Vienna Online - Austrian Insights

Gimme a break ;o)

Hey, I'm a mom too! My wife works 8 to 6 five days a week and we don't know the names of any babysitters. As a freelance musician I'm staying home, taking care of the house. I'm there when my daughter comes home from school. I help her with her homework and she's bilingual, talking only German with me. So there.
OK, after giving all mister moms out there some credit, I'll gladly turn to the lady mothers. After all, they did deliver the babies and I don't envy them for that remarkable achievement.

Brigitte

A little History:
In Austria, Mother's Day was officially introduced on May 9, 1926. Just in time, because only one year later my own beautiful and wonderful mother was born (pictured on a visit to North Dakota). On that day in 1926 an article in the Austrian press stated: "... it's time to give the mother thanks and recognition. Not in a pompous, glorious way, but deep in your heart..."

England was one of the first countries to set aside a day to recognize mothers. In the eighteenth century when many people worked as household servants for the rich, "Mothering Sunday" (the fourth Sunday of Lent) was reserved for them to return home to be with their mothers.

Mother's Day in the United States was first suggested in 1872 by Julia Ward Howe who wrote the words to the "Battle Hymn of the Republic." She organized Mother's Day meetings in Boston for several years. But it was Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia who is credited with bringing about the official observance of Mother's Day. Two years after her mother died, Jarvis held a ceremony in Grafton, West Virginia, to honor her. She was so moved by the proceedings that she began a massive campaign to adopt a formal holiday honoring mothers. Finally in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson officially proclaimed Mother's Day as a national holiday to be held on the second Sunday of May. Today, Mother's Day is observed all over the world.

Moms only: check out this fun website, appropriately called moms online.

Quotations about mothers
"Heaven is at the feet of Mothers." ~ Persian Proverb ~

"My Mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my Mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her."
~ George Washington (1732-1799) ~

"The most important thing a father can do for his children is to
love their Mother." ~ Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887) ~

"My Mother said to me, 'If you become a soldier you'll be a general; if you become a monk you'll end up as the pope.' Instead, I became a painter and wound up as Picasso."
~ Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) ~

To all Kids - small and big (the ones below are my very own): learn a Mother's Day poem

"Happy Mother's Day" Means More

"Happy Mother's Day" means more
Than have a happy day.
Within those words lie lots of things
We never get to say.
It means I love you first of all,
Then thanks for all you do.
It means you mean a lot to me,
And that I honor you.
But most of all, I guess it means
That I am thinking of
Your happiness on this, your day,
With pleasure and with love.
kiss Poem by Nicholas Gordon

present bear present

Special Invitation: Do you have a favorite Mother's Day poem? Do you like parenting? Please come and smell the Vienna coffee in our Konzerthaus Café where we editors of Vienna Online hang out every day! On this message board you can voice your opinions and concerns. Don't hold back. Let us know everything. After all, you, the reader, are the boss. What would we do without you? Join in, or just come for the pastry!

Florian would be thrilled to have you sign his guestbook at his beautiful bilingual website. He also offers DesignComplete - web building service.

You can hear Florian sing, yodel, play piano, organ, guitar, and timpani.

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