My mom is no longer around to celebrate Mother’s Day, but that never stops me. For some of us, Mother’s Day without a mom is, well, kind of awkward. Half empty. Even if you do still have a living mother, Mother’s Day can be a bit of a letdown.
Some of our mothers have gone on before us and some of us have mothers who because of illness and other factors are not fully present in the mother-daughter relationship.
So what are those of without engaging closeness to our moms supposed to do this coming weekend?
I’m a single gal without children, and my mother died in 2001, but I always find a way to embrace Mother’s Day. May I suggest a few ways to celebrate Mom, mothers, and even your own mothering strengths even if you’ve never given birth? (Keep reading guys, you may pick up some creative tips on how to celebrate the women in your life.)
1. Smile over the best memories. With a few decades under your belt, or maybe more than a few, you most likely have at least a few enjoyable remembrances of your mom or special recollections of raising your own children or pet kids. One of mine is when Mom would make my brothers and 
me a yummy animal cake for each of our birthdays. Another is her taking photos and slides of us as a family or making us summertime Jell-O popsicles. And, of course, I loved reading all the books and encyclopedias she bought us. What’s one of your favorite Mom memories? (If you like, share it in the Comments below.)
2. Revel in your own Mom skills. Your kids (grandkids and great-grandkids) and other loved ones depend on your nurturing ways. Whether you’re a new mom, a time-tested mom, or a woman who helps foster the life of others, you deserve a HUGE Mother’s Day applause. Dang, you’re good! Good at juggling the daily routines, good at soothing the tears, good at adding joy to your home. Just ask my collie, Maisie, what I’m good at most days. She especially appreciates the back and hip massages and the playing catch.
3. Let loose and live it up! Every day is a day to realize how valuable you are to our world. Stop and think about how many individuals you pour your life into each week—and not just your immediate family. Don’t forget to include the young grocery checkout gal and the elderly couple up the street. Mother’s Day is your time to soak in the love and lavish on the take-it-easy pampering. This is YOUR day to receive the cards, the hugs, the phone calls, and the nose kisses from the pets.
But, wait, why not kick off celebrating moms on Friday night? Why only observe one day to salute motherhood? I’ll look into changing Mother’s Day to Mother’s Weekend, while you plan all your curbside pickup meals tomorrow night through Sunday night.
We are in this together. Staying safe and spoiled at home. Good-bye awkward, half-empty letdowns. Hello kickin’ it for womanhood and motherhood. Congrats! I may just make you your own special animal cake.
Another great one Beth????you really look like your beautiful Mother ,she was a sweetheart❤️
Thank you so much, Petey. I just found this photo in one of my 1980s photo albums and just love Mom’s jovial expression. She sure was a sweetheart.
My mom, too, is always with me – even though she will have been gone 25 years tomorrow. Love your pictures and sentiment. Here’s to all the great Moms out there!
Karen, I can’t believe it is 25 years. Your mom was such a lively, go-getter. I am so glad our fabulous mothers were sisters. And I’m grateful that we are cousins. 🙂
I’m grateful too!
Yes, indeed.
enjoy your writing and especially the pictures
Thank you so much, Sharon. I enjoy adding vintage and fun photos to my writing.
You capture so well how women are life givers both physically and spiritually, Beth. You have given life to so many over the years. Happy Mother’s Day!!
Thank you so much, Nancy. I appreciate how you’ve breathed life into my life many a day. Happy Mother’s Day to you, my encouraging friend.
Beth, thanks for sharing the sweet memories. I love your ideas since Mother’s Day has often been an emotional day for me. How we were blessed with our moms’ great baking. I wish I had my mom’s green thumb too.
RoJean, thank you for sharing. It is heart-warming to remember our moms’s strengths and favorites. I hope today has been a good one for you.
I can’t identify with you all. I lost my mom and dad early in life. My memories are faded for the most part. Foster homes were not fond memories.
I love your memories and fun times… My blessing is your happiness and warm memories of your parents.
Annie, I am sooo sorry to hear that you lost your parents early in life. That had to be so tough to be in foster homes. I hope that over the years you have made extra special memories with your children and grandchildren. I know you are one exceptional loving dog parent too! 🙂
Dear Beth, what a poignant and uplifting message.
Like you, I was never blessed to have my own children; but, I got Christen and Amy when they were 4 & 5.
We bonded quickly and remain close all these decades later.
Mother’s Day this year was quiet.
I found myself feeling sad that my sweet girls had forgotten to send me a card and to call me.
Late afternoon, their sweet Mother reached out to me and thanked and praised me saying “thank you for all you do and who you are”.
That was so unexpected and was a precious gift.
Both step-daughters, soon, sent me loving sentiments, too.
It eased some unusual feelings.
There are many women who experience sadness on “Mother’s Day”. Yesterday, I was one. It caused me to more keenly feel what many might feel.
I loved your blog post and getting to see the photos.
Thanks my friend.
Reasie, thank you for sharing your own Mother’s Day experience. I definitely understand the mix of emotions that can come with the day that is not always a Hallmark celebration for many women. I am glad your day turned around with the loving sentiments sent from afar. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and how you gained fresh empathy for other women.
Oh your mom would be so proud of you! She was so quick to smile and see the good, and humor in everything! Love the pictures….such sweet memories….
Thank you, my friend. Mom was quite the smiling humorist, wasn’t she? Sweet photos and memories for sure. I’d better get on that looking into Mother’s Weekend. 🙂