Few people play as important a role in our lives as mothers. Although it’s true that some have difficult relationships with their moms, for many (if not most) of us, no relationship can truly be as deep or unique as the one we and our mothers share.
Jump ahead to these sections:
- Short Poems That Say “I Miss My Mom”
- Quotes That Say “I Miss My Mom”
- “I Miss My Mom in Heaven” Messages to Share
- “I Miss My Mom” Songs to Listen To
- “I Miss My Mom” Messages From a Daughter
- “I Miss My Mom” Messages From a Son
Thus, losing a mom or being separated from her can be a very painful experience. “I miss my mom” is an emotion seemingly countless people are familiar with. It’s also an emotion that can be difficult to put into words.
Difficult, but not impossible. Consider the following examples. These poems, songs, quotes, and messages capture the feeling of missing a mother perfectly.
Short Poems That Say “I Miss My Mom”
Poets have been writing “I miss my mom” poems for centuries. These are just a few examples of their work:
1. “Rock Me to Sleep” by Elizabeth Akers Allen
“Rock Me to Sleep” expresses a simple but powerful feeling that many can relate to: the desire for a mother who’s gone (whether because she has passed or because her children have grown up and moved on) to, if only for a moment, return and provide her children with the care and treatment she gave them when they were just babies.
2. “Dear Mama (4)” by Wanda Coleman
This poem expresses the desire to reunite and cherish every moment with a mother after spending years running away, as some children do when they first leave the home.
3. “The Persistence of Scent” by Cindy Williams Gutiérrez
Many associate the fragrances of certain meals, perfumes, or even environments with memories of their mothers. This poem captures the experience of remembering and missing a mother when a particular scent is in the air.
4. “Mother” by Lola Ridge
“Mother” captures the essence of a mom’s love beautifully, explaining how it’s capable of “turning harsh things to beauty.” The poem also touches on how those fortunate enough to receive that kind of love miss it deeply when a mother is gone.
5. “Mother’s Day” by David Young
“Mother’s Day” describes the experience of seeing a mother as an adult child and wanting to express how much one finally understands the deepness of a mother’s love, something one may not have appreciated back when they were young. The poem is remarkably short, but it evokes a sense of desperation, as many adult children find themselves missing their mothers in ways they didn’t expect to and can’t find the words to express.
6. “The courage my mother had” by Edna St. Vincent Millay
Missing anyone involves not only missing their presence but also missing the qualities that only they embodied. This poem offers an example of that experience. It describes how when a mother passed on, she took her unique courage with her, a courage the speaker of the poem wishes she could recover for herself.
7. “To My Mother” by Edgar Allan Poe
This particular “I miss my mom” poem is unique when compared to many others on this list. Instead of writing about his own mother, Poe wrote this short tribute to his deceased mother-in-law. The poem explains how, because she gave birth to and raised the woman he loved so dearly, in some ways, Poe’s mother-in-law played a more important role in his life than his own mother.
Quotes That Say “I Miss My Mom”
Because missing mom is such a common emotion, many celebrities and historical figures have spoken about the subject. Examples include:
8. “I remember my mother's prayers, and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.” - Abraham Lincoln
This Lincoln quote beautifully and simply expresses how we may miss our mothers while also keeping them alive by embodying certain qualities or traits they instilled in us.
9. “My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her.” - George Washington
Another president, Washington, also expressed his desire to be with his mother again while openly crediting her for deeply influencing the course of his life.
10. “I don't know what it is about food your mother makes for you, especially when it's something that anyone can make - pancakes, meat loaf, tuna salad - but it carries a certain taste of memory.” - Mitch Albom
Like one of the poems in the previous section, this Mitch Albom quote touches on the way basic sensory experiences can trigger overwhelming nostalgia for a child (whether they’re an adult or not) who misses their mother.
11. “If you can't go back to your mother's womb, you'd better learn to be a good fighter.” - Anchee Min
With this quote, author Anchee Min describes how the “I miss my mom” feeling so many share stems at least in part from a desire to return to a place where we might feel more protected and safe than we do anywhere else.
“I Miss My Mom in Heaven” Messages to Share
Whether it’s her birthday, your first Mother’s Day without Mom, or any similar occasion after a mother’s passing, these messages might express how you feel during this painful time:
12. “Mama always said dying was a part of life. I wish it wasn’t.”
Sometimes the best way to find the right words to express how much you miss your mother is to rely on a favorite quote from a movie.
Consider this example from Forrest Gump. Technically, Forrest is addressing his deceased wife Jenny with this quote, but it can also serve as an expression of the grief one feels when they miss their mother and know they can’t have her back.
13. “I miss you, Mom. You’re an angel in Heaven now, but you were an angel for me here.”
This is a message that might appeal to someone with religious faith. It describes the feeling of missing a mom who offered so much love and support that she seemed almost to be angelic.
14. “I don’t know what happens when we die, but I’ve never wished for Heaven to be real as much as I do now.”
The loss of a mother can be so profound that it permanently changes one’s attitudes toward ideas like the existence of an afterlife. Someone who was once agnostic or an atheist could miss their mother so deeply after her passing that they start considering the possibility of Heaven differently, simply because they now desperately want it to be real.
“I Miss My Mom” Songs to Listen To
Whether you’re looking for a funeral song for your mom or you’re simply looking for something to play to help you handle your personal emotions when you miss your mother, the following are all options worth keeping in mind:
15. “Julia” by The Beatles
Although some may hear the lyrics to “Julia” and imagine it's a traditional love song, John Lennon actually wrote it as a tribute to his mother who had sadly passed away a few years earlier.
16. “A Song for Mama” by Boyz II Men
Not all “I miss my mom” songs need to be about a mother who’s passed on. For example, “A Song for Mama” by Boyz II Men features lyrics explaining to a still-living mother that she played an extremely important role in the lives of her children (and continues to do so).
17. “Mama, I’m Coming Home” by Ozzy Osbourne
Even heavy metal headbangers can miss their moms! Although some have suggested that this song is actually about Ozzy Osbourne’s wife, given the title and lyrics, it makes sense that most listeners interpret it as a song about returning to a mother from whom an adult child may have been estranged.
18. “Mama Liked the Roses” by Elvis Presley
Presley recorded this song when his talents were at their peak. It earns a spot on this list not only because it’s a moving song about missing someone but also because many claim it’s possible to hear the singer forcing back tears during the spoken sections of the track.
19. “Where You Lead” by Carole King & Louise Goffin
The original version of “Where You Lead” may not have been about missing a mom, but the version with slightly revised lyrics that served as the theme for Gilmore Girls has become an iconic song about the bond between a mother and child. It expresses the reality that a mother may not always be able to be with her children, but if she can, she’ll come to their aid whenever they need her.
20. “For Martha” by Smashing Pumpkins
Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan reacted to his mother’s death with the band’s album Adore. It was the first Smashing Pumpkins album to thoroughly shed the band’s signature aggressive sound in favor of a gentler approach. Its penultimate track, “For Martha,” is a moving tribute to Corgan’s mother that shares an optimistic message suggesting the two will reunite one day.
“I Miss My Mom” Messages From a Daughter
Sometimes, an “I miss my mom” message touches on the special relationship between a mother and daughter. These are a couple of examples of this type of message:
21. “Being a woman is hard, but you taught me how to make it in this world. Thank you.”
The bond between a mother and daughter can involve a mutual understanding that girls and women face unique challenges that boys and men can never truly understand. If your mom helped you navigate those challenges (or at least prepared you to do so on your own), this message could be a way of thanking her.
22. “I miss you, Mom, but hopefully, I’m keeping you alive by raising my kids the way you raised me.”
Being a mother is perhaps the most challenging and rewarding job in the whole world. While no one can entirely prepare someone for the experience, a strong mother can teach her daughter how to raise children properly to some extent. By applying what your mom taught you, you can keep her in your life in some capacity, even if you do miss her terribly.
“I Miss My Mom” Messages From a Son
Just as the relationship between a mother and daughter is unique, so is the relationship between a mother and her son. These messages express that unique quality:
23. “There will always be a part of me that’s a little boy who wants his mom.”
It’s not something every man feels comfortable discussing, but the well-known “I miss my mom” experience can reflect a desire to not feel like you have to be strong all the time. Society doesn’t always encourage men to admit this, but sometimes, a man wishes he could return to the comfort and safety of his mother’s arms the way he did when he was just a young child.
24. “I’m sorry for the pain I caused. Now all I want is to be with you.”
Sometimes, sons can cause a lot of trouble for their mothers. However, it’s not uncommon for those sons to grow up and look back with regret.
25. “Thank you for making me the man I am today. I miss you, Mom.”
Very often, we tend to assume that a boy’s father is the one responsible for “making him a man.” While it’s true that fathers can potentially play this role, it’s also important to acknowledge that a mother can play an (at least) equally vital role in shaping a boy into a decent, mature adult.
Whether you’re sending your mother a card or email, or you’re sending a message up to a mom who has passed on, this message is a simple way to show your gratitude.
I Miss My Mom: An Experience Many Share
Again, while it may not be possible to entirely erase the pain we feel when we miss our mothers, these words can perhaps offer some comfort. If you’re struggling deeply, though, you may want to consider reading books on grief, working with a counselor, joining a support group, or taking other steps to help you overcome your sorrow.