Mother’s Day

Alice Ranker
May 10
3 min read

A Celebration of All Who Mother

Today is Mother’s Day. For some, it’s a joyful, flower-filled celebration—breakfast in bed, handmade cards, and laughter. For others, it’s a day of quiet ache—a reminder of loss, longing, or complex relationships.

Wherever this day finds you, I want to honor you.

To the moms in the trenches of diapers and sleepless nights…

To the women guiding teenagers through stormy seas…

To the grandmothers, stepmoms, and foster moms…

To the aunties, mentors, teachers, and neighbors who mother with fierce love…

To the women who never had children but have mothered many…

To those who lost their mothers—whether recently or long ago…T

o those whose relationships with their mothers were painful or broken…

And to the mothers who have lost children—at any age, in any way—you carry unimaginable grief. You are still, and always, their mother.

You are seen. You are loved. You are not alone.

Seasons of Mothering

Mothering takes on many forms. It shifts and stretches through seasons, each one shaping us.

Infancy is tender and raw. You become the entire world to a tiny person. It’s a time of sacrifice and fierce love, where every smile or snuggle is a sacred reward.

Toddlerhood brings big emotions in small bodies. You’re a translator, protector, and teacher. Amid tantrums and sticky hugs, you lay foundations.

School-age years are when personalities bloom. You see glimpses of the person they’re becoming. It’s a season of building confidence, routine, and connection.

Teenage years are equal parts beautiful and brutal. You may feel pushed away just as you long to hold them close. This is when your presence, even when quiet, matters more than ever.

Adulthood brings new dynamics—your role shifts from manager to mentor. You cheer from the sidelines. You support. You let go. Sometimes they soar, sometimes they stumble. But your love endures.

When You’ve Lost a Child

For mothers who have experienced the devastating loss of a child, today may be excruciating. Whether it was miscarriage, stillbirth, illness, accident, estrangement, or a life cut far too short—your love doesn’t end. Your motherhood doesn’t vanish. It lives in your heart, in the stories you carry, and in the sacred act of remembering.

Grief has no timeline. And on days like this, it may sit right at the surface. Please know this: your pain is real, and your love is eternal. You are a mother. Always.

When Seasons Are Hard

We’ve all had moments, maybe even years, when we feel like we got it wrong. Maybe we were too tired, too stressed, too broken to be the mom we wanted to be. Maybe life didn’t unfold the way we pictured.

But there is always room for grace. To repair, to grow, to soften. Whether with your children, your own mother, or within yourself—healing is possible. One conversation, one brave moment at a time.

When Seasons Are Sweet

When life feels light—hold it close. Savor the cuddles, the jokes, the unexpected “I love yous.” Pause the to-do list and stay in the moment. These are the golden threads you’ll treasure forever.

To the Women Who Mother in Other Ways

Not every mother looks the same. Some nurture through mentoring, fostering, teaching, or simply showing up when others can’t. If you've ever listened, held space, made a meal, stayed up late, or stood in the gap—you have mothered. And the world is better for it.

A Few Gentle Resources

Books for the Journey:

The Gift of Imperfection by Dr Brene Brown
Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab
Good Inside by Dr Becky Kennedy
The Gifts of an Ordinary Day by Katrina Kenison

Ideas for Today:

Light a candle for a child or mother no longer here.
Write a letter—to your mom, your child, or your younger self.
Reach out to a woman who’s made a difference in your life.
Take a walk. Breathe deeply. Let your heart feel what it needs to.

You Are Enough

Mother’s Day isn’t only about biological ties or picture-perfect moments. It’s about love, sacrifice, grief, hope, and the lifelong act of nurturing. However you’ve mothered—and however you’ve been mothered—your story matters.

Whether you’re celebrating today, grieving, or holding both joy and sorrow in the same breath, I see you.

Happy Mother’s Day. 💐

Much love,