This Mother’s Day, Here’s to the one who is So Much More!
I used to think Mother’s Day was all about flowers, breakfast in bed, gifts and scribbled cards with glitter (which somehow always ended up on the dog). But something shifted in the last few years.
Now that I’m in my 30s, Mother’s Day hits a little differently.
I don’t see my mom every day anymore. Life has moved on; work deadlines, groceries, bills, responsibilities. But every now and then, I pause and remember the small, quiet moments that shaped me. Not the big birthdays or report cards, but the in-betweens. The 7:00 am morning alarms and rush to reach school. The quiet hand on my back when I cried over a lost friendship. The way she always said, “Be kind, even when it’s hard.”
When I was a teen, I didn’t always get her. She was the rule-maker, the voice of reason, the one who never let me stay out too late or skip my homework. I thought she didn’t get me. But in hindsight? She got me before I ever got myself.
I remember this one time, I was maybe 14, crushed under the weight of a school competition I didn’t win; I had worked hard. Really hard. She didn’t say “it’s okay” or “try again.” She sat beside me in silence and handed me a warm bowl of rice and curry. That bowl of food felt like a hug. No forced positivity, no speeches. Just presence. Just her unconditional love.
Years later, I find myself doing the same for others. Listening more. Fixing less. Holding space. That’s the Susan in her, the resilience, the softness. The “Mom” in her, the magic. She became my confidant, my travel partner, my worst critic, my advocate, my friend; in the later half of life.
Not everyone has had a perfect relationship with their mom. Some carry loss, others distance, some even pain. But I hope, in some way, we’ve all had someone who tried. Someone who showed up.
So this Mother’s Day, it’s not just about the card, the flowers or cake. It’s about the story you carry with her. Maybe it’s your mom, or maybe it’s a grandmom, aunt, sister, foster parent, or that teacher who always had your back.
Write them a note. Call them up. Laugh about the weird things they say. Thank them; really thank them.
Because one day, we’ll all be the adults holding someone else through their storms.
And if we’re lucky, we’ll remember how it felt to be held.
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!!
MOTHER’S DAY CONTEST
Take a moment to write a heartfelt letter or card to your mother or a mother-like figure in your life. Pour your love, gratitude, or even that one unforgettable memory into words. Because sometimes, the simplest words create the strongest bonds. Whether it’s a “thank you,” an “I miss you,” or “you mean the world to me”—let it out.
Then, simply share a screenshot or photo of your message with us at friends@genwe.today.
The most moving entry will receive a $50 gift as GenWE’s special Mother’s Day gesture.
Submit by: 25th May 2025
Let’s make this Mother’s Day unforgettable—together. Ready to write?