You glue a tiny paper heart you just cut out of construction paper to a paper card titled, “Happy Mother’s Day!” you observe the rest of the class has made almost identical crafts for their mothers. They have all made a card and an item that feels personal yet generic. 

But what about kids without a mother figure in their lives? 

3% of kids in the U.S. do not have a mother in their life. That means 9.999 million kids in America do not have a mother. This can lead to feelings of resentment because it essentially calls out the child for not having a mom. 

Making cards and gifts in school for mothers on Mother’s Day excludes kids who are without a mother and reminds them of the fact and may make them feel the absence of their mother. 

However, making gifts for mothers in class can be very beneficial. 

Many families throughout the U.S. can not afford to buy gifts, let alone a  Mother’s Day gift, so providing an opportunity for children to make their mother a gift to show their appreciation and love at school could be their only option. 

In situations where a child cannot pay for a gift for their mother, their family is often working quite a bit to support their family and put food on the table. Giving these caregivers a gift, no matter how small or cheap, can show the appreciation a parent needs. 

What would be the best course of action to give the parents the appreciation they deserve while catering to the large number of children without a mother? By making mothers day about any women in their life. 

Even though the title of “Mother’s Day” sounds like it is strictly for a child’s mother, it can also be for aunts, grandmothers, older sisters, etc., who play a role in the child’s life as a “mother.” This way, the child can still feel a part of the activity while appreciating the role model in their life that feels the most like “mom.” It also provides an option for students who do not have the funds to buy a gift for their mother. 

This leads to a happier population and helps make our schools more inclusive of different family types. It will also foster community within the school, as more students will feel seen and acknowledged even with their issues at home. 

Overall, promoting the “ideal” family with a mother can be an issue, but unfortunately, that is not realistic for all families. However, providing a way to give a mother a gift, even if it is a card, makes mothers feel loved and appreciated for their efforts. In the end, there is a solution by providing alternative sayings catered to the woman in the child’s life who is receiving the gift, like, “Happy Grandmother’s Day!” or “Happy Aunt Day,” including many different mother figures in a child’s life.