I’ve been thinking a lot about moms and motherhood lately. Maybe it’s because I’ve been in the thick of wedding planning with my mom, or maybe it’s because my best friend of 14 years recently became a mom herself. Either way, it’s been on my mind in a way it hasn’t before.
Over the past few months, I’ve had a front-row seat as my best friend Abby has stepped into motherhood. I’ve watched her learn the proper way to hold her son and how to anticipate his needs. I’ve seen her navigate complications and sleepless nights and somehow hold space for both overwhelming love and total exhaustion at the same time.
At the same time, I’ve been spending a lot of time with my mom as I plan my wedding. And I’ll admit, there have been moments when I’ve been stressed, opinionated, or just plain bratty to her. And of course, I regret it immediately and try to apologize for my lapse in maturity or respect as if I was suddenly 15 again. I recently heard advice from a fellow bride: “If you’re planning a wedding, don’t get fresh with your mom. You’ll regret it.” That advice has stuck with me in the moments when I want to push back on one of my mom’s suggestions or critique her method of doing something just because it’s not how I would do it.
Because the more I think about it, the more I realize how much moms show up — quietly, consistently, and often without recognition. They carry the mental load, the emotional weight, the tiny details that make big moments feel special. And watching Abby step into that role for the first time has made me see my own mom’s role in my life with a new level of clarity. There was once a time 33 years ago when my mom was learning the proper way to hold me, and now, here she is anticipating my needs and wants as a bride-to-be with the ultimate goal of just wanting me to be happy and feel loved — the same thing Abby wants for her baby.
Motherhood doesn’t start and stop at any one phase — it evolves. It’s there in the early mornings and late nights with a newborn, and it’s still there decades later, helping plan a wedding, throwing a bridal shower, or simply showing up when it matters most.
As we head into this issue, which coincides with Mother’s Day, I’ve been reminded that motherhood isn’t always loud or obvious. But it’s always there — even when their kids have sleepless nights or push back on their suggestions. Sometimes, it just takes seeing motherhood from a new perspective to fully appreciate how complex it is and how deep and unwavering a mother’s love for her child is.
