Does seeing the Mother's Day displays make your gut clench when you go to Walmart and Target in early May? Do you feel pangs of jealousy every time you see a mother and daughter spending time together? Do you become irritable when friends complain about their mothers or avoid spending time with them?
Jump ahead to these sections:
- Missing Mom on Mother's Day Quotes or Sayings to Share
- Missing Mom on Mother's Day Poems to Share
- Missing Mom on Mother's Day Messages to Share
- Missing Mom on Mother's Day Gifts to Send to a Loved One
Please know that you aren't alone. Mother's Day is difficult for many – for those who have lost their mothers, those estranged from their mothers, and those who are struggling to conceive.
You might be struggling to find the right words to express your feelings. If so, here are some quotes and poems about mothers, grief, and loss. We will also provide you with a few sample social media post ideas so that others can understand how you are feeling. Finally, we will give you some ideas of gifts to send to someone who might be struggling on Mother's Day.
Missing Mom on Mother's Day Quotes or Sayings to Share
Whether you lost your mom 40 years ago or just last week, you may struggle with grief on Mother's Day. Here are some quotes about grief to reflect on or share with others.
1. "Tears are God's gift to us. Our holy water. They heal us as they flow." – Rita Schiano
You might feel the need to have a good cry at some point leading up to Mother's Day. As you do, reflect on the healing power of tears, as well as their ability to reduce stress.
2. "All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on." – Henry Havelock Ellis
We know that this quote isn't specifically about motherhood, but it may describe your Mother's Day struggles. Mother's Day can be bittersweet if you are grieving a loss but have children who want to celebrate you.
3. "And when great souls die, after a period peace blooms, slowly and always irregularly. Spaces fill with a kind of soothing electric vibration. Our senses, restored, never to be the same, whisper to us. They existed. They existed. We can be. Be and be better. For they existed." – Maya Angelou
We love this quote by American poet and activist Maya Angelou.
4. "Self-care means honoring and respecting the miraculous being that you are. Self-care means learning to listen with the ear of a dedicated mother to your physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, and then taking full responsibility for getting them met. Self-care means taking 100% responsibility for creating an environment that nurtures your physical, emotional and spiritual selves." – Carl Benedict
As you approach this difficult day, listen to your needs and take care of yourself.
5. "She was no longer wrestling with the grief, but could sit down with it as a lasting companion and make it a sharer in her thoughts." – George Eliot
Grief experts remind us that a person doesn't "get through the grieving process." Instead, we love how this quote describes grief as a "lasting companion."
Missing Mom on Mother's Day Poems to Share
Even if poetry is not your jam, you might connect to some of these pieces. For example, here are some poems about grief and mothers.
6. "Death Is Nothing At All" by Henry Scott-Holland
The author of this piece didn't mean for it to be read as a poem. Scott-Holland was a priest who included these lines in a sermon he wrote upon the death of King George VII. The sermon/poem begins:
"Death is nothing at all.
It does not count.
I have only slipped away into the next room.
Nothing has happened.
"Everything remains exactly as it was.
I am I, and you are you,
and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged.
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still."
7. "Three Friends of Mine" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Even though this poem is not specifically about the loss of a mother, we love these lines:
"Good night! good night! as we so oft have said
Beneath this roof at midnight in the days
That are no more, and shall no more return.
Thou hast but taken thy lamp and gone to bed;
I stay a little longer, as one stays
To cover up the embers that still burn."
8. "The Window" by Rumi
Rumi was a 13th-century poet and Islamic scholar. This poem reads,
"Your body is away from me
but there is a window open
from my heart to yours.
From this window, like the moon
I keep sending news secretly."
9. "My Mother Kept a Garden" by Unknown
Even if your mother wasn't a gardener, you might connect with this piece. In essence, it is about a mother's love for her child. It begins:
"My Mother kept a garden.
A garden of the heart;
She planted all the good things,
That gave my life its start.
"She turned me to the sunshine,
And encouraged me to dream:
Fostering and nurturing
The seeds of self-esteem."
10. "Only One Mother" by George Cooper
At its essence, "Only One Mother" describes why it is so hard to lose your mom. After all, you only have one.
"Hundreds of stars in the pretty sky,
Hundreds of shells on the shore together,
Hundreds of birds that go singing by,
Hundreds of birds in the sunny weather.
Hundreds of dewdrops to greet the dawn,
Hundreds of bees in the purple clover,
Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn,
But only one mother the wide world over."
Missing Mom on Mother's Day Messages to Share
Perhaps you are struggling on Mother's Day, and you would like others to know. So here are some Mother's Day messages to share.
11. "Even though I miss my Mom every day, today is tough.
Happy Mother's Day in Heaven, Mom! I love you!"
Some people wear their hearts on their sleeves when posting on social media. If this is your style, here is a sample post to share.
12. "Thinking of my Mom today, and I was reminded of this quote by Emily Dickinson: 'Unable are the loved to die, for love is immortality.'"
Consider borrowing from the great poets if you don't have the right words to say how you feel.
13. "As many of you know, my mom spent a lot of time raising money for Alzheimer's research. For those of you who knew my mom, please consider clicking this link to donate to this worthy cause.”
Perhaps you will feel called to use your grief to encourage others to donate to an important charity.
14. "I had a good cry while looking through old photos today. I thought I would share some of my favorites."
Remember happy times with your mom by watching videos and looking at photos. Then, consider posting them so others can remember how special your mom was.
15. "As you celebrate motherhood today, please take time to reach out to those who may be hurting. It's not a celebratory day for everyone."
Sometimes people need reminding that Mother's Day can be difficult for people who have complicated relationships with their mothers.
Missing Mom on Mother's Day Gifts to Send to a Loved One
Do you know someone who may be struggling on Mother's Day? Here are some gift ideas to let them know that they are loved.
16. Flowers
On Mother's Day, it's the thought that counts. Most people would say that they want to be remembered on the occasion. Complicated or expensive presents aren't necessary to show someone you care.
Consider sending flowers or a plant to someone who might be struggling on Mother's Day.
17. Windchimes
Windchimes are often used as gifts for those who are grieving. You can even have the wind chimes engraved with the name of a particular person or a message about grief and remembrance.
18. Food
Dining out on Mother's Day may be difficult for a person who struggles on that day. So instead, consider getting your order to go or making a meal for your friend.
19. Framed photo
Look through your friend's social media page to find a photo to print. Then, purchase a frame and gift it to your friend who might be struggling on Mother's Day.
20. Your time
Consider spending the day with a person who might be struggling on Mother's Day. For example, get a pedicure, go to a movie, or take a walk in a park.
Let the person lead the conversation. They may or may not want to talk about their grief.
Be Aware of How Others May Feel on Mother's Day
Just as the winter holidays are often difficult for people, the weeks leading up to Mother's Day can also be challenging. As you consider your celebrations, think about friends who may be struggling. Perhaps your friend is facing her first Mother's Day since losing her mom to cancer. Maybe your coworker is estranged from her parents. You might also know women who struggle with fertility or women whose children struggle.
You have the power to make someone's day bearable. Reach out to those who might be hurting.