Compassion on Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers, grandmothers, and great grandmothers.
I want to acknowledge and show compassion to those who have lost a child, grandchild, or mother. My wish for you is to find some peace on the day, take some time for you, and know you are not alone. Perhaps there are memories to recall, navigate a new tradition, or find a space that works for you. My go to place is ice skating, my mediation. I glide across the ice and troublesome thoughts melt away.
I want to share some thoughts with you on how I feel about Mother’s Day.
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Mother’s Day is present on the calendar the second Sunday of May year after year. A date to celebrate mothers, grandmothers, and great grandmothers. Retailers have captured the opportunity to promote and increase sales with advertisements beginning months prior to May. No one can forget Mother’s Day.

Why do we need to focus and emphasize attention on one day? If you are a mother, you are a mother three hundred and sixty-five days of the year. If you have lost a child, a grandchild, are experiencing challenges conceiving a child, or your desire to be a mother is not happening, Mother’s Day is a date you want to erase off the calendar.

For me, many mixed emotions flutter for Mother’s Day and anxiety looming up to the date. I am a mother, grandmother, and a surviving sibling of two lost siblings. I have a pit in my stomach knowing what the day means for my mother, try to be there for her, overshadowing what I feel as a mother. I cannot imagine how horrible the day represents to my mother having lost two daughters. Children and grandchildren are a diversion, but the underlying sadness prevails. Somehow, we muddle through the day. At the completion of the day, we heave a sigh of relief it’s over, exhausted from the emotional upheaval.

My wise grown children suggested we have another day to celebrate Mother’s Day to take some of the pressure off. I appreciate their love and caring. I do not need to celebrate Mother’s Day. I am grateful to be a mother and a grandmother and cherish time with family.

I recall precious memories of celebrating Mother’s Day with my beloved sisters Margie and Jane dressing up in our party dresses going out to dinner or feeding the birds on The Boston Common with stale bread. Today, I hold on to the boxes of handmade cards from my two special daughters.

Motherhood is the greatest gift I acknowledge every day. I hope that anyone who has experienced losses will find some peace on Mother’s Day and know others share their compassion.