It’s Mother’s Day, and my partner is being a bit ridiculous. I know, I know—it’s supposed to be a day of celebration, a time to overlook the little disagreements that pop up in the chaos of parenthood. But sometimes, even on this special day, you just have to call it like it is.
We had one of those mornings, you know? We woke up way too early, preparing for a 10 a.m. birthday bash at Chuck E. Cheese. The kids rushed through breakfast and dashed upstairs to get dressed, while I struggled to wrap a gift. Just as I was getting into the groove, my daughter limped in and told her mom that her foot was hurting. A quick call to the doctor later, and we decided to split up: I took our son to the party, while my partner rushed our daughter to the hospital for x-rays.
By the time we finished at Chuck E. Cheese, my partner had received the all-clear from the doctor (turns out it was just a sprain, easily solved with a dose of Motrin). We regrouped at a Park & Ride outside Baltimore and headed off to another birthday party in D.C. After a day packed with activities, we finally made our way home around 9:30 p.m. By then, my partner was exhausted and said something that made me just shake my head.
“Hey,” I chimed in, “at least tomorrow is Mother’s Day, and you’ll get some gifts!”
Her response? “I don’t deserve presents. I’m not doing my part as a mom anyway.”
Now, let me tell you about my partner, who travels a lot for work—like, recognized by flight attendants a lot. She doesn’t jet off to escape motherhood; she does it because being a modern mom means juggling responsibilities and sacrificing personal time. She’s married to a stay-at-home dad who gets to spend all day with the kids, and when she lands in Seattle, she sees her son laughing with his sister on a swing in a picture. But all this travel leaves her filled with guilt—worrying if she’s a good enough mother when she’s away.
It’s baffling, right? How can a woman who sacrifices so much for her family think she’s not a good mom? She’s the mother of two amazing kids who learn so much from her in moments that I could never compete with. Honestly, I wish I could shower her with presents every day; instead, all I can do is offer her a 10-minute FaceTime call with the kids while she’s away.
We often judge ourselves based on how we perceive others see us. I learned in high school that we think of ourselves as the people we believe others think we are. So let’s imagine the best mom in the world, who, because of societal expectations, feels like she’s failing because she doesn’t fit the outdated mold of parenthood. This creates a cycle of guilt where she thinks she’s not worthy of the title “mother.”
My wonderful partner, who is about to leave for Seattle again, believes she doesn’t deserve anything special. On behalf of our family, let me just say there is no one more deserving of appreciation today. Your kids are lucky to have you as their mom, and I’m incredibly fortunate to share this life with you. Happy Mother’s Day to the most deserving mother in the universe!
And to all the other amazing mothers out there—those who travel for work and feel they’re falling short, those who stay home and feel they’re letting down their gender, those who handle the daily grind of chores, and those who wish they could take a break sometimes—all of you deserve recognition. Happy Mother’s Day!
For more insights on motherhood and family, check out our other posts, like this one on home insemination techniques or learn about the artificial insemination process from an authority on the topic. If you want to delve deeper into the science of pregnancy, here’s an excellent resource.
Summary
Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate the sacrifices and hard work of mothers everywhere, despite the feelings of guilt that can creep in. Whether traveling for work or staying at home, every mom deserves appreciation for their unique contributions. Let’s recognize the hard work and love that mothers pour into their families each day.