Behind the Scenes With the Moms who Create Mother's Day Cards

CLEVELAND, April 30 /PRNewswire/ -- If you're amazed at how well the Mother's Day cards you send this year capture your own personal feelings, here's the American Greetings (AM) secret: Many of the cards are written by women who are moms themselves. Senior writer/editor, Nicole Fraser, for instance, raised two boys. "My family experiences provide an incredible dimension to my writing for Mother's Day," she said. "I think about the words I'd like to read from my sons and how it feels to be loved and appreciated, and that inspires me to write Mother's Day messages I think will tug at other moms' heartstrings, too." One of Nicole's favorite self-composed Mother's Day card sentiments reads, in part: "If a mother could see herself through her son's eyes, she would see kindness ... she would see beauty ... she would see love. When I think about the things that mean the most to me in life, Mom, I always think of your love and you." Special words for special relationships Personal experiences like Nicole's relationships with her sons are only part of the picture, however. Since there are so many definitions of family today, American Greetings' writers must be part-time armchair psychologists and full-time observers of human nature. They draw inspiration from a wide variety of sources, ranging from friends and family to snippets of conversation overheard in an airport or in a supermarket to relationships in the news. As writer/expectant mom Carolyn Koesters points out, "We want to have cards that are perfect for every special 'mother' relationship, not just our own. Today's diverse lifestyles and blended families require new types of cards and messages." There are cards suitable for giving to stepmoms, foster moms, aunts, sisters, daughters and caregivers who are "like a mother." One such card reads, "Because you're like a mother to me, I'm thinking of you on Mother's Day. Whenever I need advice, you're always there with an open mind and an understanding heart. I can't tell you how much that means to me. Hope you really feel appreciated today." Koesters explains, "We draw on our own experiences, but we also put ourselves in the minds of our children, our husbands, grandmothers and so on. It's just easier when you understand the dynamics of a close family relationship." The range of Mother's Day cards offered by American Greetings address close family relationships, as well as those that have had their share of ups and downs. One such card reads: "Mom, we may not always see things eye-to- eye, but we always seem to feel things heart-to-heart ... So, on Mother's Day, as always, I hope you know how very much you're loved. Happy Mother's Day." Walking through the card department this year, there are cards with sentiments from Koesters and Fraser, but more importantly, these cards say just what you want to say. Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link. Nicole Fraser http://www.profnet.com/ud_public.jsp?userid=77108 SOURCE American Greetings