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Mother’s Day is no longer necessarily prepared in schools
Goodbye noodle necklaces, goodbye camembert boxes turned into jewelry box, children no longer necessarily make surprises for Mother’s Day. Sometimes in certain classes a “Parents’ Day” is celebrated with a poem, to avoid hurting children who no longer have their mother. However, when asked, mothers seem very attached to this tradition. Others, on the other hand, understand that it is no longer done systematically. Testimonials.
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These schools where we don’t celebrate mothers …
In some schools, the decision to no longer prepare for Mother’s Day with the children was taken by teachers. They most often evoke difficult or painful family situations. Deceased mothers, children placed in foster care, divorces that deprive the child of one of its parents, it may happen that some toddlers no longer grow up with their mom at home. This is the case in the school of Zina’s son, a mother who testifies on social networks: “In the school near my home, to avoid creating embarrassment for children whose family environment is less traditional, a “Parents’ Day” is organized where the children offer gifts made during the year ”. Indeed, it is not always easy for the teacher to organize a “party” while some children experience dramatic moments at home. A teacher confirms it to us: “From experience, offering such an activity to a 5-year-old child who replies to you“ my mom is in prison, I am in a foster family ”, it is not easy. I am therefore against celebrations at school, whether it be Easter, Christmas or holidays of all kinds… This is also secularism ”. Another mother confirms: “In my son’s class, there is a little girl whose mother has died. So we don’t celebrate Mother’s Day, so as not to hurt her. “
Mother’s Day, an international event
Mother’s Day is celebrated in honor of mothers all over theworld. The date of this event varies from country to country. In France, it is often the last Sunday of May. The first Mother’s Day would date from May 28, 1906, entitled at the time “Festival under the patronage of all French mothers”. After the Second World War, the law of May 24, 1950 requires that the French Republic officially pay homage each year to French mothers, during a day dedicated to the celebration of “Mother’s Day”.
The date is set for the last Sunday in May, unless it coincides with that of Pentecost, in which case it is postponed to the first Sunday in June. These provisions were incorporated into the Code of Social Action and Families when it was created in 1956, and the organization of the party assigned to the Minister responsible for the Family from 2004. On this occasion, tradition dictates that children mark the occasion with a gift or a poem for their mother. Very often, these small objects were even made at school, secretly, to surprise mothers. However times are changing, today it seems that this tradition is being lost …
An alternative: “the feast of those we love”
A teacher, Vanessa, who works in a school in the Paris region, explains: “In recent years, we have noticed that more and more children have only one parent at home. We took the decision, in a council of masters, to celebrate the “Feast of those we love”. Vanessa specifies that this allows the child to make a card with a poem or a beautiful message for the person of his choice. “It is planned for a date between the two holidays, mothers and fathers, so there is no problem,” adds the teacher. For some children, moreover, in their culture of origin, Mother’s Day does not exist. “I explain to the class that it’s a traditional celebration, we choose someone we love to whom we send a message. Children understand it very easily. There are not necessarily any questions ”. Vanessa also confides that for children who have both parents, “that’s okay too. They understand it ”. Finally, the other parents are happy because they still have a poem card. “The child expresses his love for the parent, which is what families expect. This is also the opinion of another mother: “In my son’s class, it’s the“ feast of the people we love ”. I find it just as beautiful and very instructive from a human point of view ”.
Deprived of Mother’s Day, moms react
Not everyone is happy with not celebrating Mother’s Day. Many mothers have indeed reacted on social networks. This is the case of Jessica: “I do not find that normal. The majority of children have a mother, just because a child does not have a mother does not mean that the other children in the class should be deprived. There have always been children without mom or dad. Why should this change? The fate of some must not change that of others ”. And for solo moms, it is often the occasion to have a gift. This is the case of a mother who specifies: “For divorced parents, it’s a double-edged sword: a single mother has only the gift of school. A kindergarten child does not have the autonomy to make it all alone ”. Another mother also finds it a shame: “In my son’s school, they never give gifts, I find that sad. Even if the parents are separated, the children will be with the concerned parent at some point. Another mother, on the other hand, fully understands: “It wouldn’t shock me not to have anything, because I am also thinking of children who do not have or no longer have their mother by their side. Every child can do something for their mother outside of school ”.