What's the True Meaning of Mother's Day, Anyway?
"A mother's love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity, it dates all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path." - Agatha Christie
Mother's Day isn't just about flowers or brunch—it's about remembering where it all began and reclaiming what it was meant to be. This day was born out of deep respect for mothers who sacrificed, nurtured, and led quietly through times of hardship. It was a call to honor women's emotional labor, courage, and strength, especially those who mothered through conflict, injustice, and healing.
Over time, the meaning has been lost in commercialization, but we can agree that it is high time to return to its roots.
Today, we hold space not just in celebration but in truth. We honor all mothers—biological or chosen—and reclaim this day as a reminder of the power, resilience, and sacred work many carry daily, often without recognition. Therefore, we thank you for your relentless pursuit of excellence in shaping the character and values of our nation's leaders.
Knowing women are the backbone of the country, we can accomplish anything with this power and influence.
Every year, Mother's Day arrives with the weight of expectation—and the opportunity for reflection. For many, it's a day of gratitude: handwritten cards, calls home, and shared meals. But beneath the surface of commercial slogans and curated Instagram posts is a powerful, often forgotten truth: Mother's Day began as a protest.
A Legacy of Compassion and Change
In 1908, a woman named Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother—Ann Reeves Jarvis, a community organizer and Civil War caregiver who taught women about health, sanitation, and peace across enemy lines.
Anna wanted one thing: to honor the moral force of mothers, not through material gifts but through public remembrance.
She envisioned a day when children would write letters of gratitude and hold space for the silent labor of women—especially in a fractured, post-war America.
By 1914, her efforts led to President Woodrow Wilson proclaiming the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day.
And yet, by the 1920s, Anna was fighting the very holiday she created, outraged by its rapid commercialization. She believed the depth of motherhood had been hijacked by greeting card companies and florists.
Her story is a reminder: when we lose the meaning, we lose the movement.
Redefining Motherhood
Here's the thing about the word "mother"—it carries so much weight, and yet it means different things to different people. Celebrated in over 100 countries globally, Mother's Day includes honoring motherhood, caregivers, and maternal figures through local customs and spiritual traditions.
The Many Faces of Mothering
Some of us are mourning mothers we've lost. Today, I am mourning the loss of my biological mother, whom I never knew and who rejected me for reasons unknown to me. Additionally, I grieve the loss of my adoptive mother, who chose to take a chance on me (her husband's illegitimate child), knowing it's something that many women would refuse to do. Otherwise, who knows where I may have ended up?
While others are navigating complex relationships with the mothers we have, my daughter and I have had a contentious relationship because I had abandoned her, leaving her in a precarious situation of living with my step-mother and abusive father. Knowing that at 14, I had limited choices at this stage of life, she eventually realized this and then chose to forgive.
Due to her upbringing, my daughter elected not to have children, for which I can't say I blame her, knowing it's a huge responsibility. However, it hasn't stopped her from seeking out disadvantaged youth to aid.
Moreover, many recognize the "mothers" who aren't biological—the aunts, teachers, mentors, and friends who showed up when we needed guidance. During my 39-year Army civilian career, I assisted and taught many to perfect skills to accomplish critical project milestones, resulting in the turnover of multimillion-dollar projects.
To mother, at its core, is to nurture. It's the person who:
Sees potential in you before you see it yourself
Holds space for your messiness while believing in your growth
Gives you roots and wings in equal measure
Leadership Through a Maternal Lens
As leaders, we're all in the business of nurturing—whether it's ideas, teams, or movements. This is what I call maternal intelligence—the ability to keep the bigger picture in view while handling what needs immediate attention. It's knowing how to lead with both strength and softness, when to speak up and when to let others rise.
It's the kind of leadership that's often overlooked, yet it's at the heart of how so many of us hold families, teams, and entire communities together.
Reclaiming Mother's Day means honoring this type of leadership, not just in those who are mothers by title but in anyone who nurtures, mentors, and shows up with care. Mothering, in its truest form, is power in motion.
Questions for Reflection
Who helped you become the leader you are today?
How do you cultivate growth in others while maintaining boundaries?
What does sustainable care look like in your work?
Bringing Back the Original Intent
Let's return to Anna's vision this Mother's Day—not through protest, but through presence.
Ways to Honor the Day
Write an actual letter to someone who mothered you
Have real conversations about care, not just transactions
Acknowledge the emotional labor in your own life and work
Recognize that mothering is a practice, not just a role
The Invitation
Whether you're parenting kids, leading teams, or nurturing your dreams—you're engaged in the work of tending life. This is sacred work, often invisible, always essential.
So, this Mother's Day, let's reclaim it as not a once-a-year obligation but an ongoing practice of gratitude, recognition, and intentional care.
After all, the most powerful thing we can do is see each other, truly see the work, the love, and the sacrifice that keep the world evolving.
Your Turn
Take a moment: Who comes to mind when you think of someone who mothered you into who you are today? What one thing could you do to honor that influence, not with flowers, but with presence?
The conversation starts with us. Let's make it count.
That was moving. Your family journey is powerful and informative. I had no idea where Mother’s Day originated
I lost my Mother, Mothers Day 1972 I was 13 years old at the time and hand only been living with her for two year before she passed. It changed my life as I knew it forever. I spent most of my life adjusting. Without the coping skills at a young age it’s been a work of Art my entire life.
I didn’t know that in 2024 that would be an almost breaking point for me as my own son and his wife would make that the second most difficult part of my Mother hood by being upset with me chose that be the year they chose to not to communicate with me on Mother’s Day. I realized then I had a chose to get buried by the emotional displays of their childish ways or gather myself pray and just move forward. I chose to pray and move forward. I can’t say it didn’t hurt because that one cut deep, but when you compare it to losing your mother at a such young age and struggled living your life without your maternal guide it was actually one of the easiest decisions to make. Be strong and hold on I told myself; you’ve been here before.
It’s been a rough couple of years with tears no one would see or comfort, isn’t that what it is to be human and a Mother? Sometimes we suffer in silence, and shed tears for the ones who’s gone before us. That day I had a choice. I made sense out of it and since then the dividends have paid off; as I had a wonderful Mother’s Day 2025. The kids have done a turnaround and not all that sure of why.
Our communication has been if any very limited this last year. I’m not a perfect mother nor imperfect mother I’m just me I make sense of it by saying to myself I’ve been their age, they’ve never been mine. I can understand them better than they can understand me and that’s a good enough reason to celebrate Mother’s Day, because I’m the mom, mother-in-law, and friend; and they the child it is my job to understand. I wish I had a better communication skills though to make it easier on myself and them to have some answers for them, but that’s not the way life really nor life’s lessons work; is it. Communication is everything. Sometimes, some of the best times is when we communicate in silence, we say a whole lot more by being quiet and listening to the void.
And on that note, I want to tell you that that is the most beautiful message you have shared. I’m so glad I came across you and this message about Mother’s Day.
I salute all mothers on Mother’s Day.
Be still & know!
🌺Jonnie🌺