The Everyday Holiday: Recognizing Mother's Love Year-Round

Happy Mother’s Day, girlfriend! As we embrace this beautiful holiday, let's take a moment to honor the incredible mothers in our lives—not just today, but every single day.

Motherhood isn't like any other holiday. It's not something you pack away in boxes after the holiday ends. It doesn't require elaborate decorations, extravagant gifts, or grand dinners—though those are lovely gestures. Mother's Day can be as simple as gifting a spa voucher, treating someone to a manicure, washing the dishes, or preparing a meal. It can take many forms, but one thing it should never be is annual. The love and dedication of mothers deserve daily recognition.

The other day at my parents' house, I noticed a few dishes in the sink—just two or three pieces of silverware. It was late at night, so I almost left them. But then, I had an epiphany: if I were my mom, cleaning them wouldn't be a choice—it would be instinct. So, I washed them; and that moment, I felt a sense of fulfillment, honored to do this duty for her. But there was also a pang of guilt for all the times I hadn't helped before simply because I knew my mom would pick up my slack.

Unfortunately, you can probably relate more than you'd like to admit. Whether it was an unanswered phone call, an unreciprocated hug, a forgotten grocery item, or an overlooked chore, these little cracks are where a mother's love outpours. Recognizing them is perhaps the greatest gift we can offer in return.

Mother's Day isn't like other holidays. In American culture, we make up a lot of holidays, like doughnut day or German Shepard day (which was yesterday if you didn’t know). When you have a melting pot of people, it’s easy to get wrapped up in arguments about holidays and their legitimacy and their origins, etc. etc. But Mother's Day transcends all that. It’s not for Protestants or Pagans or any specific subgroup of people. It belongs to everyone because we all came from a woman.

If you're fortunate enough to still have your mother with you, recognize the immense blessing that is. Understand that there is at least one person on this planet who would lay down their life for you. This kind of devotion cannot be replaced or replicated. The only way to truly honor it is by showing the same love and effort in return.

So, let's make every day Mother's Day. Let's show appreciation through small acts of kindness, through shared moments, and through the simple acknowledgment of the tireless love mothers give. Because they deserve more than just one day—they deserve every day.