National Be Kind to Yourself Day

Because mothers with young children are so involved caring for others that they often grossly neglect their own needs and put their health at risk, they need a national holiday set aside for them to rest and replenish themselves. For this reason we are petitioning the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to designate the third Sunday in March annually as National Be Kind to Yourself Day for stressed out moms. On this socially sanctioned day off from family duties, other responsible persons will take over for mothers with young children so they can go off on their own and devote the entire day to relaxation and enjoyable activities. This holiday differs greatly from Mother's Day, a day on which families show appreciation for mothers but on which, unfortunately, many of the honorees wind up still doing for everyone else. Also, because National Be Kind to Yourself Day is a personal day to be celebrated according to one's own choice, it is not subject to commercialization the way Mother's Day is.

Our culture as a whole needs to recognize how important it is for overworked mothers to rest and recharge their batteries periodically in order to prevent stress-related illnesses, such as heart disease and high blood pressure. By helping mothers get a handle on how to reduce their anxiety, stress, guilt and fatigue throughout the year, National Be Kind to Yourself Day can eventually save the nation untold millions in health care costs and lost hours in the workplace. Learning how to value their physical and emotional health and take better care of themselves will benefit not only the mothers of small children, but also the children themselves.