Not everyone looks forward to Mother’s Day. Some people just try to get through it.
Mother’s Day is coming.
And every year, it shows up wrapped in the same things—
flowers, cards, brunch reservations, picture-perfect posts.
But if we’re being honest…
it doesn’t feel that way for everyone.
I’ve never been someone who pretends to understand things I haven’t lived.
My mom is still here. She’s active in my life. And I’m grateful for that in ways I probably don’t say enough.
But this time of year still makes me pause.
It makes me think about the women who shaped me—
not just in big, obvious ways… but in the quiet ones too.
My grandma has been gone for over ten years now.
And somehow, there are still moments where I catch myself wanting to tell her something.
Or wishing I could hear her voice again, just one more time.
Grief doesn’t always stay loud.
Sometimes it softens… but it never really leaves.
Then there are the women I’ve worked alongside—
nurses who taught me more than just clinical skills.
They showed me what it looks like to carry compassion into rooms that most people would rather avoid.
The kind of women who don’t always get recognized,
but leave a lasting mark on everyone they care for.
And then there’s my life now.
My daughter—figuring out her own path, becoming her own person.
There’s something humbling about watching that happen…
realizing that while you’ve been teaching them all these years,
they’ve quietly been teaching you too.
My bonus kids—who came into my life and stretched me in ways I didn’t expect.
The kind of growth you don’t always ask for… but end up being grateful for.
And yes… even the ones with four legs.
Jasper.
Five years of showing me what unconditional love actually looks like.
No expectations. No conditions. Just presence.
It’s funny how love shows up in places you never planned for.
And that’s the thing about days like this—
they tend to bring all of it to the surface at once.
The love.
The memories.
The gratitude.
The grief.
Sometimes all in the same breath.
So if Mother’s Day feels complicated for you—
if it brings up loss, distance, regret, or something you can’t quite name…
you’re not wrong for feeling that way.
And you’re definitely not alone in it.
There are more people sitting in that quiet space than you probably realize.
You don’t have to rush yourself through it.
You don’t have to force meaning out of it.
You don’t have to pretend you’re okay if you’re not.
Just… let it be what it is.
And if all you do that day is make it through—
that’s enough.
I know how easy it is to take care of everyone else
and put yourself somewhere at the bottom of the list.
But you matter too.
If you need someone to walk alongside you through this season,
I’d be honored to support you.
You can schedule a time to talk here:
P.S. If you’re not ready to talk yet, that’s okay.
Just don’t ignore what you’re feeling. It doesn’t go away—it just waits.
If this resonated with you, you don’t have to explain—just comment “❤️”
With hope and encouragement,
Dawn
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