CAIRO - Today, March 21, is very special, as all Egyptians are celebrating Mother's Day. Mothers should be given presents every day, not just once a year! Most countries, including the US, Australia, Canada and India, celebrate Mother's Day on the second Sunday of May. The resolution for having a dedicated Mother's Day was signed by US President Woodrow Wilson on May 8, 1914. “Sons and daughters everywhere should take advantage of this day to honour and to express their appreciation for their mothers,” says Hend Abdel Fatah, an Arabic-language teacher at a secondary school. She adds that mothers devote their lives to their children, even caring for them after graduation and when they get married. “A mother is like a school; she devotes her whole life to her children, teaching them the right way to behave. Everyone should express their love for their beloved mothers on this day. “Today, I always give my mom a kiss, then some wonderful flowers, because she loves them. I then say ‘Kol Sana wa'enty tayyeba ya Mama' [Happy New Year, mother],” she explains. Heba Mamdouh, a student at the Faculty of Arts says: “Mother's Day is a day to honour all mothers and express gratitude for all their hard work for their children. “My mother bore me, and taught me to love other people and serve my country. She made me tolerant of others, stressing that we must work together to make a better world. “Today, all my sisters, brothers and I will be celebrating with our great mother, who has devoted all her life to us,” she adds. “I would like to buy a nice bouquet of flowers for every mother in the world, who has worked herself to the bone in bringing up her children and teaching them virtues and morals,” says Fatma Mohssen, a 16-year-old schoolgirl. “Today, all schoolchildren sing lots of songs about their mothers. Many pupils give their female teachers flowers, perfumes and chocolates, to express their love for them,” she explains, adding that she's going to give her own mom a beautiful scarf and some red roses. “On this day, there are a lot of songs on the radio and TV programmes and movies about mothers. Ideal mothers are also interviewed on television,” says Ahmad Raafat, a secondary school pupil. “Every child should kiss his mother today, then give her a beautiful present. Our mothers are our first educators. They teach us everything, protect us from danger and give us real love.”
