MOTHERS DAY

Photo by Edgar Baltazar on Unsplash

I carry my mother in my body. She runs through my veins, in the blood that nourishes me. She is there in the straightness of my nose and the shape of my jawline. My maternal line is in the smooth of my womb, deep in the tissue that holds the wisdom of the women who have gone before me. I carry them all in the shape of my waist, hips, and thighs. I have inherited the DNA of thousands of years of living, of wisdom learnt through hardship, suffering, and pain, of singing, dancing, and laughter. It is all there, all running through me as a living embodiment of history.

It is Mother’s Day in the UK, and we celebrate with cards, gifts and a lot of afternoon teas! It is a day to honour, show love and appreciation, and for those whose mothers are no longer with us, a day to remember.

Mother’s Day last year was difficult. It was the first one after my mom passed away, and every card I saw, every advertisement felt like a blow to the chest. It was a painful reminder that my Mom was no longer around. I would never buy a Mother’s Day card again. There would be no more treats and gifts for her, and we wouldn’t be able take her out for a meal or afternoon tea. It was hard to accept that she was no longer with us in the way that we were used to.

Since my Mom’s passing, I have felt her with us. Her presence was palpable for the months that followed her death, but gradually it faded, and these days I only feel her now and again. I have always believed that there are realms and dimensions of existence that we cannot see, overlapping with ours. I believe that she’s there, drawing close to this world now and again to offer the family reassurance, comfort, and to remind us she hasn’t gone too far, even though we can’t physically see her.

This year, the ache feels less sharp, less like a blade. I will spend the day in remembrance, offering gratitude for everything she did when she was alive and giving thanks for the consistent love, support and presence she brought to our lives daily. She was a quiet and unassuming woman with great strength, and I’m glad I had the privilege to be raised by such a strong, courageous woman, whose family were the most important thing to her. She has instilled in me and my two younger sisters the same deep love and connection for family bonds and shown us how to walk this life with dignity and grace.

Today, I hold her in my heart and remember her beautiful soul.

Thank you for reading.

All my love,

Vickey.