Make Your Mother’s Day

Your life changes forever the day you bring home your little bundle of joy. Whether you give birth naturally, adopt or foster, this little person now depends on you for everything. From now on they come first, you come second, and a poor second at that Being a mother is fabulous, and funny, and frightening. It’s the best and worst of jobs. There are cuddles and giggles, sports days and parents’ evenings, Nativities, and music recitals…there are also blazing rows with slammed doors, sleepless nights and more vomit than you ever realised one small human could produce. Mums are multi-tasking maestros. Carer, teacher, agony aunt, tour guide, drill sergeant, PA, and chauffeur… Even when they leave home it doesn’t stop. I still rely on my mother for advice, help with childcare, and a shoulder to cry on when things go pear-shaped. It’s only now as with children of my own, that I realise what my own mother went through –why she made me do my homework, go to bed early, stop beating my sister up, eat my broccoli, save my pocket money, don’t talk to strangers, and say please and thank you. Mother’s Day might have become a cliché, but it does give us the perfect opportunity to say thank you to our mums for everything they have done and still do for us. Anna Jarvis, who founded Mothers’ Day in the US said she came to regret campaigning to get the day recognised, because it became commercialised. She hated that people sent cards with a pre-printed message rather than writing a letter. So, although it’s a nice gesture to buy a card and give flowers and chocolates, it’s even nicer to do something special to show you care – maybe valet her car or treat her to a pamper session, or just visit and spend the afternoon chatting. Time is the most precious gift of all. And go beyond the message in the card. Write a few personal lines of your own to tell your mother what she means to you. Make sure she knows that she’s loved and appreciated all year round. Your life changes forever the day you bring home your little bundle of joy. Whether you give birth naturally, adopt or foster, this little person now depends on you for everything. From now on they come first, you come second, and a poor second at that Being a mother is fabulous, and funny, and frightening. It of jobs. There are cuddles and giggles, Mothers’ Day in Brief sports days and parentsMother’s Day is celebrated all around the world, usually in March or in May. tivities, and music recitalsIn the UK, it is a mixture of a Christian also blazing rows with slammed doors, tradition, and the celebration of motherhood that began in the USA in the early 20th century. During the 16th century, people in

‘ sleepless nights and more vomit than service would return to their home or mother’ church on the fourth Sunday in Lent – you ever realised one small human could proMothering Sunday. duce.The modern version of Mothers’ Day we know today became a regular event in the 1950s, largely thanks to businesses keen to Mums are multiexploit its commercial potential! teacher, agony aunt, tour guide, drill sergeant, PA, and chauffeur www.villagematters.co.uk home it doesn

EVERY SECOND AND LAST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH

Robert Phillips Gallery, Riverhouse Barn Arts Centre Manor Road, Walton-on-Thames, KT12 2PF

Postcards from the River's Edge is an exhibition created for the Robert Phillips Gallery by artists belonging to the Riverside Artists Group (RAG), with guest artist, ceramicist Julie Peel julie peel | ceramics (juliepeelceramics.com). Established in 1986, RAG is a dynamic, diverse group of 40 practising artists based in West London, who exhibit nationally and internationally. The exhibition will show work across all media and explores the theme of river. Workshops in clay and drawing/storytelling will be take place alongside the exhibition. This follows on from a programme of exhibitions, walks and workshops as part of the Totally Thames festival 2021. Please visit the website for more information: www.riversideartistsgroup.com Email: info@riversideartistsgroup.com

The atmosphere was certainly warm for the Winter Warmer coffee morning at Churchill’s beautiful River View Lodge. Residents and locals were raising funds for Manor Mead School.

Local councillors will be present. All are Welcome – Come and ask questions / Air your views. It’s your Village!

The wearing of face-masks at the meeting is still encouraged.

Also, if you haven’t already done so, please bring your £2.00 members subscription fee with you – and any additional donation you may care to make. Funding of the Association is currently low, due to the pandemic and the inability to collect subscriptions in the usual way.