Is Mother’s Day losing personal touch to social media?

Mother’s Day was recently celebrated across the world on different days from the months of March to May, with the most recent being last Sunday. The day was a celebration honouring mothers and motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. Many saw it as their opportunity to pay homage to their mothers […]

Mother’s Day was recently celebrated across the world on different days from the months of March to May, with the most recent being last Sunday. The day was a celebration honouring mothers and motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society.
Many saw it as their opportunity to pay homage to their mothers and those women who have shown them one form of motherliness or the other. It was their opportunity to thank her for everything she’s done for them, from breast-feeding to driving them to school and cooking their meals.
In the past it was a big celebration which usually began in church with all mothers wearing specially chosen uniform fabrics and having several thanksgiving sessions where they danced to the altar in forward reverse style causing the service to drag on forever.
This is then followed by a general reception for all of them in a designated location. This event is one that the mothers have organised for themselves in self-recognition. Children and wards add tonic to the day by making it even more special with gifts, arranged outings, luncheons and other special threats that would ordinarily not be a part of their regular day.
The sole goal for Mother’s Day is to make her feel like a queen for a day and as special as possible.
Today, there seems to be a decline in this personal touch on the part of children and some mothers are not finding it funny, especially as some of their children take to social media platforms and phones to celebrate the day with them.
Skype or Facebook calls save the day for Ayomide Soremekun: “With Skype and Facebook calls available for free, I call her and spend a good amount of time talking with her and saying nice things to her.  But I personally think it is over blown or exaggerated. There are other notable days in the life of each mother that we make a big deal out of like their birthdays. We shower them with gifts and all the goodies. Mother’s Day is another one of those unique days but for me it’s not the most important of days to celebrate my mum.”
What do the mothers have to say about this? Soremekun who took our reporter to meet his mother to inquire about her views on this, fore-warned that: “I know she won’t agree with what I have said.”
Indeed, Mrs. Mabel Soremekun, disagreed with her 26-year-old son: “If I were his girlfriend and there were similar days like Mother’s Day for girlfriends like a Girlfriend’s Day, won’t he spoil me with gifts and attention as much as he would if it were my birthday? He won’t mind that his girlfriend also has a birthday. He will outdo himself and ask her if she is satisfied or if he should do more.”
The 58-year-old adds: “But then, that’s the style of the 21st century child and we have to contend with it. This is not to say I don’t appreciate his calls.”
Almost in a whisper and in a mischievous tone, she notes: “It would be nicer to also show off something from your son on Mother’s Day as your friends also show to you.”
Betty Alison doesn’t think it is absolutely necessary to make a trip just to spend Mother’s Day with her mum. She queries: “Will you also travel to spend her birthday or any other commemorative day like Christmas with her?” She adds: “When I can afford to travel to see her, I do so. But I don’t make it a compulsion because I may travel on other occasions to see her. When I can’t, I call her to wish her a happy day and we say prayers together. I usually don’t go over to her place to spend the day with her or send her gifts, religiously.”
Dele Akanmu says: “It’s not a day for us to celebrate our biological mothers alone. We should also celebrate our wives and if we want, our sisters. I would like to emphasise that we celebrate our wives as well because they mother us in so many ways, as well as the children we have.”
The father of three adds that: “I plan for the day even more than I do for our wedding anniversary. I remind her how much I appreciate all she does and how much I value her. These things matter a lot and make all the difference.”
But Hajia Khairat Jafaru says children of nowadays make flimsy excuses to shy away from their responsibilities: “Such a Day may be considered an additional burden to some of them. But I don’t think it is right,” she notes.
“For me celebrating me on Mother’s Day is more significant than celebrating me on my birthday and I definitely love to be celebrated on Mother’s Day. It is understandable if circumstances do not permit you as a child to do so, but where nothing prevents you and you don’t do it… hmmm, my children know. I don’t know how to go on Facebook or Blackberry. They know I want it life and direct. I am their mother and I wear the crown of being that and of raising them, gallantly,” the grandmother adds, demonstrating her statement. 
A survey conducted by the Chinese Central Television on the subject revealed that on Mother’s Day, 56.6percent of the people involved chatted with their mothers on that day, 15.1percentcooked for them, 6.6percentbought their mothers flowers and 6.5percent took them out to eat.
Mother’s Day is not the only day where making it a threat for mothers has taken a decline. Birthdays also seem to have been affected. Around 41.4percent say happy birthday to her, 33.8percent call her but without birthday wishes and 24.8percent admit that they don’t quite remember their mothers’ birthday.
Overall, what approximately 83percent wished the most for their mothers, was good health.