Last Sunday, we recognized Bereaved Mother’s Day, and this coming Sunday is Mother’s Day. Loss parents experience a lot of feelings around these holidays. Know that whatever you are feeling, those feelings are valid.
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To help you cope as we approach Mother’s Day, we wanted to share our five tips for surviving Mother’s Day.
Tip #1: It’s OK to remind people that this is not your first Mother’s Day.
No matter where you on your journey after loss–whether you just experienced your loss, you’re trying to conceive after your loss, you’re pregnant after loss, or your parenting your child born after loss–you are a mother and deserve to be celebrated and acknowledged on Mother’s Day. If you are pregnant or parenting after loss, it’s OK to remind people that this is not your first Mother’s Day.
Tip #2: Feel free to ask people to include all of your children in your Mother’s Day cards.
Loss parents love to see and hear their babies names. Let your loved ones know how much it would mean to you to have all of your children included in your Mother’s Day cards.
Tip #3: Be gentle with yourself and allow yourself to feel all of the feelings you have.
Mother’s Day is such a bittersweet day for loss moms. And not everyone experiences the holiday in the same way. Feel what you need to feel. Validate each one of those feelings.
Tip #4: There is no “right” or “wrong” way to celebrate Mother’s Day. Do what works for you.
Only you know what will be most helpful and validating for you on Mother’s Day. Want to celebrate your motherhood? Go for it! Want to hide under the covers all day? That’s a completely valid response. Want to have a quiet day with a special activity to remember your baby who died? That sounds lovely. Do what you need to do. There is no right or wrong way for you to acknowledge (or not) this day.
Tip #5: Remember, you are still a mother to all of your children, even if you can only hold some in your heart.
Hear this. It is important. You are a mother. You are a mother to all of your children. The world may not see you as such, but they don’t know the love you hold in your heart for your babies who are not with you. You. Are. A. Mother.
Our hearts are with you. May your day be just what you need it to be. May you feel loved and supported. And may your babies be remembered.
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A Special Way to Acknowledge Your Motherhood
One of the things loss parents crave is to hear and see their babies’ names, an acknowledgement that their baby existed, that they mattered. And that’s one of the things that makes our Annual PALS Waddle Walk t-shirts so special. Each year, you have the opportunity to include your baby’s name on the back of every Waddle Walk t-shirt. It’s always so emotional to receive these shirts and see all of these babies names together. They are forever loved, forever missed.
This year’s Waddle Walk t-shirt design
In honor of Mother’s Day, we’re extending our registration flash sale. During the sale, you can include your baby’s name on the back of the Waddle Walk t-shirt for $25 off. Acknowledge and celebrate your motherhood to ALL of your babies, and join us for our 5th Annual PALS Waddle Walk. Don’t miss this special pricing, and register today.
Have your baby’s name listed here!
This year’s Waddle Walk is the weekend of June 24/25. This virtual walk happens right in your neighborhood. Get all the details here.
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More articles to help you survive Mother’s Day:
- Life After Loss: When Mother’s Day Isn’t So Black and White
- Mother’s Day Cards to a Loss Mom from a Loss Mom
- Mother’s Day is Different When Parenting After Loss
- Six Normal Mother’s Day Emotions on the Pregnancy after Loss Journey
- What to Do For a Bereaved Mother on Mother’s Day
- My First Mother’s Day as a Rainbow Mama
- Supporting the Mama Who is Pregnant After Loss on Mother’s Day
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