Mother’s Day: A Day to Celebrate Moms, Not Only for What They Do, But for Who They Are

Mothers, you have one of the most thankless jobs on the planet. You do things every day that nobody notices or says thank you for, so today on Mother’s Day, I want to celebrate all moms everywhere and recognize you for the incredible job you are doing at raising great kids.

You may not believe you are doing an incredible job. You may think you fall short every day, but moms, just by being you, you are doing more for your child than you think. There is something special about moms. I want to remind you of that today and celebrate not only what you do, but who you are.

You may think you fall short every day, but moms, just by being you, you are doing more for your child than you think.

You are your child’s home.

Even when you’re not at home, your presence feels like home for your child. This is a unique trait that only moms have. When I was interviewing people for my book Strong Mothers, Strong Sons, one man said it best: “My mother is Home. She represents everything good and right, comforting and safe. She is where I want to go when I hurt and the first person I want to call if something good happens.”

Mothers, no matter where you are, your children feel at home when they are with you.

You are loved.

I can confidently say this because, as a pediatrician, my job is to watch you and keep your kids healthy. And when I see them, I see kids who love their mom. I see how your kids look at you, hang on to your knees, and hold your hand. I see you more akin to how they see you—as a woman who is loved, needed and cherished.

You are needed.

Yes, you are needed. You knew this without a doubt when you had a baby and a toddler. But some mothers whose kids have grown may be wondering this. Trust me, you are still needed. Babies, toddlers, and teenagers all need mom for so many reasons. They need us to listen, to discipline, to comfort them.

And they need us to do the menial chores and tasks for them because that communicates to them that when it comes to caring for them, no task is unimportant. Remember that next time you are mopping the kitchen floor, only for some little, or big, feet to get it muddy again tomorrow.

Moms, you are your child’s home, you are loved, and you are needed.

Moms, you are your child’s home, you are loved, and you are needed. Even when none of these things seem true, they are. We live in a culture that will try to tell you otherwise and that you have failed as a mother, so listen to me when I tell you: You are doing a great job. And even more important, you are a great person who is worthy and valuable just because you are who you are. Thank you for being you. Happy Mother’s Day.

If you are not a mom, but this reminds you of a mother in your life—yours or someone else’s—please share this with them and remind them today how loved they truly are. Every mother could use the encouragement!