Mother’s Day has always held a special place in my heart, not just because of the tradition, but because of the incredible relationship I have with my mother and the many moms around me.

Growing up, I never fully understood the weight of my mom’s sacrifices, the depth of her love, and the strength that radiated from her every action. But, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to realize just how much my mother embodies the essence of resilience, nurture, and unwavering support.

My mom is the epitome of class, intelligence, and grace. But don’t get it twisted — she’s a no-nonsense type of woman. Like our elders used to say, “She don’t take no mess!” My mom is the quiet matriarch, not the outspoken Black mama you see in the movies. Her words are few, but her actions are pure and deep. When she speaks, you better listen. Somehow, she always has “the answer.” My relationship with my mom has evolved over the years. In childhood, she related to me in a do as I say kind of way. Then, moving into young adulthood, our relationship was centered on what she thought was best for me. Now, as a more seasoned young adult, our relationship is filled with friendly dialogue talking through our similarities and differences. I love it here!

In our household, my mother was the heartbeat that kept us going. My dad was a stern but fun parent, but my mom was a caregiver — and so much more. She was our guide, our protector, and the embodiment of unconditional love. What I’ve learned as an adult is that her strength wasn’t just demonstrated when taking care of us — it was seen when balancing the many roles of wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend. It was about showing up for her family day after day. As a daughter, I feel safe under her protection, but I also feel inspired by the way she carried herself with dignity, grace, and an inner power that I have come to appreciate even more.

I’ve often heard people speak about the sacrifices their mothers made, but when it comes to Black mothers, those sacrifices have layers of complexity. The legacy of resilience runs deep in our community. My mother’s story is not just her own — it’s the story of many Black women who have fought through systemic challenges and cultural expectations just to carve out a space for herself and her children. Her strength wasn’t just in surviving — it was in thriving, in building a legacy that I am so proud to be a part of. My mother was a walking testament to the power of selflessness and, as I grew, I realized just how much her sacrifices shaped the woman I am today.

As a daughter, I’ve often been amazed at how effortlessly my mother made things look — from cooking to getting dressed, cleaning, chauffeuring us everywhere to play sports, perform in the arts, partake in awards program and all the things. I never saw her out of sorts. She was always put together. However, I know she had her moments when she was tired over our foolishness and just wanted to do her own thing. From making sure we had food on the table to pushing us to excel in school and in life, she was always present, always pushing us to be the best versions of ourselves. It’s only as I reflect on those moments that I realize the emotional labor my mom carried, often putting her needs aside for the sake of the family. But don’t get it twisted — her weekly hair appointment and trips to the nail salon were always scheduled!  

Honoring my mother takes more than just sending flowers or giving her a card on Mother’s Day…always a Hallmark card, may I add. Honoring my mother is about recognizing the depth of her contributions to my life and those who mean the most to her. It’s about acknowledging the power of her quiet strength and the sacrifices she made to ensure that my siblings and I had better opportunities. It’s about recognizing her humanity — seeing her as not just my mother, but as a woman who deserves to be celebrated for everything she is. 

One of the greatest joys we share now is our love for the arts. We’re both musical people. I grew up in the arts and my mom and I have bonded over our appreciation for plays, musicals, concerts Broadway shows, and local performances. It’s something we look forward to together — experiencing the magic of live performances, feeling the energy of the crowd, and celebrating talent and creativity. I cherish these moments we share, and look forward to the many more concerts, musicals, and plays we’ll enjoy together in the future, knowing it’s a tradition we both hold dear. 

I’ve come to realize that honoring my mother is not just about celebrating her one day out of the year — it’s about embodying the values she instilled in me every day. It’s about being the kind of woman who supports others, who uplifts her family, and who stands firm in her own beliefs and values. It’s about recognizing the strength that my mother passed down to me and using it to make a positive impact in the world. 

This Mother’s Day, and every day, I choose to celebrate my mother and the countless other mother figures who have shaped me, loved me, and made me who I am. This Mother’s Day, let’s honor our mothers in the ways that matter most — by recognizing their strength, their sacrifices, and their enduring love. We honor our tender mothers, we honor the mamas who don’t take no mess — we honor all mothers, because they are the backbone of our communities, the foundation of our futures, and the reason we are who we are today!