something very unusual but wonderful, check our my sister's "Hard to Find Wonderful Things" pages.

Ritch

Richard A. DeBiaso
3205 Whipple Road
Union City, CA 94587-1218
510-429-4803