Mother's Day is a sick joke

So we allot 24 hours to shout "yay for moms" and then spend the rest of the year denying parents paid leave?

A single day of thanks can be seen as insulting to mothers who sacrifice so much.
(Image credit: REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson)

I've never celebrated Mother's Day. My British mum wanted no part of the U.K.'s version, citing something about a conspiracy dreamed up by the greeting card industry. But it wasn't until I moved to the U.S. and became a mom myself that this sentimental, pastel-colored Sunday in early May began to make me angry.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with telling the various mothers in your life that they're doing a great job, and even buying gifts to reinforce the fact that they're appreciated. But providing a nationally recognized slot for us to express our appreciation assumes that most people don't know how and when to say thank you, which is silly and patronizing.

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Ruth Margolis
Ruth ​Margolis is a British ​journalist living in the U.S. Her work has appeared in ​The Guardian, ​The ​Daily Telegraph and BBCAmerica.com.