On Mother’s Day 2023

It’s been 34 years since I last celebrated Mother’s Day with my biological mother. Yet, I still feel the tug on my heartstrings whenever I see a photograph of her or a memory about her pops up out of nowhere. She certainly comes to mind in a big way on the holiday to celebrate all mothers.

Regardless of who we are and one’s station in life, all of us have mothers to thank for our very existence. It doesn’t matter whether you are a famous actor, a published author, an astronaut, a world leader, or someone’s acquaintance, we understand the meaning of motherhood and what our own mothers mean to us.

mom and me

My mom was a complicated woman. She grew up in abject poverty on the South Dakota prairie. She suffered through many hardships growing up and throughout her life. Mom endured numerous health problems including a bout of childhood scarlet fever–which damaged her heart. It was the heart condition that ultimately claimed mom’s life.

When all is said and done, children and their mothers share strong emotional bonds, this is true for adoptive mothers, step-mothers, and non-familial women who have nurtured us in some way. Today is the day we celebrate the women who take on the role of caregiver and nurturer. Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms!

Ciao

The Blue Jay of Happiness quotes author, educator, and orator, Booker T. Washington. “If I have done anything in life worth attention, I feel sure that I inherited the disposition from my mother.”