“All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.”- Abraham Lincoln
This Mother’s Day, I’m reflecting on what it truly means to mother. Not just the role we play for our children, but the love, care, and time we so freely give to everyone—often at the cost of our own well-being.
🌸 A Tribute to Mom
My mother is a gem. Selfless, strong, and endlessly devoted. We call her “The Energizer Bunny” because she just keeps going. Always doing, always giving. Slowing down only recently, she still rarely does things just for herself. I’ve tried to introduce her to baths and essential oils, but she’d rather “pound the pavement” in her go-go-go style. And while I admire her strength, I sometimes wish she’d rest more because she deserves it.
💛 What Is Mothering?
Mothering is an act of devotion. It’s love expressed through service: preparing meals, wiping tears, driving to school, folding laundry, holding space. It’s a job without days off, a role that lives in the details. A woman at a baby shower once wrote in a guest book, “Babies are forever.” That stuck with me. Because being a mom is forever. It’s beautiful. And it’s exhausting.
🕊 The Forgotten Art of Self-Mothering
When my sister Sophie became a new mom, she introduced “rest time.” Her daughter played alone while Mama caught her breath. This simple idea taught me something: mothers can take breaks. They should. Self-care isn’t selfish—it’s survival. Whether it’s a walk, a creative hobby, or an ice cream cone in silence, these moments aren’t luxuries. They’re essential.
🌿 A Lesson from the Fireplace
One of my favorite childhood memories? The electricity went out in our San Francisco home. My mom had just come home from a long day of work—where she was literally paid in sausages. (Yes, sausages!) Instead of collapsing, she lit a fire, grabbed those sausages, found some skewers, and turned a dark, inconvenient night into an indoor camping adventure. We roasted dinner by the fire, told stories, and laughed. We still talk about that night.
It reminded me then—and reminds me now—that even in exhaustion, joy can be created. That’s the magic of a mother’s love: turning chaos into connection, even with just a fireplace and a few sausages.
🔁 When the Table Turns
I wrote all this years ago, back when I was simply observing the incredible woman my mother was. Now, life has come full circle. I find myself stepping into a new role—being the one who cares for her. The pace has slowed, and the woman who once carried so much on her shoulders now leans on mine. The roles shift, and while it’s bittersweet, it’s also deeply beautiful. Because this, too, is mothering. It’s giving and receiving, in new forms. And in all of it—through every change—I realize how lucky we are to have one another.
🍪 A Mother’s Day Action Nibble
This week, block out one hour just for you. Put it on your calendar. Make it sacred.
Whether you breathe in peppermint oil, take a lavender-scented bath, or sit in a quiet café with your journal—let that hour be yours.
Because Mother’s Day isn’t only about honoring your care for others.
It’s about remembering you’re worthy of that same care, too.
Final Thought
To my mom—and to all the mothers who give and give—thank you. You are extraordinary.
And if no one has told you lately: you deserve rest, joy, pleasure, and peace.
This Mother’s Day, may you not only be celebrated…
But may you celebrate yourself.
Clarity Cookies 
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