Mother’s Day is meant to be a celebration of motherhood. In an ideal world, we celebrate motherhood’s joys, sacrifices, and memories, either as moms or as children. The day is filled with bouquets and flowers handed to smiling women, quirky greeting cards, and brunches.
If you’re a mom this Mother’s Day, we want to remind you that motherhood is incredible and worthy of being celebrated. From the time you find yourself looking at a positive pregnancy test, everything changes, and soon, you’re raising the next generation. You begin to experience a new, different kind of love—one that’s whole and unconditional and seems to swell up out of nowhere. As a mother, you’ve created a new human being with your own body, and you have found the strength to care for them with everything you have.
Motherhood is also nuanced and often difficult. And for many women, motherhood is not easy to celebrate and the process of becoming a mother is filled with sacrifices.
This Mother’s Day, we know there is plenty to celebrate, but you might also experience a number of difficult emotions, especially if you’ve experienced child loss, the loss of your own mother, or simply a hard time with motherhood as a whole. If this is you, we invite you to give yourself plenty of grace and practice some of the following self-care tips to care for your soul this Mother’s Day.
Take a Break
Time is one of the most limited resources in motherhood, so consider taking a day of rest. Motherhood isn’t your only identity, but part of what makes you you. Outside of motherhood, you’re a whole person with needs, interests, and qualities. If you don’t have time to rest, you’re likely to become irritable, experience exhaustion, and even develop chronic health conditions brought on by stress. We encourage you to plan a day of rest this Mother’s Day.
Even if your kids are a bit older and self-sufficient, you’re likely pressed for personal time to focus on your own needs. Maybe you haven’t been able to take an “everything” shower in a while, cook a favorite meal, exercise, or focus on your hobbies. Ask your support system for help watching your kids and clear the entire day. Explore some of the ideas below to guide how you can use this time to reflect, refresh, and renew your energy.
You love your children—they made you a mom! But we encourage you to use the day to help you rest and become the best version of yourself for your little ones.
Prepare Before Mother’s Day
Regardless of your plans for Mother’s Day, we recommend preparing before the day arrives. As much as you can, prepare meals, clean around the house, and plan your clothes so you have fewer decisions to make that Sunday. Much of the stress of Mother’s Day comes from an expectation to handle plans for your immediate or wider family. Whatever plans you choose to make, whether for just yourself or for the whole family, we encourage you to make and communicate those plans early to minimize friction on the actual day.
Do Your Favorite Things
Mother’s Day is meant to be a day of celebration, and no one can truly celebrate you as well as you can. While brunches and family events can be fun, we recommend taking self-care into your own hands for the day. Think about your favorite things and consider making an agenda filled with those activities. If you need help planning, here are some ideas:
- Grab coffee at your favorite place (and journal while you’re there)
- Go outside and move your body—swimming, walking, or cycling
- Connect with your best friend or a close family member
- Do something creative
- Treat yourself to something special (get your nails done, a massage, or walk around your favorite store)
- Watch your favorite show or movie
- Enjoy a delicious dessert
Whether you spend the day alone or with your kids, we encourage you to prioritize yourself and the activities that fill your cup.
Set Helpful Boundaries
If motherhood is difficult because of hard relationships with family, spend some time beforehand reflecting on what you need for a peaceful Mother’s Day experience. It is okay to create a boundary around your ideal Mother’s Day experience this year and keep stressors on the outside of that boundary. Skip the family function that’s guaranteed to upset you. Avoid calling someone who’s hard to deal with and send a voice note instead. Don’t participate in an activity that will invoke too many difficult emotions. Instead, surround yourself with the people, events, and atmosphere that will help you celebrate in a way that’s right for you. Communicate your needs early and kindly.
But don’t just run from difficult emotions, spend some time reflecting.
Reflect Well
No two days are the same in motherhood. That reality can be fun but also daunting. When was the last time you had the opportunity to reflect on your experience as a mother? On days like Mother’s Day, you may experience a wealth of emotions. We encourage you to face them rather than run from them. Self-reflection can help you understand yourself better as a mom, gain clarity on who you want to be for your children, and better celebrate all the things you’re doing right.
Reflection is a gift to the soul. Don’t miss it.
Carve out an hour, find a calming space, grab your favorite journal, and a cup of tea or coffee. Go deep with yourself and be honest. There’s so much to celebrate about motherhood, and we encourage you to pause to highlight the great moments and grieve what’s been difficult. Here are 10 questions to reflect on this Mother’s Day:
- What has been the most rewarding part of motherhood for me this past year?
- What is one challenge I’ve faced as a mother, and how have I grown from it?
- How has motherhood changed me as a person?
- What are three moments with my children that brought me joy recently?
- In what ways do I show love and support to my children, and how can I be more intentional about it?
- What is something I want to forgive myself for as a mother?
- How do I prioritize my own well-being while caring for my family?
- What legacy or values do I hope to instill in my children?
- How can I better celebrate the small, everyday wins of motherhood?
- What is one hope or prayer I have for myself as a mother in the coming year?
At the end, practice gratitude. Write down what you’re thankful for as a mom and say a prayer for even more joys as you continue to love and nurture your little ones.
