A Letter to Mothers

To Every Mother Who Has Ever Wondered If She Is Enough

Today is Mother's Day — a day set aside to honor the women who have shaped us, carried us, and loved us in ways that often go unspoken. But I want to take a moment to speak directly to the mothers themselves, because I know how quietly and relentlessly you give.

Motherhood is one of the most profound human experiences — and one of the least understood. It is joy and exhaustion in the same breath. It is the deepest love you have ever known, and sometimes the deepest fear. It is showing up, day after day, even when you are running on empty.

The Weight We Carry

Mothers carry so much — not just the visible labor of caregiving, but the invisible weight of worry, planning, and emotional attunement. Research tells us that mothers often experience a kind of hypervigilance, a constant background hum of awareness about their children's wellbeing. It is exhausting. And it is also a form of love that has no adequate name.

If you are a mother who has struggled — with your mental health, with illness, with loss, with simply keeping it all together — I want you to know: your struggle does not diminish your love. It does not make you less of a mother. In many ways, it makes you more human, more real, and more relatable to the children who are watching you navigate this life with courage.

Healing Is a Gift You Give Your Children

One of the most powerful things a mother can do for her children is to tend to her own wellbeing. When we heal, we break cycles. When we seek help, we model resilience. When we practice self-compassion, we give our children permission to do the same.

You do not have to be perfect. You do not have to have it all figured out. You simply have to keep showing up — imperfectly, honestly, and with love.

A Note of Gratitude

To my own mother, and to every mother reading this: thank you. Thank you for the meals made and the nights spent awake. Thank you for the words of encouragement and the silent prayers. Thank you for loving us through your own pain, your own uncertainty, your own becoming.

Today, I hope you receive even a fraction of the love you have so generously given. You deserve to be seen, celebrated, and deeply cared for — not just today, but every day.

Happy Mother's Day, with love, Liz