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Mother's Day: A Kaleidoscope of Emotions

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Mom and young daughter hugging and holding a bouquet of tulips

Written by Mary Keogh, Registered Psychotherapist, Adelaide Health Clinic 

Let’s talk about Mother’s Day. That annual event where brunch reservations vanish by 9 a.m., flower prices mysteriously triple, and the internet collectively transforms into a Hallmark commercial. 

As a Registered Psychotherapist, I love the idea of honouring Mums. I also know that Mother’s Day can feel like emotional whiplash. For every warm, fuzzy post, there’s someone quietly unfollowing accounts to avoid crying in their coffee or throwing their cup at the wall. 

Let’s be real: this holiday can be complicated. 

Yes, there are the classic Mums - loving, supportive, always knowing where your birth certificate is. But there are also: 

  • The Mums who’ve passed away, leaving behind a mix of beautiful memories and sudden grocery store breakdowns near the card aisle. 

  • The Mums we’re estranged from, where the relationship feels more like an emotional minefield than a warm embrace. 

  • The single Mums, doing the job of three people while somehow keeping everyone alive and occasionally fed. 

  • The Stepmums, foster Mums, chosen Mums, who show up in a thousand quiet ways without always getting the cheesy mug to prove it. 

  • The child-free by circumstance or choice, who navigate this day with grace, humour, or the occasional well-placed “mute” button on social media. 

  • The Mums grieving a child, whose hearts carry a love and sadness bigger than this day could ever contain. 

  • And, of course, the people trying to become Mums, who face this day with brave smiles, tight throats, and yearning hearts. 

Woman sitting on the couch with a pint of ice cream, scrolling through the tv with the clicker in her hand

Then there are those of us who carry “Mum wounds” - people whose Mums weren’t safe, nurturing, or even present. For us, this day can feel like trying to hug a prickly porcupine. While everyone else is hugging puppies. 

So...what do we do with all these possibilities? 

First: permission granted to feel whatever you’re feeling. Sad? Totally fair. Grateful? Wonderful. Ambivalent? Absolutely. Eating Oreo cookie ice cream directly from the tub while watching cheesy reality TV? A sacred ritual, and much underrated, in my opinion. 

Also: you don’t owe anyone a Mother’s Day post. If you love posting something, go for it. If your post would look like: “Thanks for teaching me resilience via chaos,” maybe write that one in your journal instead. 

Mother’s Day can bring joy, grief, resentment, gratitude, or all four – all emotions are allowed. You’re not weird or broken if this holiday makes you want to scream into a pillow. You’re just human. 

New, young mom baby-wearing and outside for a walk

So, whether you’re celebrating, surviving, or somewhere in between, do something kind for yourself today. Call a friend. Skip the day. Take a nap. Write a letter. Burn a letter. Pet a dog. Own the day, your way. 

And remember, you don’t need to have a perfect Mum to feel whole. Sometimes we mother ourselves. Sometimes we find mother figures in friends, partners, mentors - or that coworker who keeps your favourite emergency snacks in their drawer. 

However you show up on Mother’s Day, you are seen, you are enough, as is.  You’re doing great.  I promise. Be gentle on yourself. 

Next Steps

If any of what I have said in this blog resonates with you, please know that you’re not alone, and it’s okay to ask for support. If you have been thinking about therapy or are simply looking for a safe place to talk and be heard, I would welcome the opportunity to support you.  

Headshot of Mary Keogh - Psychotherapist at the Adelaide Health Clinic
About the Author

Mary Keogh is a Registered Psychotherapist based at the Adelaide Health Clinic. She specializes in helping individuals manage stress, emotional challenges, complicated relationships (especially in family of origin), and difficult transitions, particularly in women’s health.

Want to know how therapy can support your mental well-being?

Book a 15-minute complimentary consultation with Mary Keogh and start the conversation on how she can support you today.

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