ine society’s shifting perceptions of mothers and mother’s day and examine the importance of a mother’s legacy.
Mothers’ Influence Through History
“Life began with waking up and loving my mother’s Face” —George Eliot
In Celebration of Mothers “
All that I am, I owe to my angel mother”
with researching radioactivity to Abigail Adams, whose political guidance earned her the nickname “Mrs. President” as well as “mother.”
—Abraham Lincoln
Mothers are undoubtedly important, but what makes the relationship between mother and child so special? How has culture—both now and through the ages—influenced our perceptions of the “perfect” mother, and what happens when, inevitably, mothers fall short of perfection? To find out, we’ll explore mothers throughout history through the eyes of their famous children, exam-
The quote above echoes a sentiment felt by countless children throughout history. From writers like Victor Hugo and Emily Dickinson to national heroes like Abraham Lincoln and Harriet Beecher Stowe, mothers have been credited with shaping those who influenced the world. Many mothers changed the world in their own right, as well, from Marie Curie, who balanced motherhood 10
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From Mary, mother of Jesus to Eleanor of Aquitaine, mother of Europe, the importance of mothers has been chronicled since the beginning of time. Some mothers are most well-known through their children; for example, Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States, once wrote, “I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.” In a similar vein, pioneering educator and African American activist Booker T. Washington notes, “If I have done anything in life worth attention, I feel sure that I inherited the disposition from my mother.” One particularly notable mother, whose influence extended through her sons across Europe, is Susana Wesley. Born in January 1669, Susana grew up in a family of dissenters of the Church of England and married Samuel Wesley in 1688. Through a life fraught with trials and tribulation—nine of her 19 children died as infants, the family’s house burned down twice and her husband went to jail twice for financial mismanageMay 2019