I know Mother’s Day can feel especially heavy this year.
To my friends facing your first Mother’s Day without your mom:
Today might feel like a mix of love and ache all at once. It’s okay if you don’t feel like celebrating. It’s okay if you want to celebrate, or if you want to keep the day quiet. Both are valid ways to honor her and yourself.
Your grief is proof of how deeply you were loved, and how much you loved her. The empty wheelchair, or bed.. the unsent message, the tradition you can’t do the same way – those moments hurt because she mattered.
This year, you’re allowed to:
– Remember her out loud. Say her name. Share a story that makes you smile or cry.
– Change the ritual. Light a candle, visit a place she loved, cook her recipe, or do nothing at all.
– Feel joy and sorrow in the same breath. One doesn’t cancel the other.
You’re not alone in this. I see you carrying her with you, even when it’s hard. Your mom’s love didn’t end; it changed form, and it’s still part of who you are.
If today gets too much, step away. Be gentle with yourself. And when you’re ready, let yourself notice one small thing she taught you that still shows up in your life today.
Thinking of you today, and holding space for all the feelings that come with it. 🤍