A Mom to Be Proud Of!

When we say “Happy Mother’s Day,” our thoughts often gravitate toward biological mothers—at least, that’s the perspective I find myself leaning towards. However, there are many remarkable moms who never gave birth to the children they nurture and love, yet their bonds are just as deep and meaningful.

This morning, I had the pleasure of attending a delightful Mother’s Day Brunch. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, filled with laughter and the sweet aroma of freshly brewed coffee. After mingling for a while, one of the moms excitedly suggested we play a game. It was a simple yet engaging idea: she would pose a question, and each of us would share our unique answers, reflecting our own experiences and perspectives.

The question was simple: What age of your children did you enjoy the most as a mother, and why?

Each of us shared our thoughts, and I mentioned that I particularly enjoyed my kids when they were babies and toddlers. Those moments were truly special. They were chubby and active, and I loved being able to lift them and snuggle with them. I cherished the times I sang to them at night or read them stories until they fell asleep. Those are my favorite memories.

It was another mom’s turn to share her story. I know her; she adopted twins—a girl and a boy—after she and her husband spent 20 years trying to have children. Adopting those toddlers was a joyful moment in their lives.

Her kids are now toddlers, as she had them from birth. I’m not sure what happened to their biological mother, as they never discuss her.

When it was her time to speak, she reflected on moments when she would see other moms carrying their babies and how desperately she wanted to be a mother. She recounted a time when she walked past a playground and saw other parents with their children, wishing to be one of them. She had been on the waitlist to adopt a child for nearly 15 years but never gave up hope.

Her happiest moment came when she received a call saying they had newborn twins available for adoption. She exclaimed on the phone, “YES, YES, please! I want to be their mom!” She hadn’t even seen the babies and had no idea what their health status was; she was ready to adopt them just as they were.

We all fell silent when she shared her story. She cried, and we all joined her in tears. I hugged her and told her that she is a brave mother.

Sometimes, we forget how blessed we are. What we have could be a dream for others. We often don’t realize this until we hear someone else’s life story or go through a similar situation ourselves.

Happy Mother’s Day to all moms, biological, adoptive, step, and foster. Motherhood takes many forms, and every one of them deserves to be honored today. Moms’ strength, kindness, and care make the world a better place.