Prior to the Civil War, Mother’s Day founder Anna Reeves Jarvis helped start Mother’s Day clubs to teach women how to properly care for children. After the war, mothers from the clubs gathered to promote reconciliation between former Union and Confederate soldiers.

Inspired by these clubs, in 1870, social activist and poet Julia Ward Howe created the Mother’s Day Proclamation, in which she envisioned mothers everywhere protesting the concept of war. Since then, this idea has morphed into an American holiday to honor the goodness of moms everywhere.

How much do you know about this May tradition and about being a mom in general? Try your hand at this multiple-choice quiz.

1. Which is true about Anna Jarvis, the founder of Mother’s Day?

A)  She was never a mother herself

B)  She intensely disliked her mother

C)  She hated the idea of giving gifts on Mother’s Day

D)  She initially wanted to establish Father’s Day 

2. Mother’s Day was made an official holiday by President _____

A)  Teddy Roosevelt

B)  Woodrow Wilson

C)  Warren G. Harding

D)  Calvin Coolidge

3. Mother’s Day is typically the busiest day of the year for _____

A)  movie theaters

B)  florists

C)  candy stores

D)  restaurants

4. Mothers are “on duty” 24/7 and 365 days a year. Salary.com says that, in theory, a mother’s work should earn her an annual salary of ________

A)  $47,927.

B)  $88,021.

C)  $126,776.

D)  $162,581.   

5. What percentage of mothers are raising children without a spouse or partner?

A)  12%

B)  18%

C)  24%

D)  29%

6. This state is called “The Mother of Presidents,” as eight chief executives have come from here.

A)  Virginia

B)  Ohio

C)  Illinois

D)  Massachusetts  

7. In the first year of a baby’s life, how many diapers will the average mother change?

A)  1,400

B)  1,850

C)  2,000

D)  2,200

8. What Beatles song was inspired by a Paul McCartney dream about his late mother?

A)  “In My Life”

B)  “Let It Be”

C)  “Something”

D)  “The Long and Winding Road”

9. The most popular Mother’s Day gift is

A)  a card

B)  flowers

C)  chocolates

D)  jewelry

10. What famous musician was born to an unwed teenage mother and raised believing his mother was his older sister and his grandparents his parents?

A)  John Lennon

B)  Barry Manilow

C)  Eric Clapton

D)  Bruce Springsteen 

ANSWER KEY: 

1 – A 

2 – B 

3 – D 

4 – D 

5 – C 

6 – A 

7 – D 

8 – B 

9 – A 

10 – C