We walk a bit off the beaten path to salute these mothers—who might not otherwise be getting a card this year.
Mother Hubbard
The nursery rhyme mama, best known for “fetching her poor dog a bone,” has been around since 1805.
The Mothers of Invention
Frank Zappa later shortened the name of his 1960s-’70s backing band to simply The Mothers— coincidentally, on Mother’s Day.
Ma Barker
She’s often portrayed as a mob mastermind of the Al Capone era, but many believe Arizona Donnie Barker was more granny than gangster.
Mommie Dearest
Christina Crawford’s memoir—adapted into a camp-classic movie starring Faye Dunaway— portrayed her actress mom Joan Crawford in a most unf lattering light.
Mother Nature
The first written use of the term in English, referring to the Earth’s life-giving, nurturing features, was in 1266—although the concept can be traced to ancient times.
