Whether you’ve got one mom, two moms, a grandmother, an aunt, or an individual in your life who acts as a maternal figure, Mother’s Day is an annual time to pause and honor that wonderful person. It’s also a time to remember those who have passed on but left a strong impact on your life.
Each year on the second Sunday of May, people all over the United States celebrate Mother’s Day. It’s a day to reflect and thank that person for playing such a crucial role in your life. Kids bring mom breakfast in bed and shower her with homemade cards and gifts they made in school. Adults take her out to eat or celebrate with a small family party. But not in 2020.
Last year, the COVID-19 pandemic drastically affected how people connected with that special person in their life. In May of 2020, children, who were figuring out remote learning, didn’t get to make all sorts of fun Mother’s Day projects in school. Adults couldn’t meet up with mom or take her out for brunch, as people were on lockdown and all the restaurants were closed for dining.
Fast forward to a whole year later, and many things have changed. First, and foremost, the world’s understanding of COVID-19 increased significantly. Back in the spring of 2020, leaving the house was discouraged unless absolutely necessary. Companies, like Costco and Jet Blue, had only just begun to require face coverings. The air was full of uncertainty about what a person could or should do versus what they couldn’t or shouldn’t do.
Spring of 2021 looks different. In general, the public is more educated regarding coronavirus transmission and more optimistic than a year ago. People learned to wear masks, social distance, and spend more time gathering with friends and family outside.
The rollout of vaccines played an even greater role in aiding public health. As of May 9th, Mother’s Day 2021, roughly 34.4 percent of the United States population was fully vaccinated and 45.8 percent received at least one vaccine dose.
As a result, Mother’s Day 2021 looked like a far cry from that of 2020. With greater safety assurance, people were able to connect with their loved ones.
This Mother’s Day Project MORE polled its Instagram followers to see the ways in which people celebrated mom on her special day. The most common response indicated that for the holiday, many folks spent the day at a small family gathering or taking their mom out for brunch. While many people said they were able to see their moms in the past month or so, some said that they hadn’t been in person with their mom in over six months!
Everyone experiences Mother’s Day a little bit differently, and that was evidenced in the survey as well. Some people noted that connecting over video chat made it easy to have mom feel appreciated without posing any risks.
One benefit to the global changes that have occurred over the past year is the ease at which people are able to adapt. While traditionally many people may not have spent Mother’s Day or any holiday for that matter, so far apart, technology and other innovations make the distance feel smaller. People actively create new ways to stay connected over time and over distance.
No matter the circumstances, people find a way to show the important figures in their life that they appreciate and care for them.
In moving forward in coming together for in-person gatherings, remember to show the people around you that you care for them by getting vaccinated. It’s the safest way to reconnect with the people you love in person.