Mother’s Day: Islamabad festive but not fete

People appreciate media in keeping the day ‘alive’.

ISLAMABAD:

“Thank you mom”, “I love you mom”. These words cannot compensate for all that our mothers have done for us, but can at least help recognise their sacrifices and efforts in bringing us in this world, raising and moulding us into who we are, said locals in their message on Mother’s Day.

Mothers Day is celebrated on different days in many parts of the world, the second Sunday of May being the most common. In Pakistan, the first week of May was dedicated for its celebration, but not a single event was organised in the capital city. A survey conducted by The Express Tribune, however, showed that media played a vital role in creating awareness about the day.

“Indeed it was a big day for me when I saw my four-year old daughter wishing me  ‘Happy Mother’s Day’ at the breakfast table, while carrying a rose and a card that she made herself,” said Kiran Usman, a housewife. When she asked her daughter how she got to know about the day, she replied, “TV!”.

“Mother’s day should be everyday, one can never have enough words to express the love we have all at once. I thank my mom for bringing me into this beautiful, glorious world. May you always wake up smiling and stay happy and healthy,” said a designer, Zaiena Haider.

Mrs Faisal Mughal, a housewife and a mother of four, said she was not wished by her children on the day. “I love my children. I know they are all busy with their lives and couldn’t wish me on the day,” she said. “Their success and happiness is the biggest gift for me.” Mrs Mughal, who live alone in her house in Rawalpindi, said she was glad to see that in “this busy world” there are some children who take the time to wish their mothers on the day, as it was evident on various TV channels where people made calls or sent SMS to programme hosts to wish their mothers, she added.

A student, Aneela Fayyaz, who recently lost her mother in a car accident, said that children mostly take their mothers for granted. “I too did not realize my mother’s worth, her true love and care. But now when she is not in this world I feel empty and guilty for not acknowledging her sacrifices,” she said.

“Very few people indeed appreciate the value their mothers have in their lives and celebrate the day,” said a local Raheel Jamshed, “I appreciate the media’s role for keeping this great day alive.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 9^th, 2011.