Happy Mother’s Day 2014

Happy Mother’s Day! May 11, 2014 is the day that is set aside this year to celebrate the contributions of mothers. Celebrated not only in the United States but in several countries across the globe, Mother’s Day offers a time to show appreciation for the contributions of motherhood. According to the Census Bureau, around 4.1 million new mothers will give birth this year. Though birthing years are considered to be between the ages of 15 and 49, the average age of a woman giving birth for the first time in the United States is 25.8 years of age. That number has risen slightly but steadily over the past several years, indicating that not only are married women waiting longer to begin parenthood, the number of teen births has also slightly declined. One statistic that has not altered over the last few years is that of stay at home mothers. Consistently, around 5 million mothers in the United States are stay at home moms.

For those that are looking for a way to express gratitude to mom this year, the greeting card is still a top contender, as are flowers. Also toping the wish list for many mothers are gift cards, candles and a day at the spa. Mother’s Day was deemed an official holiday in 1914 and it has grown in popularity over the years. Today it is heralded as the busiest restaurant day of the year. It has been estimated that $14.6 billion dollars will be spent on mothers this Mother’s Day. Interestingly, when Mom’s were surveyed, the most valued gift on Mother’s Day was something homemade, followed by treating mom to dinner. Happy Mother’s Day to the more than 2 billion moms that make everyday special for their families!