As is Tico tradition, Mother's Day was celebrated with fanfare liken to that of Christmas yesterday, even though it was work and school as usual for most mothers and their loved ones.
Because of a law that moves holidays that fall mid-week to the following Monday, the official Mother's Day holiday will be observed Aug. 20. Legislators recently passed a law changing Mother's Day back to the traditional Aug. 15, but they didn't do so in time for this year's celebration.
Nevertheless, many observed the holiday yesterday, as evidenced by stores and stands packed with people buying flowers and other gifts, restaurants offering special deals and even President Oscar Arias making stops to address two unique groups of mothers: policewomen and prisoners.
At the Public Security Ministry, a ceremony honored the approximately 170 women who serve as police officers. Arias informed them of three new agreements aimed at helping their families. Children of National Police officers will have access to government day-care centers, and will be eligible for the Avancemos program, through which families receive money each month to keep their kids in school. Finally, an agreement with Banco Popular's Community Development branch will allow police access to special financing for their families' needs.
At the Buen Pastor Women's Prison, south of San José, prisoners listened to speeches by Arias, Justice Minister Laura Chinchilla and Housing Minister Fernando Zumbado and watched a traditional dance performance by a group of their fellow inmates.
Since children under age 3 are allowed to stay at the prison with their sentenced mothers, several little ones sat on laps or scampered around during the speeches.
The President's message focused on education. He announced that the children of prisoners will be eligible for the Avancemos program and promised to look into getting a few computers at the prison for women to learn how to use them and hopefully apply this knowledge in future jobs.
Ruth Morán, 34, was among those who sat holding a baby, her son José Luis, just 22 days old.
“It's difficult,” having him with her at prison, she said. “These aren't the right conditions for a child.”
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