Now, I'm sure you will agree that everyday should be Mother's Day, but why one day in May? "Mother's Day" actually dates back to ancient Greece. England had a "Mothering Sunday" as long ago as the 1600's to honor their mothers. In the USA, Julia Ward Howe first suggested Mother's Day in 1872 as a day dedicated to peace. In 1907, Ana Jarvis wanted to promote a nationally celebrated Mother's Day. She and her friends wrote to ministers, businessmen, and politicians. By 1914, Ana succeeded and President Woodrow Wilson announced the 2nd Sunday in May as the national, official Mother's Day. Now, other countries around the world also celebrate Mother's Day.

Think about how you can make this day extra-special for your Mom. Some ideas are -- breakfast in bed, a handmade greeting card, and a gift you bought with your own allowance. Help fix dinner for Mom at home. Show Mom you care by being on your best behavior and allowing her to relax and do something that she enjoys.

May is National Strawberry Month. Strawberries have been around for many hundreds of years -- as far back as ancient Greek and Roman times. Shakespeare writes about them, they were eaten in Napoleon's court and the American Indians were eating them when the Colonists arrived. Did you know that the strawberry is a member of the rose family? And that it's the only fruit with its seeds on the outside?

A fun idea I found was to make Strawberry-stuffed French Toast. Crush strawberries; add to cream cheese with some sugar to taste. Using thick bread, make a pocket in the center of each piece. Stuff with strawberry cream cheese; then proceed to dip bread in egg mixture and fry until golden brown. Serve with powdered sugar or more crushed strawberries and sugar.

The fourth week in May is National Pickle Week. Cucumbers aren't the only things you can pickle. Green tomatoes, peppers and other fruits and vegetables can also be soaked and stored in brine (liquid containing salt and spices) for a delicious treat.

I once heard a fun definition of a pickle: "a pickle is a cucumber that turned sour after a jarring experience." Do you remember the old Mother Goose nursery rhyme, PETER PIPER? How fast can you say this?

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers; A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked. If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, How many pickled peppers did Peter Piper pick?

Heinz is one company that still makes and sells pickles. Henry J Heinz started this company in one room of his little house in Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania in 1869 - and we are still eating his pickles today, 138 years later!

Cinco de Mayo is another May holiday. Wikipedia tells us that Cinco de Mayo (" The Fifth of May" in Spanish) is a national holiday in Mexico, which is also widely celebrated in the United States. Cinco de Mayo celebrates the legendary Battle of Puebla, Mexico on May 5, 1862 in which a Mexican force of 4,500 men faced 6,000 men of the well-trained forces of Napoleon III's French Army. The battle, which lasted about four hours ended in a moral and military victory for the Mexican Army led by the 33-year-old General Ignacio Zaragoza. It is thought that the French Army would have invaded the United States if they won this battle.

For more fun, check out your local library or the Internet for more interesting facts about and fun things to do in May.