Like the Let's eat grandma vs. Let's eat, grandma error, where an errant comma has seen cannibalism replace what should have been a lovely meal with a much-loved matriarch; I have seen instances of a more immediate, worrying state of affairs. In many parts of the world, today, though not here in Switzerland (when it falls on 12 May), is the designated Sunday when we celebrate the women who bore us – our mums.
After conspiring with my sister back in the UK, our mother received a lovely bunch of tulips from us both. I saw the flowers myself on Skype (the wonders of modern technology). They were lovely! So today I blindly went about my business, having made Mum happy. But then I noticed that many people – including the UK store M&S – have named today – Mothers' Day. I was under the mistaken impression that I only had to worry about my own mother. Do we now have to look after everyone else's as well?
Luckily I posted a song this morning on Facebook for all women and mothers, I hope that suffices!
I've preferred the plural possessive for several years. It's a day for celebrating lots of mothers. Some (including my children) have more than one mum! And then of course there are those (mainly of my mother's/mother-in-law's generation) who avoid the issue all together by preferring Mothering Sunday. :)
ReplyDeleteI actually like 'Mothering Sunday', even if it does sound slightly outdated. I'd agree that the plural possessive may apply in this case to the extent that, yes, all mothers should be celebrated; though I had always thought that people generally just focused on their own mum – usually one woman, though I take your point about different circumstances. Prior to 12 May, when all the kids at school here in Switzerland are making gifts for their mums, I'll no doubt be asked yet again why I'm not marking the day. So I might: thus creating Mother's Days.
ReplyDeleteUpdate: a council in Devon has now banned apostrophes from all public signs to avoid confusion. Perhaps being bothered to learn a few simple rules in your mother tongue really *is* beyond some people, then? Maybe finding ways to hide our own ignorance is the way forward.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/9932152/Council-bans-apostrophes-from-all-street-signs-to-avoid-confusion.html
There is "no national guidance that stops apostrophes being used" because – newsflash – apostrophes have important grammatical functions and are not optional! Get hold of a style guide and learn the rules. They're really not difficult!