For 19 years, I was lucky enough to have the most amazing mom ever to have lived on this earth. That’s her in the photo, wasn’t she ridiculously beautiful? I always loved the colors in the background, the silver lining around the Pacific waves that somehow emphasize the honey highlights in her hair. See, beautiful, right?
Anyway, back to it.
Throughout my 20’s I did my best to beat back the grief, and failed more times than I’d like to admit, but eventually I learned to live without my mom.
And then I had my three boys. And the pain that I once knew seemed to change. Though it will always be there, somehow the silver lining in life seemed a little brighter since those crazy kids showed up.
But there is still one day of the year when it’s not as easy. A day when the grief comes rolling back in, crashing around my feet like those familiar Pacific waves.
Mother’s Day.
Your newsfeed fills fast with tweets, posts and photos of your friends brunching with mom, shopping with mom, getting their nails did with mom, and flower planting with mom in those god damn adorable matching gardening gloves.
But the ones that really get you, the ones that really yank the old heartstrings, are the ones of your friends’ children with grandma.
If you’re a mommyless mom, you know what I’m talking about. Mother’s Day makes you painfully aware that raising your babies without the woman that raised you just really effing sucks.
But that’s when you must remember something.
The silver lining…it’s still there.
See Mother’s Day is a special day, a day to celebrate. And even though you still the feel the pain, and sometimes the loneliness leaves you gasping for air, and that despite the cold hard fact that your grief never really goes away, you were once lucky enough to have had your mom as your mom. And today’s a day to celebrate her life, your life and all the other awesome moms out there.
So ‘Like’ all those beautiful posts today, smile at the happiness around you, and hug your little ones nice and tight.
And remember one last thing.
That if each time you read your baby a book your mom once read to you, or you let them win at Chutes and Ladders just like she secretly did, or you patiently sing the 50th rendition of ‘You Are My Sunshine’ as you tuck them in at night, that each time you show them the love that she once showed you…then your mom, like mine, can never really be gone.
Great post!!! Its so sad and uplifting all at the same time!!!
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Thank you so much!
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Beautiful, Katie. Your Mom must have been very special to have raised a caring and thoughtful young woman. I’m sure your children will reflect both of your hearts for a very long time.
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Thank you, that’s so sweet, I appreciate the kind words.
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I know it’s not what you may want to hear from me but Happy Mother’s Day! Your mom would be so proud of what you’ve done, who you’ve raised properly without her physically being there. It would make her even more proud to be your mom, because she did such a great job in such a short time.
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That was beautiful, and exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you.
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Thank you. I’m glad that my intentions were felt through the screen because I try.
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Hi Katie. What a beautiful heartfelt blog! With your permission, I would love to post “TTO THE MOMMYLESS MOMS ON MOTHER’S DAY” on http://earthschool.life. We can provide author byline and a link to your website. You’ll also be entered into our quarterly writing contests (no entry fee). Thank-you for your consideration, Mary. contact@earthschool.life
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Thank you so much, I would be honored!
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Katie,I wish I would have known your your Mom,she must have been a GREAT person.You are a GREAT person,wife,mother,daughter-in-law and much much more.It is an HONOR to say you are my daughter-in-law.I love you like a daughter.
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Thank you, Kathy, that means so much!!! Love you, too!
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Katie – this is beautiful!! Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you for the kind words!
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Beautiful! I am a grandma and when I see our grandchildren I think of my Mom … and I smile. Keep up the writing, Katie!
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That’s wonderful, thanks for sharing and for the words of encouragement!
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Hi Katie. I just sent you an email… Thanks for permission to reblog. Your post will go live later this morning. I will also be sharing it on Twitter and Facebook. Happy Mother’s Day to one of my favorite Mommyless Moms. 🙂 Mary
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Thank you!!! You made my day. 😊
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That was beautiful, Katie. Your mom is definitely smiling down on you.
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Thank you, Ramona!!! Hope you had a lovely Mama’s Day. Hugs to you!
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I will have spent 15 years without the love of my life!! Thanks for sharing.
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[…] incredible producers of the show Listen To Your Mother gave me the chance to read an adaption of one of those blogs on stage. With a cast of amazing writers that inspire me to this […]
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So beautiful Katie she was an amazing mom, an amazing woman and an amazing Aunt. You are an amazing Mom, Cousin and an amazing woman just like her.
Happy Mother’s Day.
Love You!❤️🌷
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Thank you so much, my dear Danielle. Means so much to me. Love you and miss you!
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Katie,
I so love this piece of your writing. I count myself so lucky to have known her and you. It would be wonderful if you would repost every Mother’s Day.
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Thank you so much! Really means so much. I hope you had a wonderful Mother’s Day, I know you’re one heck of an amazing mom. Still remember having so much fun at your house growing up.
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