Factsheet 18: Reflections on mothers & motherhood

Mother's Day

Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate the joy of being a mother and of having a mother and knowing the warmth of her love. It may also be a day to quietly remember a Mum who is no longer with you - you feel the gap that her passing has left and you honour her legacy and all that she meant. It is a day to think of Grandmothers and extended families and the link that mothers are in keeping family ties and traditions together.

For some, Mother’s Day means only sadness - their child may be estranged or their dream to bear children may not have been fulfilled. Or perhaps they are the mother of a child who has died. When asked, how many children do you have, this mother may struggle with the answer - do you mention only the ones who are living or do you say there is one more and count your other son or daughter too?

So Mother’s Day has many meanings and it can be a time when joy and sorrow come hand in hand. To honour these many meanings, here are some special reflections on Mothers and Motherhood.

"You never appreciate all the things your mother did for you until you find yourself doing the same things for your kids."

Linda Poindexter

"The greatest thing she'd learned over the years is that there's no way to be a perfect mother, but a million ways to be a good one."

Anonymous

"My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother."

George Washington

"The most beautiful necklace a mother can wear is not gold or gem, but her child's arms around her neck."

Man of Honour

"A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never cared for pie anyway."

Tenneva Jordan

"All mothers are working mothers."

Anonymous

"To a child's ear, "mother" is magic in any language. Arlene Benedict A mother instinctively protects her child. A grieving mother instinctively protects her child's memory."

Anonymous

"A man loves his sweetheart the most, his wife the best, but his mother the longest."

Irish proverb

"A man's work is from sun to sun, but a mother's work is never done."

Anonymous

"God could not be everywhere, so he created mothers."

Jewish proverb

Doris Zagdanski BA Dip ED is a leading figure in modern day grief and loss education. Her seminars are included in vocational qualifications in Allied Health, Counselling and Funeral Directing.