To some women, Mother’s Day can bring sadness, because they lost a child to natural causes, an accident, an illness, a crime, or to suicide. Women struggling to conceive can also experience feelings of unworthiness or isolation on Mother’s Day. So Bereaved Mother’s Day honors these women’s painful feelings.
Interestingly, the founder of the official Mother’s Day, Anna Jarvis, founded it in 1908 to honor her own mother, Ann. Ann Jarvis gave birth to around a dozen children, and only 4 survived to grow into adults. Most of her children who died passed away from diseases such as the measles and typhoid fever. So, the original Mother’s Day honored a bereaved mother who still had some living children. On Mother’s Day, many of us experience joy with our living children while simultaneous feeling pain over the one who died.
Today, dear bereaved mothers, you are not forgotten. To all mothers out there with grieving hearts, I am with you in love and in solidarity. I wish you comfort, appreciation, and joy in your memories of your child.
