Mother’s Day has looked different for me over the past three years. Since losing my mum, this day has become a complex mix of deep love, grief, and reflection. It’s a day that once felt filled with light and now carries a quiet shadow. But it’s also become a powerful mirror, showing me not only what I’ve lost, but what I’ve gained in resilience, self-awareness, and connection.
There are still moments, often unexpected ones, when I feel like I need her more than ever. As a mother myself, I catch myself wishing I could call her for advice, to share a laugh, or simply to hear her say, “You’re doing great.” And in those moments of longing, I turn inward and find her. She’s in the way I comfort my children. She’s in the patience I practice. She’s in the love I lead with.
Everything she taught me, especially the values of kindness, patience, and unconditional love, has become the foundation of the mother I strive to be. Her legacy lives on through the way I nurture, guide, and care. And that, in itself, is a reminder of my own strength and capacity.
Grief doesn’t disappear, but it can transform. It’s allowed me to honor my mum in new ways, by living out the lessons she left with me. Every time I choose compassion over frustration, listen before reacting, or hold space for my children’s emotions, I feel her presence.
One unexpected blessing that’s emerged through this journey is the tribe of women who surround me, my friends, my chosen sisters. They’ve become lifelines. They lift me when I need it, hold space when I fall apart, and remind me of who I am when I forget. In a world that often praises independence, I’ve learned that true strength lies in connection, in having people who see you, support you, and walk with you through it all.
This Mother’s Day, I’m choosing to celebrate my mum by embodying the best parts of her. I’m choosing to celebrate myself, not just for surviving the loss, but for growing through it. For continuing to show up, to love deeply, and to lead with heart.
To anyone else navigating Mother’s Day without their mum: you are not alone. Your grief is valid. Your strength is real. And you are enough, more than enough, just as you are.
Your mother may be gone, but your worth, your story, and your voice are still here. And they matter deeply.
Happy Mother’s Day, to all the mothers, all the daughters, and all the women learning to mother themselves through loss.
Forever loved. Forever missed. Forever proud.
With Lots of Love & Gratitude,
Coach Jo 🩷
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