other’s Day is a day to appreciate mothers and all that they do for not only their children but also for the entire society. Originated by Anna Jarvis to honour her mother, the day has now transformed into one that features the giving of gifts, flowers and cards, commercialisation that pushed Jarvis to spend the last years of her life trying to abolish the very holiday she had started.

Yet, perhaps this commercialisation is the reason why Mother’s Day caught on and was able to secure itself as a national festival. With so many having a vested interest in the day, its significance was established. Besides, in most circumstances, giving gifts is a nice way to show love and appreciation to mothers, especially if the alternative is not reaching out to them at all.

In our society, women, especially mothers, are rarely appreciated. Motherhood is seen as a duty, a responsibility that women must uphold. Mothers are expected to ignore their own happiness and prioritise that of their children. Although there is much to be done to move towards a world with less focus on a ‘mother’s sacrifice’ and her ‘duty’ and more recognition that this belongs to both parents, in the meanwhile why not show mothers how much we appreciate them?

As a result of Eid being right in the middle of exams, we couldn’t celebrate it like we usually did: oohing and aahing at Ammi’s attempts at mehndi, whipping up some heavenly Nutella brownies in the kitchen and rolling our eyes as we zoomed through the never ending list of relatives to visit.

It is important to celebrate Mother’s Day in any way we can. From surprising our mothers with a special present or simply taking out some time to communicate our appreciation for them, mothers deserve some acknowledgement for all that they do without expecting anything in return.

This year, on Mother’s Day, my sisters and I decided to celebrate our Ammi by spending quality time with her. As a result of Eid being right in the middle of exams, we couldn’t celebrate it like we usually did: oohing and aahing at Ammi’s attempts at mehndi, whipping up some heavenly Nutella brownies in the kitchen, and rolling our eyes as we zoomed through the never ending list of relatives to visit.

Mother’s Day was the perfect way to make up for our missed Eid. Anyone who knows my mother knows that food, especially chocolate, is the way to her heart. So, of course, we surprised her with boxes of Bounty, Ferrero Rocher and Toblerone. We had a relaxed day, snacking on chocolate and sipping on tea. We didn’t do anything special, and yet, by the end of the day, I felt closer to my mother.

That said, Mother’s Day is not about the chocolates or flowers; it’s about the love these things represent. They are a symbol of our appreciation and adoration of our mothers, who spend their lives taking care of us. They are a path to rebuilding or strengthening bonds, making us more grateful for the women who raised us into the people we are today.

The writer is a student based in Lahore