When Mother’s Day feels hard

For many, Mother’s Day brings flowers, brunch, and handmade cards smeared with glitter and love. But for others, this day arrives with a heaviness — a subtle ache or an overwhelming sorrow that doesn’t quite fit the Hallmark mold. If you’re someone for whom Mother’s Day feels hard, you’re not alone — and your feelings are valid.

Maybe you’re grieving the loss of your own mother. Maybe you’re navigating a complicated relationship with her — full of silence, distance, or pain. Maybe you’ve lost a child, or longed for one, or are holding tight to a dream of motherhood that hasn’t come to be. Maybe you are a mother, and this day reminds you of all the invisible work you do that often goes unacknowledged. Maybe you love your children dearly, but today you just feel… tired.

Mother’s Day can be beautiful, yes — but it can also be lonely, bittersweet, or even painful. It’s okay if this holiday stirs up grief, resentment, longing, or numbness. It’s okay to not want to celebrate. It’s okay to cry in the shower, skip the family gathering, or scroll past social media posts that don’t reflect your reality.

If today is hard for you, here’s a gentle reminder:

You don’t owe the world a performance of joy.

You don’t have to make space for anyone else’s expectations today.

You can honor what you need.

That might mean lighting a candle for the mother you lost. Turning off your phone. Writing in a journal. Going for a solo walk. Saying no. Saying yes. Saying nothing.

Let this be a day where your truth matters more than tradition.

And if you’re a mother — of a baby, a memory, a hope, a story — and you’re feeling unseen today, we see you. We honor you. And we are holding space for all that this day brings up.

With love and gentleness,

Katie