Yesterday was Mother’s Day. The day set aside to honor mothers and motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society.

For many, it was a happy day, spent surrounded by family. For others, the day was probably not so fun. Some of our mothers are no longer with us.

Where did the idea to honor motherhood come from?

Its roots lie in the British Mothering Day, which disappeared when the English settlers came to America.

Then, in 1870, Julia Ward Howe, author of The Battle Hymn of the Republic, conceptualized the idea of Mother’s Day in her Proclamation of 1870. Read the poem here.

In 1872, Ms. Howe suggested a “Mother’s Day for Peace” celebration on June 2 of every year. Only a few states bought into Howe’s idea, and eventually the movement died.

However, a West Virginia women’s group headed by Anna Reeves Jarvis adapted Howe’s holiday to be a day set aside to reunite families and neighbors divided by the Civil War.

That Jarvis’s Mother’s Friendship Day evolved into Mother’s Day. And, as they say, the rest is history.

If you forgot to acknowledge Mom yesterday, do it today. She’ll be thrilled to hear from you, no matter what day it is.