This year, we sent out a Mother’s Day message — for some, it hurt.
It was meant to offer care, but it landed as a reminder of absence, grief, or loss for some women. And we heard about it. One particular email struck a chord, calling us in, reminding us of the weight and complexity of this day.
We want to say this clearly: the message was an ouch for some. And that matters deeply to us.
In our years of walking alongside women through all stages of motherhood — including pregnancy loss, infertility, stillbirth, and child loss — we know that these experiences don’t end someone’s motherhood. They define it in painful, powerful ways. A woman who has given birth and lost her child is still a mother. She always will be. And what she often longs for is simple: acknowledgment. Recognition that her child existed, and that her love continues.
This is the heart of the tension we face every year when Mother’s Day comes around. How do we honor all mothers without glossing over the grief some carry? How do we celebrate without excluding?
We’re still learning. We missed the mark for some this year, and we are sitting with that.
So today, we want to say this:
- To the mother whose child is no longer here, we see you. You are a mother, always.
- To the woman parenting after loss, while holding space for the baby who isn’t here, we see your both/and.
- To the foster mom, adoptive mom, surrogate mom — the ones who opened their hearts and homes — your love defines motherhood.
- To the stepmom navigating complex family bonds with care and grace, you matter more than words can say.
- To the single mom, the co-parenting mom, the tired mom, the joyful mom, the grieving mom, and the trying-to-become-a-mom, we hold space for you, too.
- To the grandmothers, godmothers, chosen moms, and mother figures who show up with fierce and faithful love — thank you.
Motherhood is not one story. It is many. It is not always joyful. It is often complicated. And it always, always deserves to be treated with reverence.
We offer our sincerest wishes this Mother’s Day: may this day meet you gently, wherever you find yourself. Whether you are celebrating, remembering, grieving, or simply surviving, may you feel seen.
We are still learning to speak about motherhood in ways that honor all of its forms. We may not always get it right, but we promise to keep trying—with more care, more listening, and more humility.
With love,
All of us at Momentum Health Network
