For years I thought I did a pretty good job of brainwashing my daughters to spoil me on Mother's Day. Hand written poems were especially appreciated and my tears the ultimate compliment. This year, however, we did something entirely new. Before I share the glorious details, please permit me to catch you up on a bit of additional family history.
A few years ago, my daughter Ari emailed me a link to an organization called ONE.org. The goal of ONE is keeping Americans accountable to the Millennium Development Goals, (MDG's) which were agreed to by 189 countries in the year 2000. I liked the global voice the MDG's represented and, as Ari likely predicted, signed on as a ONE volunteer. One of the eight MDG's is battling extreme illness such as Malaria and Aids. April 25th happens to be World Malaria Day and...with Mother's Day just a few weeks later..I thought it would be a good idea to create some type of Mother's Day Battling Malaria Event.
Such were the circumstances which gave birth to our first ever Mother's Day Fancy Dress Swim Against Malaria. Yes we really did waltz into the Pacific Ocean wearing our Sunday finest but...truth be told the event was more of a dip than a swim. Nevertheless, numerous women dressed in sequins, hats, and gloves prancing into the waves on Mother's Day did manage to attract the attention of more than a few ordinary beachgoers. In fact, we even made top story on the front page of one of San Diego's major newspapers the next day.
After our swim we changed into dry comfy clothes and enjoyed a gourmet bonfire with chili dogs and smores. When all was said and done, we raised enough donations to purchase nearly 500 insecticide treated bed nets through World Swim Against Malaria, sparing hundreds of fellow moms the agony of losing their children to this devastating disease. We also educated thousands on ONE.org and Americans' commitments to the Millennium Development Goals. Everyone that participated, even members of the press, enjoyed themselves so much they pledged to do it again next year and bring others. Cherished though I have the small treasures and pleasures of past Mothers Days, it humbles me that my greatest enjoyment (and my daughters too) came when I spent the day thinking of mothers other than myself.
Mama Marlaine Parenting2pt0@gmail.com
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