Everything you wanted to know about mothers and a whole lot that you didn’t. Happy Mother’s Day!

Momquotes

1. “A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take.” – Cardinal Mermillod
2. “God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers.” – Rudyard Kipling
3. “Motherhood: All love begins and ends there.” – Robert Browning
4. “A mother’s love is endless and unconditional.” – Unknown
5. “Mothers hold their children’s hands for a short while but their hearts forever.” – Unknown
6. “A mother’s arms are more comforting than anyone else’s.” – Princess Diana
7. “A mother is the truest friend we have when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us.” – Emily Dickinson
8. “A mother’s love is like a beacon, lighting up the future but reflected also on the past in the guise of fond memories.” – Honore de Balzac
9. “The art of mothering is to teach the art of living to children.” – Elaine Heffner
10. “A mother is not a person to lean on but a person to make leaning unnecessary.” – Dorothy Canfield Fisher

10 moms that put other moms to shame

1. Mother Mary: According to Christian tradition, Mother Mary is the mother of Jesus Christ. She is revered as a symbol of maternal love, purity, and devotion.
2. Demeter: In Greek mythology, Demeter is the goddess of agriculture and fertility. She is known as a protective and nurturing mother figure, as she mourned the loss of her daughter Persephone and brought about the changing seasons.
3. Hera: In Greek mythology, Hera is the queen of the gods and the goddess of marriage and childbirth. She is often portrayed as a powerful and protective mother figure.
4. Gaia: In Greek mythology, Gaia is the personification of the Earth. She is seen as the mother of all creation and represents the nurturing and life-giving aspects of the natural world.
5. Maya Angelou: Maya Angelou was an American poet, author, and civil rights activist. She is remembered for her powerful writing and her ability to capture the complexities of motherhood and womanhood.
6. Queen Victoria: Queen Victoria, who reigned over the United Kingdom from 1837 to 1901, was a devoted mother to her nine children. She set a new standard for motherhood in the royal family, emphasizing love and affection for her children.
7. Sojourner Truth: Sojourner Truth was an African-American abolitionist and women’s rights activist in the 19th century. She fought for the rights of her children and spoke out against the separation of enslaved mothers from their children.
8. Mother Teresa: Mother Teresa, also known as Saint Teresa of Calcutta, was an Albanian-Indian Roman Catholic nun and missionary. She dedicated her life to serving the poor and marginalized, exemplifying a motherly love for those in need.
9. Cleopatra: Cleopatra was the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt. She was known for her intelligence, leadership, and strong bond with her children, whom she fought to protect.
10. Isabella I of Castile: Isabella I of Castile, also known as Isabella the Catholic, was the queen of Castile and León in the late 15th century. She was known for her strength, intelligence, and devotion to her children, including her daughter Catherine of Aragon, who became the first wife of King Henry VIII of England.

No matter how bad your mom was, she was still better than…

1. Casey Anthony: Casey Anthony was involved in a highly publicized trial in 2011 regarding the death of her two-year-old daughter, Caylee Anthony. She was acquitted of murder charges but found guilty of lying to law enforcement.
2. Susan Smith: Susan Smith infamously drowned her two young sons, Michael and Alexander, in 1994 by driving her car into a lake. She initially reported them missing, but later confessed to the crime.
3. Andrea Yates: In 2001, Andrea Yates drowned her five children in the bathtub. Yates suffered from severe postpartum depression and psychosis, leading to this tragic event.
4. Diane Downs: Diane Downs shot her three children, killing one and severely injuring the other two, in 1983. It was later revealed that Downs committed the act to gain attention from a man she was infatuated with.
5. Waneta Hoyt: Waneta Hoyt, a woman from the United States, was convicted in 1995 for the murders of her five children. She initially blamed sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), but later confessed to suffocating them.
6. Darlie Routier: Darlie Routier was convicted in 1997 for the murder of her two sons. The case attracted significant media attention and controversy, with supporters claiming her innocence.
7. Megan Huntsman: In 2014, Megan Huntsman was arrested after the bodies of seven infants were found in her former residence in Utah. She admitted to giving birth to the infants and then strangling or suffocating them.
8. Mary Ann Cotton: Mary Ann Cotton was an Englishwoman who became notorious in the mid-19th century for poisoning her husbands and children for financial gain. She was convicted and executed in 1873.
9. Gertrude Baniszewski: Gertrude Baniszewski was involved in a highly disturbing case in 1965 known as the “Sylvia Likens” case. She, along with her children and other teenagers, tortured and eventually killed 16-year-old Sylvia Likens.
10. Diane Downs: Diane Downs was convicted in 1984 for the murder of one of her children and the attempted murder of her two other children. The motive behind her actions was to pursue a romantic relationship.

International Mommy Traditions

1. South Korea: In South Korea, there is a tradition called “doljanchi,” which is a first birthday celebration for a baby. During this event, the child is dressed in traditional attire and presented with various objects symbolizing their future profession or interests.
2. India: In some regions of India, there is a practice called “namkaran,” where the baby’s naming ceremony is held on the 12th day after birth. The baby’s horoscope is consulted, and the name is chosen based on astrological considerations.
3. Norway: It is common in Norway for babies to take naps outdoors, even in cold weather. This practice, known as “friluftsliv,” emphasizes the benefits of fresh air and connection with nature.
4. Bolivia: In Bolivia, there is a tradition called “challa,” where a ceremony is held to bless the home and the newborn baby. It involves sprinkling the house and the baby with holy water and offering gifts to the spirits.
5. Thailand: Thai mothers follow a postpartum practice called “yu faai” or “yu fai,” which involves resting and being cared for by family members. Certain foods and herbs are consumed to aid in recovery and healing.
6. Mali: In some Malian communities, mothers practice a ceremony called “bògòlanfini,” where they dress in traditional mud-dyed cloth during pregnancy and after childbirth to symbolize their connection to the earth and fertility.
7. Japan: In Japan, there is a custom called “hatsumiyamairi,” which is the first visit of a newborn baby to a Shinto shrine. Parents bring their baby to receive blessings from the shrine and express gratitude for the baby’s safe arrival.
8. Papua New Guinea: In certain tribal communities in Papua New Guinea, there is a tradition of “belly painting” during pregnancy. Intricate designs are painted on the mother’s belly, symbolizing protection and good luck for the baby.
9. Romania: In Romania, there is a celebration called “Ziua Mamei” (Mother’s Day), which is observed on the first Sunday of May. It is a time for children to express love and appreciation for their mothers through gestures, gifts, or special outings.
10. Sweden: In Sweden, there is a tradition called “fika,” where new mothers are visited by friends and family who bring coffee and baked goods to enjoy together. It provides an opportunity for support, relaxation, and socializing.

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GOAT Moms

1. Largest Number of Children: The Guinness World Records recognizes Leontina Albina from Chile as the woman with the most verified children. She gave birth to a total of 64 children between 1936 and 1956.
2. Oldest Mother: The current Guinness World Record for the oldest mother is held by Maria del Carmen Bousada de Lara from Spain. She gave birth to twin boys in 2006 at the age of 66.
3. Youngest Mother: The youngest mother in recorded history is Lina Medina from Peru. She gave birth to a son at the age of 5 years and 7 months in 1939. The circumstances surrounding her pregnancy remain a medical mystery.
4. Longest Span Between Children: The Guinness World Record for the longest interval between the birth of two children is held by Elizabeth Ann Buttle from the United Kingdom. She had her first child in 1956 at the age of 19 and her second child in 1997 at the age of 60, marking a gap of 41 years and 185 days.
5. Most Surviving Children from a Single Birth: The most surviving children from a single birth are octuplets, and the record is held by Nadya Suleman, known as Octomom. She gave birth to octuplets (six boys and two girls) in January 2009

Mum’s Mom’s the word

The word “mama” in the Indo-European language family has interesting etymological connections. Here is a simplified representation of the etymology tree for the word “mama”:

Proto-Indo-European (PIE): *méh₂tēr

From the reconstructed Proto-Indo-European word *méh₂tēr, meaning “mother,” various branches of the Indo-European language family developed their own forms:

1. Indo-Iranian:
   • Sanskrit: मातृ (mātṛ)
   • Persian: مادر (mādar)
2. Greek: μήτηρ (mḗtēr)
3. Italic:
   • Latin: mater
   • Romance languages (derived from Latin): Spanish madre, Italian madre, French mère
4. Germanic:
   • Old English: mōdor (later Middle English and Modern English: mother)
   • German: Mutter
   • Dutch: moeder
5. Celtic:
   • Old Irish: máthair (later Irish: máthair)
   • Welsh: mam

These are just a few examples of the many branches of the Indo-European language family and the forms that the word “mama” took in various languages. The similarities across different branches demonstrate the shared ancestry and the preservation of this term for “mother” in diverse Indo-European languages.

50 Ways to Leave Your Lover Say My Mother

1. Spanish: Mi mamá
2. French: Ma maman
3. Italian: Mia mamma
4. German: Meine Mama
5. Portuguese: Minha mãe
6. Russian: Моя мама (Moya mama)
7. Arabic: أمي (Ummi)
8. Mandarin Chinese: 我的妈妈 (Wǒ de māma)
9. Japanese: 私のお母さん (Watashi no okaasan)
10. Korean: 나의 엄마 (Naui eomma)
11. Hindi: मेरी माँ (Meri mā̃)
12. Bengali: আমার মা (Amar ma)
13. Tamil: என் அம்மா (En amma)
14. Telugu: నా అమ్మ (Na amma)
15. Urdu: میری ماں (Meri mā̃)
16. Turkish: Annem
17. Dutch: Mijn moeder
18. Swedish: Min mamma
19. Danish: Min mor
20. Norwegian: Min mamma
21. Finnish: Äitini
22. Greek: Η μητέρα μου (I mitéra mou)
23. Polish: Moja mama
24. Czech: Moje maminka
25. Hungarian: Anyukám
26. Romanian: Mama mea
27. Bulgarian: Моята майка (Moyata mayka)
28. Serbian: Моја мајка (Moja majka)
29. Croatian: Moja mama
30. Slovenian: Moja mama
31. Slovak: Moja mama
32. Ukrainian: Моя мама (Moya mama)
33. Lithuanian: Mano mama
34. Latvian: Mana mamma
35. Estonian: Minu ema
36. Vietnamese: Mẹ của tôi
37. Thai: แม่ของฉัน (Mae khaawng chan)
38. Indonesian: Ibu saya
39. Malay: Ibuku
40. Swahili: Mama yangu
41. Hausa: Maman ni
42. Yoruba: Mama mi
43. Igbo: Nne m
44. Zulu: Ummeli wami
45. Xhosa: Umama wam
46. Afrikaans: My ma
47. Tagalog: Ang aking ina
48. Romanian: Mama mea
49. Irish: Mo mháthair
50. Welsh: Fy mam