Thanking our Mothers

As a young girl, Mother’s Day was only ever about my mom. But now that I have a family, Mother’s Day has become about all moms. It’s a day to be celebrated and an opportunity to express gratitude to my mom, mother-in-law, and all mothers. 

I grew up with a more traditional, homemaker-type mom in a German household where my mother kept a very organized and clean home. She supported my dad’s business, managed his bookkeeping and payroll, volunteered at our school events and was always involved in community initiatives, such as the “hot lunch” program and building a new playground. Her days were full because she filled many roles in and around our home—more than just wife and mother.

And while much has changed since my childhood in the ’80s, a lot hasn’t. 

One thing that hasn’t changed is the invisible work that most women and mothers do. Whether a woman chooses to be a stay-at-home mom or a working mom, her many roles within her home are often unnoticed and unrecognized. 

Mother’s Day is about giving recognition to all moms—the mothers who have lost children, given up children, had many children, or just have one (like me). Today is a reminder to thank all moms—the working moms, stay-at-home moms, single moms, step-moms, adoptive moms, mothers-in-law, and grandmothers—for everything they do and for simply being moms.