I hope you and yours enjoyed a warm and heartfelt Mother's
Day.
Did you know that while not the actual beginning of today’s
Mother’s Day celebration, the ancient annual spring festival the Greeks dedicated
to their maternal goddesses is generally regarded as somewhat of a precursor to
it? Admittedly, some pundits are divided on
this issue. Nonetheless, the Greeks used the
occasion to honor Rhea, wife of Cronus and the mother of many deities of Greek
mythology. Ancient Romans, too, celebrated
a spring festival, called Hilaria, which was dedicated to Cybele, a mother
goddess.
It may be noted that ceremonies in honor of Cybele began
some 250 years before Jesus was born.
The celebration during in the Ides of March was made by making offerings
in the temple of Cybele, which lasted for three days and included parades,
games and masquerades. Over time, the
celebrations became so notorious that followers of Cybele were eventually
banished from Rome.
Early Christians celebrated a Mother's Day of sorts during
the festival on the fourth Sunday of Lent in honor of the Virgin Mary, the
mother of Jesus. However, the roots of
today’s present Mother's Day history can also be traced in UK where a
“Mothering Sunday” was celebrated much before the festival saw the light of day
in the U.S. It was expanded to include
all mothers. A more recent history of
Mother’s Day dates back to 1600s in England.
It was celebrated annually on the fourth Sunday of Lent (the 40-day
period leading up to Easter) to honor mothers.
After a prayer service in church to honor the Virgin Mary, children
brought gifts and flowers to pay tribute to their own mothers. On this occasion, servants, apprentices and
other employees staying away from their homes ― and there were many of them ―
were encouraged by their employees to visit their own mothers and honor them.
Traditionally, children brought gifts and a special fruit cake or fruit-filled
pastry called a simnel. Yugoslavs and
people in other nations have observed similar days celebrating mothers. While most countries celebrate Mother’s Day
in May, usually the second Sunday of the month, in other parts of the world,
Mother’s Day is celebrated at different times of the year and with different
customs.
Origins of Mother's Day in the Land of Lady Liberty
The idea of the official celebration of Mother’s Day in the
U.S. was first suggested by Julia Ward Howe. An abolitionist, activist, writer and poet, Julia Ward How is known for her famous Civil War song, “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” She wrote a passionate appeal to women and urged them to rise against war in her famous “Mother’s Day
Proclamation,” which she had written in Boston in 1870. In 1872, Julia Ward Howe suggested that June
2nd be annually celebrated as Mother’s Day, asking women from around the world
to join together for peace. Unfortunately,
her efforts proved unsuccessful, and she openly began to wonder if Independence
Day on July 4th could be reconfigured into her vision of “Mother’s Day.” Her
idea evolved and was later replaced by the Mother's Day holiday now celebrated in
May.
Last year, our modern-day Mother's Day celebrated its 100th
birthday. It was founded for the
mourning women to remember soldiers who’d died in battle and to work for
peace. When the holiday began to take on
overtly commercial overtones, another of its greatest champions, Anna Reeves Jarvis,
tried vehemently to fight it, but ended up dying a pauper and broken in a
sanitarium.
According to an article, “Mother’s Day Turns 100: Its
Surprisingly Dark History,” published last year by “National Geographic”: “In
the 1850s a West Virginia woman, Ann Reeves Jarvis, Anna's mother, held
Mother's Day work clubs to improve sanitary conditions and try to lower infant
mortality by fighting disease and curbing milk contamination. The group also tended wounded soldiers from
both sides during the U.S. Civil War from 1861 to 1865. In the postwar years, Jarvis and other women
organized Mother's Friendship Day picnics and other events as pacifist
strategies to unite former foes … Around this same time, Jarvis had initiated a
Mother's Friendship Day for Union and Confederate loyalists across her
state. But it was her daughter, Anna,
who was most responsible for what we call Mother's Day ― and who would spend
most of her later life fighting what it had become.”
While Anna Jarvis didn’t have children of her own, the death
of her own mother served as inspiration for her to organize some of the first
official Mother’s Day observances in her hometown of Grafton West Virginia in
1908. On May 10th of that year, families gathered at a church, which has since
been renamed the International Mother’s Day Shrine. Other Mother’s Day events
were held in Philadelphia, where Jarvis was living at that time and in several
other US cities. It was primarily from Anna Jarvis’ work that Mother’s Day
became a national holiday, as seven years later, in 1914, U.S. President
Woodrow Wilson officially proclaimed the second Sunday in May as the official
holiday.
Originally devoid of all the commercial trappings associated
with it today, Jarvis’conception of Mother’s Day included spending time with one’s mother and personally expressing gratitude for all that she did. “It wasn't to celebrate all mothers. It was to celebrate the best mother you've
ever known ― your mother ― as a son or a daughter,” states West Virginia
Wesleyan College graduate Katharine Antolini, who authored “Memorializing
Motherhood: Anna Jarvis and the Defense of Her Mother’s Day” as her Ph.D.
dissertation. That's why Jarvis stressed the singular “Mother's Day,” rather
than the plural “Mothers’ Day,” Antolini explains. However, the increasing
commercialization of the holiday eventually led Jarvis to perceive her initial
success as a failure.
“Anna Jarvis's idea of an intimate Mother's Day quickly
became a commercial gold mine centering on the buying and giving of flowers,
candies, and greeting cards ― a development that deeply disturbed Jarvis,”
according to the “National Geographic” article. “She set about dedicating
herself and her sizable inheritance to returning Mother's Day to its reverent
roots. Jarvis incorporated herself as
the Mother's Day International Association and tried to retain some control of
the holiday. She organized boycotts,
threatened lawsuits, and even attacked First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt for using
Mother's Day to raise funds for charities … Jarvis's fervent attempts to reform
Mother's Day continued until at least the early 1940s. In 1948 she died at 84 in Philadelphia's
Marshall Square Sanitarium.
“‘This woman, who died penniless in a sanitarium in a state
of dementia, was a woman who could have profited from Mother's Day if she
wanted to,”Antolini says. ‘But she railed against those who did, and it cost
her everything, financially and physically.’”
Today, Mother's Day, like many other contemporary holidays,
comes gift wrapped in overt consumerism.
According to the National Retail Federation, Americans will spend an
average of $162.94 on their mothers this year, down from a survey high of
$168.94 last year. Total spending is
expected to reach nearly $20 billion. The National Restaurant Association
states Mother’s Day is the most popular holiday for dining out. Furthermore, more phone calls are made on
Mother’s Day than on any other day of the year. These holiday chats with mom
can cause the phone to traffic to spike as much as 37%.
We can, of course, argue the points regarding how Mother's
Day has become so commercialized. Of
course, the same can be said of many other religious and non-religious
holidays. But the commercial element embracing
mommy dearest is here to stay. Retailers stay in business to make a profit,
while we have that not-so-gentle nudge to do something nice for someone we
love.
In recent years, adult children have started to take a look
at where they spend their money in expressing their love and appreciation for their mothers (and nowadays, mother’s in law, grandmothers, aunts, etc.). In some cases, help in purchasing a home, help in purchasing a condo or renting an apartment in a retirement community, or perhaps something even more personal. For example, the Walk-in Bathtub has become a product of need among seniors. Many have seen commercials about them on TV,
Internet and in print, and maybe even received information by mail. The Walk-in Tub is something many seniors
need, which may not be affordable, especially for someone living on a fixed
retirement income. Companies such as Tub King, Inc. have always strived to make
these tubs affordable for seniors.
Unlike some companies that try to bilk would-be buyers out
of their hard-earned money to buy a Walk-in tub, (read our previous blog, “Is the
Walk-in Tub a Scam?”) since its inception 14 years ago, Tub King has always
done its very best to keep both the purchasing and installation fees on its
various models as affordable as possible. My brother, Kerry (now retired from Tub King)
and I have an elderly mother, so we empathize with those who want to ensure
that their parents are safe and comfortable, particularly in the bathroom,
which statistically is the most dangerous room in the house for the elderly.
This unique, high-tech but easy-to-operate bathtubs offer
the opportunity for independent bathing, safety from falling when getting in
and out of the bathtub due to its low threshold, hydrotherapy options for
various pains and ailments that are associated with aging, and importantly,
peace of mind for users and their children.
They’re a great way to tell your mom “I love you” on Mother's Day.
Another product that mothers of adult children are
gravitating towards these days are Tub King’s new Safety Suite Showers. There
are two main designs ― a low threshold and a zero threshold ― and each comes
with a variety of options such as the drain orientation (left, center, right),
the type of in-shower seat, the type/color of tile, etc. There are also safety-designed accessories that are fitted with built-in grab bars such as towel racks, paper roll stands, shelves, etc.
In this article, I discussed the origins and history of
Mother’s Day, heralding back to ancient Greece and Rome. I also talked about
two of its main proponents in the U.S., Julia Ward Howe and Anna Reeves Jarvis.
The article goes on to discuss two very popular bathroom products for mothers
(and dads, too), Tub King’s Walk-in Tub and Safety Suite Showers.
Tub King Customer Testimonial for Walk-in Tub
If you found this
article useful, please share it with your family, friends and co-workers. If
you have a comment related to this article, leave it in the Comment section of
this blog. Thanks again for visiting with us.
If you’d like to receive a FREE Walk-in Tub Buyers’ Guide,
fill out the form below.
If you’d like to receive a FREE Clawfoot Tub Buyers’ Guide,
fill out the form below.
Have a question? Feel free to contact me at the number or
email listed at the end of this article and I will personally get back to you. It’s been my pleasure sharing this
information with you.
Alan Knight has many years of experience in the
antique and senior bathtub industries. His companies not only provide superior
products, they are also multi-award winners, receiving the “Best of
Jacksonville Chamber Award” four years running. If you’d like to contact Tub
King, call (800) 409-3375 or (800) 843-4231; or send an email to Alan@tubking.com.
As we all know, the purchase of a home is probably the
largest investment most people will make in their lifetime. Stories abound of hapless homeowners who made
a purchase too quickly before they checked out the details. Let's take a look at some important areas
where investigative research is vital.
Is the house in a quiet neighborhood? Check out the area around the house you’re
considering. Is it near a busy street or
intersection? Is it along a train route? Some train routes allow for as many as
10 trains in a single day. That means
traffic is snarled and the train horn will blare over and over again. What about traffic flow? I was once very much in love with a property
that was walking distance to the beach.
The problem my wife and I discovered was that a major traffic
intersection was only one block away from the house. You could actually see the primary traffic
light from the deck out back. Car horns
would blow, tires would screech, and it destroyed the tranquil perception of
the property that I had initially envisioned.
There were also restaurants and bars all along the highway, which also added
to the traffic problems.
Photo Credit: jacksonville.com
Another major consideration, “Is my house in the flight path
of an airport?” When planes fly over
your house in a low descent as they approach a runway, or a high-pitched,
full-throttle ascent when taking off, the high decibels can shake your house
and rattle the dishes, not to mention your nerves. In Jacksonville, Florida where Tub King is
located, there is the Naval Air Station Jacksonville across the river from our
office. Even though it’s 15 miles away, sometimes its jets and big propeller planes
fly overhead and they can be quite loud.
Do some checking before you buy. Is
the house really located in a quiet community that it appears to be on the
surface?
Photo Credit: jacksonville.com
Is there adequate drainage around the property? Years ago, my wife and I decided to rent an
oceanfront condo for a couple of years.
We were soon hooked with living on the seashore. Coming home from work each day and being able
to walk out on the balcony to a breathtaking view of the Atlantic Ocean was
addicting. Our regular morning walk on
the beach while drinking our cup of java was something I’ll never forget. We thought seriously about making an offer to
purchase the property. However, there
were two huge problems with it: First,
the streets along the ocean drive had poor drainage. During a rain storm ― and there are many in
Florida, especially during the summer and early fall ― the streets would all
flood. I'm talking about a foot or more
of water. During hurricane season, there
was no question about it: evacuation time.
The other issue was the dampness.
You might expect any property located next to the ocean to have some
element of dampness. However, this was problematic. The bedroom overlooking the ocean had
developed mold in the closets and along the baseboards. The water inside the house and the
neighborhood ruined the view and experience of the water outside.
Photo Credit: lushome.com
Is there adequate storage? Does the house you're looking at
have an attic? There should be stairs
leading to an attic space, either in the garage or a hallway inside. It’s normally a pull-down ladder to make the
best use of space. Check and make sure
plywood has been placed over the ceiling joists. If properly supported, you should be able to
walk on it and find significant floor space to store household things. Of course, another option would be a
basement. Make sure the basement stays
dry year round before storing boxes and valuables that can be damaged by
moisture. If the property has a garage,
there might be additional storage area there. Older homes had minimal closet
space and hardly any walk-in closets. If that’s the case with the home you’re
considering purchasing, make sure you can live with its limited storage space.
How old is the roof? By today's standards, roofing shingles
should last you 15 to 20 years. If you’re
looking at a much older home, have it inspected. If it’s a flat roof or with only a slight
pitch, examine the material that covers it.
There are membranes today that are much better than the asphalt and
gravel solutions of yesterday as these would typically leave ridges and spikes
that could cause leaks.
Photo Credit: littleheroes.com
Make sure the previous owners didn’t try to do a “cover up”
and stage things before you viewed the house. When you walk through the house
the first time, look for cleverly placed mirrors, strategically situated
lighting, enticing smells, cozy fireplaces and especially the obvious odor of
fresh paint. Check to see if the window
frames have paint that’s cracking. The external window frame is a great
indicator of the state of the house. If
you can easily push your finger into a wooden window frame, it’s usually
rotten. If there is condensation between
double-glazed window-panels, it means they’re faulty.
Does the house have modern bathroom designs? Older homes
were notorious for having small bathrooms.
Some actually bordered on ridiculous.
Building a bathroom that is 5' x 4' is more like today's powder
room. You must ask yourself, “Can I live
with a bathroom that small?” Of course, there’s always the option of remodeling
and expanding its size, but when you do, you have just added a sizable amount
to the overall price of the home.
Photo Credit: tubking.com
Another common feature in many homes is the ubiquitous
fiberglass shower/tub combo. You can give your bathroom an entirely new look
and feel by replacing that tub with a standalone cast iron/porcelain Clawfoot or Pedestal Tub. Or, consider choosing a handsome model from
our new line of Solid Surface tubs. If you’re looking to enhance the safety of your
bathroom there is the option of our Walk-in tubs. These have a low threshold, so it’s easy to
get into and out of the tub. Similarly, we now carry Safety Suite Showers, with both low threshold and zero
threshold designs.
Are the bathroom fixtures and plumbing in poor condition? If
the pipes are made of lead, they’ll have to be replaced. If the bathtub or sink is made of metal, the
drain may be rusting. The faucets may be
leaking due to worn seals. They also may
be severely tarnished. Is the tub’s or
shower’s porcelain chipping or discoloring?
You might want to consider taking that old, ugly tub out and replacing
with something modern, like a beautiful cast iron/porcelain Clawfoot tub. Even
a small bathroom can accommodate certain models.
Photo Credit: calbath.com
There is another option if you’re on a very tight
budget. Consider having the current tub
or sink refinished. There are
refinishing companies in almost every city, in many cases, a dozen or
more. They’ll come to your home and
refinish your old tub to render it into a like-new appearance, and this way,
you won’t have to replace the old tub. Everything is done in place, and it can
normally be completed in less than a day.
Do the counter tops need replacing? Many of today’s counter
top materials are attractive and highly durable. Another thing about giving the bathrooms a
look-over. Check to see if there is
enough water pressure. Again, some of
the older homes may not be up to today's standards, but this, too, can be
corrected.
Photo Credit: makinghouseahome.blogspot.com
If you really like the property, it would behoove you to
have a professional inspection done before you decide to move forward with
purchasing it. Once it passes
professional muster, then it’s time to arrange a second viewing for a different
time of day, and scout out the local area a little more to make sure it’s the
kind of neighborhood you can live in. When
checking out the property a second time, ask yourself, “Can I make this house
my home?”
In this article, I discussed several key points to consider
and investigate when shopping for a new house. For example, I discussed the
importance of location; the roof; drainage issues; the state of the current
bathroom, bathtub, shower and sink; and other key factors that are important in
your home buying decision process.
If you found this article useful, please share it with your family, friends and
co-workers. If you have a comment related to this article, leave it in the
Comment section of this blog. Thanks again for visiting with us.
Tub King Customer Testimonial
If you’d like to receive a FREE Clawfoot Tub Buyers’ Guide, fill out the form
below.
If you’d like to receive a FREE Walk-in Tub Buyers’ Guide,
fill out the form below.
Have a question? Feel free to contact me at the number or
email listed at the end of this article and my brother, Alan, who heads up Tub
King, will personally get back to you. It’s been my pleasure sharing this
information with you.
Kerry Knight, now retired, is the former co-owner of Tub King, Inc. and SeniorBathtub.com in Jacksonville,
Florida. He and his brother, Alan Knight, have many years of experience in
the antique and senior bathtub industries. Their companies not only provide
superior products, they are also award winners, receiving the “Best of
Jacksonville Chamber Award” four years running. To contact Tub King directly,
call (800)843-4231 or email alan@tubking.com.
Noted American author, Tad Williams, once said, “Never make
your home in a place. Make a home for yourself inside your own head.”
So you have some ideas you’ve been thinking about, and
you're finally getting around to doing that remodeling job on your
house. Spring is that time of year when
most of us, after spending much time during the winter staring at the walls,
decide to put some long-thought-about ideas into motion. This means you can now take your renewed
positive attitude, motivation and home remodeling skills to good use. However, before tackling a major project,
let's look at some ideas you may have overlooked.
We have many customers that come to our showroom looking for
remodeling solutions, especially in their bathrooms. One family wanted a very nice bathtub, but
also wanted to include a separate, freestanding shower unit. The problem was they couldn't afford
both. In the end, they chose to spend a
little extra on the tub, a beautiful, deep-soaking Clawfoot tub, and economized
on a separate shower with sliding doors.
The wife dressed up the drab shower by putting a handsome, fabric shower
curtain to hide the sliding doors.
I’ve purchased many houses over the years, and one thing I
always do is to make sure the property is expandable. By that I mean are the property’s boundaries and set-backs such that I could add an extra room in the future if I so chose? If the house is on a foundation with “crawl space” it could be rather expensive to expand the floor system. A slab would be a little easier to work with,
but don't forget the cost of drawing up plans, pouring more concrete, and more
importantly, making sure the addition fits the current footprint design. Many people have created an oddity with their
home by randomly adding rooms and extensions that don't follow the original
footprint concept. A once-beautiful home
can become an “albatross” if over-all design is not taken into
consideration. A wise choice would be to
hire a professional designer to help with this before you start.
Let's talk about the kitchen for a moment. As you know, counter tops are a real focal
point in any kitchen. The old style of
laminate counter tops are being replaced with abandon by most homeowners. That style has never had a reputation for
holding up very well over time. A
“laminate” is just that, a shallow surface of vinyl or plastic that is
laminated over pressed board. The
corners are notorious for being easily damaged.
The surface will start to lift over time, regardless of the care.
Thank goodness for innovation. Today,
granite countertops are the craze.
However, even newer are the engineered quartz counter tops. Two words about counter tops: remember resale. Spend a little and it usually pays off in the
long run. In one of the houses we built
some years ago, we decided on laminate
counter tops to make sure we stayed within our budget. We took good care of them over the years and
they still looked good after ten years of living there. But, when we decided to sell, and before we
put the house on the market, we spent a little money and replaced them with
granite. It was a wise decision. The house sold quickly and the new homeowners
could only rave about how beautiful the new counter tops were.
Another thing about kitchen remodeling, unless you’re a
professional cook or money is no object, don't buy an expensive
commercial-style range and fridge. There
are many mid-priced, great looking appliances out there. Appliances can be plenty big for your needs,
so start with what you can afford. When
I was growing up in the 1960s, we always had the same Frigidaire refrigerator. It was more like an old-time icebox. The inside was about half the size of modern,
regular size refrigerators, with a place for two ice trays in the top. There was no freezer portion to speak of and
it was about two feet shorter than today's versions. So today, be practical. You can always move up to something larger
and nicer later. Save your money for
custom cabinets and countertops.
There is a trend now to make the kitchen and bathroom huge, but they needn't be — after
all, they're also the most expensive rooms to build. Opt for functionality over size. A nice touch in a shared bathroom is a
separate room for the toilet. It can be
relatively small, but include a window to provide light and a feeling of connecting with the outdoors.
Choose shower curtains over custom shower doors. Glass doors cost about $1,500, and they
require a good deal of maintenance. Soap
film build-up is one problem, requiring the need to squeegee them every time
you take a shower. On the positive
side, great-looking fabric shower curtains are very affordable, plus they add
color and design to the shower area. And, if you get tired of the curtain color
or design, you can always change it for little money.
Here is another tip for the bathroom: Buy a good toilet ― the new ones are quiet
and use less water. Most showrooms don't
have working models, so be sure to check the reviews. Dual-flush models are a good option.
Throughout the house, keep the windows the same size, if
possible. That said, you can also make a spectacular change with really big windows or French doors. Increasing natural light is always a good
investment. If you have single glass
windows ― even if they're in decent shape ― it may be worth replacing them with
insulated windows, which will save money on heating and cooling and also help
reduce noise. Also, insulate all
exterior walls and ceilings. If you open
any internal walls, put in insulation, particularly around bedrooms and
bathrooms. It's cheap and it helps
reduce sound.
Small areas to consider are door hardware and light fixtures. Many homes have the typical cream-colored
light and receptacle plates. By simply
upgrading to something as simple as pewter light fixtures will speak volumes about quality and
elegance. Light fixtures in old houses
are normally ugly, discolored and out of date.
Bedrooms nowadays are fitted with ceiling fans, which come
with their own light package. It’s easy to catch a sale on ceiling fans. They sometimes run as low as $59or $69. If you’re ever considering a future resale,
this is invaluable. And don't forget the
porch, especially a screened-in porch. A
ceiling fan that is rated for outdoor use can turn the porch into a key
gathering spot.
Never underestimate the transforming power of color. Paint offers immediate gratification. Even the good stuff is relatively
inexpensive, and a careful amateur can do a good job. Hate the look of your house? Try a fresh coat of new paint first.
These are just a few suggestions for keeping your home
beautiful and functional. “There is
nothing like staying at home for real comfort,” wrote English novelist, Jane
Austen, in the 18th century. Her wise words
ring true even today. Make your home a
place of leisure that you can be proud to show off.
In this article, I discussed some useful ideas for spring remodeling
such as adding a cast iron/porcelain Clawfoot tub, upgrading kitchen
countertops, adding new ceiling fans, replacing electric plates with pewter,
repainting rooms, and myriad other suggestions.
If you’d like some suggestions and professional advice about
what type of bathing solution would work for your bathroom remodeling project,
whether it’s a Clawfoot or Pedestal tub, a Walk-in tub or a Safety Suite
Shower, Tub King’s experts are here to help.
If you found this article useful, please share it with your
family, friends and co-workers. If you have a comment related to this article,
leave it in the Comment section of this blog.
Thanks again for visiting with us.
Testimonial for Tub King's Pedestal Tub
Have a question? Feel free to contact me at the number or email listed at the
end of this article and I’ll personally get back to you.
If you’d like to receive a FREE Walk-In Tub Buyers’ Guide, click
here.
If you’d like to receive a FREE Clawfoot
Tub Buyers’ Guide, click here.
Alan Knight is the owner of Tub King, Inc., and SeniorBathtub.com in Jacksonville,
Florida. He has many years of experience in the antique and senior bathtub
industries. His companies not only provide superior products, they are also
award winners, receiving the “Best of Jacksonville Chamber Award” four years
running. To contact Tub King directly, call (800)843-4231 or
email alan@tubking.com.
