The article reflects on the complex nature of motherhood, highlighting that traditional definitions of being a mother vary greatly. The author's personal journey includes feelings of inadequacy on Mother's Day, leading to a broader appreciation of motherhood over time, particularly through nurturing others, including pets and friendsâ children. These experiences have shaped their understanding of familial connections and personal worthiness. The need for self-love emerges as a vital lesson, reaffirming that every individual can embody maternal qualities in various forms and relationships.
For many years, Mother's Day had been fraught for me. The thought of a beautiful Sunday in May devoted to celebrating motherhood gave me ferocious FOMO.
It's taken me a long, long time and many good therapy sessions to come to appreciate the ways that I did get to be a mother and have a mother.
All the mothering I would have given children of my own leaked out the sides, with other people's children, friends, pets, small helpless animals.
I know, of course, that I am speaking for them, but I'm sure that if they could speak, they would call me Mama.
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