If you have been a slacker and didn't get around to getting your mother or your children's mother a gift for Mother's Day, you still have time to pick up a last minute gift. Emotions Gift and Flower Shop on Main Street is open today from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., but it is not delivering flowers.

"Popular for Mother's Day are fresh flowers, gourmet chocolate and plants for the garden," said Teresa Miller, Emotions owner. "The orders for Mother's Day started coming in early. Many people like flowers delivered on May 9 or 10. It is a pretty good week for florists. I have extra seasonal help come into get all the work done."

Many of the bouquets offered have decorations tucked into them that mom can use for a keepsake. You can get an arrangement with bird nests, flower seeds or a holder that has the flowers in a bowl that can be used use as a votive after the flowers have died.

"It's not how much you spend on your mom," Miller said. "Some children feel obligated and moms just want a little appreciation. Kids just need to tell their moms, 'Thanks for putting up with me.'"

Evenson's Hallmark at Oak Park Mall has people coming into grab a card at the last minute every Mother's Day.

"Sometimes people will even come in on Monday as they didn't get it together," Manager Terri Eikmeier said. "Some families make it to visit mom on one side of the family and have to send a card to the other side of the family because of distance."

Another tradition for Mother's Day is taking mom out to eat. A spokesperson for the Old Mill said Mother's Day and Easter are the busiest times for eating out. The restaurant is open from 11:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.

This special day to honor mothers can be traced back to the Greeks in honor of Rhea, Mother of the Gods. In the 1600s, The English took to honoring mothers on the fourth Sunday of Lent and called it "Mothering Sunday." Many people worked as servants during this period and on Mothering Sunday the servants could have the day off to spend the day with their mothers. A special cake was brought along for this day of gathering.

In the United States, Julia Ward Howe, the writer of the "Battle Hymn of the Republic," suggested in 1872 that a day of peace be organized and held a Mother's Day meetings in Boston each year. In 1907, Ana Jarvis of Philadelphia began the campaign to establish a national holiday honoring mothers. She persuaded her mother's church to celebrate Mother's Day on the second Sunday in May. Her supporters wrote letters to ministers, businessmen, and politicians in their quest for a national Mother's Day. By 1911, almost every state celebrated Mother's Day. President Woodrow Wilson, in 1914 made it official that the second Sunday in May was and still is the national Mother's Day holiday.

Japan celebrates Mother's Day on the same day as the United States. Ryoko Sekimoto, a native of Japan, sends her mother a card every year.

"In Japan we give our mothers a red carnation. If your mother is dead, then you set up a shrine with her photo and place a white carnation besides it. Children present their mom with cards that say how they will help their mom by doing some job," Sekimoto said.

Karen Valentine, a first grade teacher at St. Augustine's/St. Edward's School, had her class list 10 reasons why they each loved their mothers. These lists were to be presented to their mother with recipe cards as a gift.

Anny Rysavy and Ann Holtz said their mothers were special because they were good cooks. Ian Christian-son's mom makes good macaroni and cheese. Isiah Allen said his grandma did most of the cooking at his house because his mother usually works nights.

To help their moms at home, many of the children said they do chores. Perce Nording feeds his fish, Benjamin Aho helps his mom with the dishes, Logan Finnegan had a long list of chores.

"I feed the cats, water and feed the dog, brush my teeth, do my spelling, read out loud and lots of other stuff," he said.

Bret Lukes' mom is good at air hockey. Lance Wallis' mother likes enchiladas and playing a word guessing game that she always wins.

Cleo Kiker said she had a hard time leaving her mother when she first went to preschool.

"I cried a lot," Cleo said, "but my mom was always waiting for me when preschool was over."

Sheila Donnelly can be reached at 434-2233 or by e-mail at :mailto:newsroom@austindailyherald.com