To all women who are mothers and to all of you who mother others: Happy Belated Mother's day!

Now that YOU have been celebrated and received the customary/mandatory flowers, card or for the luckiest the handmadenoodle necklace... let's talk about all the other mothers out there, indire need of a celebration too.

First your own Mom, who -despite all her faults and by now I hope your therapist agrees with you- survived motherhood!

And next, the mothers in the world who will not be receiving some of the $14 billion dollars -not a typo!- spent in the United States forMother's Day this year. Where did I get this number ? From theexcellent, as always, Sunday Op-Ed column of Nicholas Kristof, who wrote:

"And because so many people feel that way, some $14 billion will be spent in the United States for Mother’s Day this year,according to the National Retail Federation. That includes $2.9 billionin meals, $2.5 billion in jewelry and $1.9 billion in flowers. To putthat sum in context, it’s enough to pay for a primary school educationfor all 60 million girls around the world who aren’t attending school.That would pretty much end female illiteracy.... more in the New York Times. "

Nicholas D. Kristof and his wife Sheryl WuDunn know well their subject as they are co-authors of the recently acclaimed book: Half the Sky. Together, they won a Pulitzer Prize for their coverage of China. Theyhave also won a George Polk Award and an Overseas Press Club Award.

"Half the Sky is a passionate and persuasive plea to all of us to rise up and say ‘No more!’ to the 17th-century abuses to girls andwomen in the 21st-century world. This is a book that will pierce yourheart and arouse your conscience. It is a powerful piece of journalismby two masters of the craft who are tireless in their pursuit of one ofthe most shameful conditions of our time." says Tom Brokaw

Remember, it's never too late to celebrate anything! So pick up, read, give Half the Sky to everyone you know who's had a mother andparticipate in the collective rise for the awareness of the conditionof all women.

You want to do even more, log on halftheskymovement.org!

PS: She is French found some very cute pictures of Clooney on Kristof's Facebook Fan Page... doing good is always rewarded ;)