Let’s be real for a minute—Mother’s Day can sometimes feel like a beautifully wrapped performance. The flowers, the cards, the brunch… they’re thoughtful, no doubt. But sometimes they miss the mark. Sometimes what a mother truly needs most is something far simpler—but far more powerful: to be seen.

Motherhood isn’t just a role. It’s a full-body, full-heart, full-spirit experience. It’s round-the-clock, deeply emotional, and mostly invisible work. It’s holding a thousand moving pieces together in silence while still smiling through it all.

And no, it’s not as easy as handing off one task to someone else. Because often, those tasks are part of a delicate ecosystem—a system she’s spent years building and refining in her head and heart. So even when help is offered, it’s hard to accept. Because no one else quite understands all the tiny details that keep everything running.

The emotional and mental load of motherhood? It’s constant. And it doesn’t end when the babies grow up. Moms believe in their children on the days their kids don’t even believe in themselves. They worry about heartbreaks, missed opportunities, dangerous roads, and silent struggles. They celebrate wins—big and small. And they absorb loss like it’s their own. They anticipate needs before a word is spoken, respond before a tear even falls, and carry it all without applause.

And yet… so much of it goes unseen.

Behind the scenes, she’s orchestrating life. Strategizing to avoid meltdowns, smoothing over disappointments, protecting peace, and showing up—again and again. The things that look effortless? They’re built on years of willpower, sweat, and sacrificial love.

So this year, let’s give her something more meaningful than the expected. Let’s offer something that lingers longer than a mimosa and lasts far beyond Sunday morning.

Let’s see her. Truly, deeply, lovingly—see her.

5 Heartfelt Ways to Honor Her

1. Say the quiet things out loud.
Even if she shrugs off Mother’s Day like it’s “no big deal,” there’s a good chance she’d love to feel deeply acknowledged. Go beyond the basics. Say what you’ve always thought but haven’t said.

Try something like:

• “I see how much you carry. Emotionally. Mentally. Every day. And I appreciate you more than words can say.”

• “I know so much of what you do is invisible to others. But not to me. Not today.”

• “I hope you feel celebrated not just today, but every day. The world is brighter because of you.”

2. Acknowledge the emotional weight.
She’s not just doing tasks—she’s holding emotional space for everyone. Is she the one who always listens? Who absorbs others’ pain without ever making it about herself? Who manages her own fears while guiding everyone else through theirs?

Say it out loud. Let her know she’s not carrying it all alone. Let her know you see the heart behind the strength.

3. Give her real rest.
Not the kind of “rest” where she’s still mentally juggling the to-do list from bed. I mean real, soul-deep rest. Where she gets to truly exhale.

• Let her sleep in without interruption.

• Plan a solo weekend just for her.

• Create regular time that belongs only to her, no questions asked.

Give her room to simply be.

4. Offer to share the weight.
Instead of asking “What should we do for you?” ask, “What can I take off your plate today?”

Better yet, observe and act. Has she been handling everything? Step in—without asking for a manual. Notice what’s been quietly weighing her down and offer to carry some of it.

Ask her gently, “What would feel most supportive to you right now?” Then—listen. And follow through.

5. Celebrate who she is—not just what she does.
Motherhood can sometimes swallow a woman’s identity. But she is more than a mom. She is a whole, layered, beautiful being.

Take a moment to reflect on who she is beneath the responsibilities. Compliment her laugh, her creativity, her dreams, her resilience. Tell her what you admire about her as a person, not just as the family’s glue.

Happy Mother’s Day—from my heart to yours.
To every mother, every woman who mothers, and every woman who has ever carried the invisible weight of love—I see you. I honor you. You are not alone. You are not unnoticed. You are everything.

With all my love,

Felicia Ray Owens
Founder, Her She Squad – Through the Eyes of Women