Anna Jarvis, inspired by her mother Ann Jarvis, created Mother’s Day in 1908. Ann began supporting mothers in the 1860s when she helped create Mother’s Day Work Clubs, which taught women how to be suitable mothers. After the Civil War, she started Mother’s Friendship Day to promote peace between the Union and Confederacy by joining mothers and soldiers from both sides.

After her mother’s death in 1905, Anna fought for the creation of a day to honor mothers. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson officially recognized Mother’s Day as the second Sunday in May. The years that followed brought commercialization of the holiday, leading Anna to fight for its cancellation.

Regardless of the current motives behind Mother’s Day, it is still a time to honor some the hardest working women on earth: Moms, Step-Moms, and Women Mentors.

Below are several of my favorite quotes celebrating “motherhood.”

Everything in moderation. –Nana Banana, AKA Becky’s 101 year old grandmother and Aunt Frances to others

Everything happens for a reason. -Mama Rose, AKA Becky’s Mom and Mimi to the grandchildren

Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get. -Forrest Gump

My first job in all honesty is going to continue to be mom-in-chief. Making sure that in this transition, which will be even more of a transition for the girls… that they are settled and that they know they will continue to be the center of our universe. My daughters are still the heart of my heart and the center of my world. -Michelle Obama, First Lady of the United States

24/7. Once you sign on to be a mother, that’s the only shift they offer. -Jodi Picoult, Author

Be a leader, like supportive mothers, step-mothers, and women mentors everywhere, and move to action TODAY.