Motherhood is the quiet courage of showing up every day, even when you’re exhausted and full of doubt. It’s wiping away tears—both theirs and your own—and somehow finding strength in the softness. Motherhood doesn’t come with a manual, yet it teaches you more than any book ever could. It’s a love that stretches you, humbles you, and ultimately transforms you in the most unexpected and beautiful ways.
On Mother’s Day, we pause to honor the women who mother: the birth givers, the adoptive parents, the stepmothers, the grandmothers, the aunties, the mother figures, and the women who nurture with open arms and open hearts. This is a love letter to all of you.
The Weight and Wonder of Motherhood
Motherhood asks for everything—and then some. It reshapes your identity, your time, and your energy. In those early days, you lose track of hours, of who you once were, of when you last ate a proper meal. Your heart lives outside your body now. Every disappointment and heartbreak is experienced and feels like your own. Every triumph they have becomes your proudest moment.
Yet, somehow, even in the chaos, you grow stronger. You become more tender, more resilient. You discover a kind of courage that doesn’t roar but whispers, I’ll try again tomorrow.
No two motherhood journeys are the same. Some women waited years to hear the word “Mommy.” Others became mothers through grief, through fertility battles, through surrogacy or foster care. Some women stepped in where others could not, becoming chosen moms—filling hearts that longed for love.
There are single mothers who carry the load alone, smiling through exhaustion. There are working moms juggling deadlines and daycare pickups, and stay-at-home moms wondering when anyone will see how hard they work. There are mothers who’ve lost children, whose arms ache with an invisible weight today. There are estranged mothers, healing mothers, new mothers, and seasoned ones still learning.
There is no one way to do it right. There is only your way, your love, your commitment.
Motherhood Is Found in the Small Moments
You may not always see it, but you are doing sacred work.
- When you make a snack just the way they like it, even though you’re tired.
- When you hold your tongue or offer attunement and support during moments of reactivity or irrationality, and meet it with grace.
- When you stay up late researching how to help them feel seen or getting their needs met.
- When you sit through a recital, a practice, moments of stress or distress—just being there.
Motherhood doesn’t need to look Instagram-perfect. It’s often found in the quiet, the messy, the overlooked. It’s the invisible stitching that consistently considers and upholds your higher-order family values. And more than anything, it’s in the actions you take, the way you show up, again and again.
The Guilt, the Grace, and the Growth
One of the most difficult parts of motherhood is the inner critic. You’ll wonder: Am I doing enough? Am I messing them up? Should I be more patient, more fun, more firm? The answer is always this: You are doing the best you can with what you have—and that is enough. If there’s room for growth, you will undoubtedly pursue it when you’re aware and ready to.
Motherhood requires you to grow alongside your children. You begin to reparent yourself. You notice the wounds from your own childhood, the patterns you want to change, and the boundaries you now understand are necessary. You begin healing—not just for them, but for you, too.
That kind of work? It’s extraordinary.
As psychologist Shefali Tsabary says in her book The Awakened Family: How to Raise Empowered, Resilient, and Conscious Children, “Our children are our awakeners. They challenge us, inspire us, and transform us” (Tsabary, 2017).
A Legacy of Love
What you give your children won’t be measured in perfectly curated moments or Pinterest-worthy crafts. It will be the way they feel when they’re with you. Safe. Loved. Accepted.
They may not remember every meal you cooked or how clean the house was. But they’ll remember the way you hugged them when they were scared. How you cheered the loudest at their game. How you apologized when you made a mistake. How your eyes lit up every time they walked into the room.
This is the legacy of motherhood: love, not perfection. Presence, not performance.
For the Mothers Still Becoming
Motherhood isn’t a destination; it’s a lifelong unfolding. You don’t arrive at “knowing it all.” You evolve with every age and stage. As your children grow, so do you.
Some days, motherhood will bring you to your knees. Other days, it will make your heart surge. There will be phases that break you open, and ones you’ll wish you could bottle forever.
Give yourself the grace to feel it all. Whatever shows up. The full array of thoughts and emotions. To cry in silence. To laugh out loud until your stomach aches. To say, “I need help.” To say, “I’m proud of myself.”
You are allowed to be both a masterpiece and a work in progress.
To All Mothers: You Are Seen
- To the new mom holding her baby with trembling hands: You’re doing better than you think.
- To the mom of teens who feels pushed away even though she’d do anything to connect: They still need you, deeply.
- To the mom who’s sending her child off to college: Your love will always be their anchor.
- To the grieving mother: Your love lives on in every beat of your heart.
- To the woman longing to be a mother: Your story matters. You are not alone.
The Love That Never Ends
Motherhood is the purest form of unconditional love this world knows. It’s fierce. It’s patient. It’s flawed and beautiful and brave. It’s a bond that transcends biology and bends time.
So, on Mother’s Day, take a moment to breathe. To reflect. To honor the path you’ve walked and the one ahead.
Whether you’re holding little hands or memories close, whether your arms are full or pained, know this: You are part of something sacred. You are seen. You are valued. You are deeply, endlessly loved.
Happy Mother’s Day. May your day be filled with peace, pride, and moments of joy that remind you just how deeply you are cherished.
To tap into your gratitude, here is a Guided Meditation for Mothers: Appreciation for All That You Are, led by me.