Mother’s Day: The hardest, most rewarding job

The origins of Mother’s Day, as celebrated in the United States, date back to the 19th century. In the years before the Civil War, Ann Reeves Jarvis of West Virginia helped start “Mother’s Day Work Clubs” to teach local women how to properly care for their children.

The official Mother’s Day holiday, according to history.com, arose in the 1900s as a result of the efforts of Anna Jarvis, daughter of Ann Reeves Jarvis. Following her mother’s 1905 death, Anna Jarvis conceived of Mother’s Day as a way of honoring the sacrifices mothers made for their children. The American incarnation of Mother’s Day was created by Anna Jarvis in 1908 and became an official U.S. holiday in 1914.

No one prepared me for the surge of emotions that occurred after the birth of my child. I had taken classes at the hospital, read all of the books and talked with friends and family. I “knew” what to expect with labor and delivery and thought I had a good handle on what to do with a newborn. Everyone told me that I’d be so in love with this baby and I couldn’t wait!

But no one talked about the post-delivery hormone surge when the progesterone and estrogen levels begin to rapidly decrease. The period of time when all of my preconceived fantasies of love for this new, precious, bundle of joy crossed with the reality of exhaustion, pain, and realizing that soon, I would be taking this little person home with me. Who decided I was qualified for this??! As I sat in the chair with my inconsolable newborn, I started to cry. I have no idea what I’m doing! I’ve done everything — fed, burped, changed, rocked, swaddled. Irrational thinking quickly took over, I realized that I was not prepared for this, and clearly, I was not good at this! I had no idea how to be a mom or how to make this child content.

That was almost 13 years ago. I’m glad that I sought the help of family and friends when I knew I needed a break from caring for my newborn. I was fortunate to have so many people to rally around me and who continue to help me to learn on this parenting journey. Not everyone is fortunate to have that level of support and that’s where YPN comes in.

Formerly Young Parents Network, founded in 1985 by community leaders who recognized that there was a lack of support for young families in Cedar Rapids. Forty weeks out of the year, families gather to share a meal and attend parenting classes where they learn how to be the best parent they can be. Moms meet other parents who are experiencing the same daily challenges and successes they’re experiencing and have the opportunity to grow their social network, which can often feel small and lonely as a new parent. Moms are also connecting with staff and volunteers who are seasoned parents, creating a supportive community. We offer transportation, a meal, child care during the program and the parenting education are all free. And the really great thing — parents earn points they can use in our We Care Shop to get items they need for their children including diapers, wipes, clothes, strollers, swings, and so much more!

Being a mother is the hardest job I’ve ever had. But having a loving, supportive community to share it with makes that job a joy. And I wouldn’t trade this joy for anything in the world!

Meridith Myers is YPN director of programs and has worked at YPN since 2019 and manages programs and funding. She lives in Marion with her husband, John, and their three children. If you’d like to learn more about YPN or you know someone who could benefit from our programming, visit www.ypniowa.org/join or call 319-364-8909.