Honoring Mothers and Mental Health: A Month of Reflection and Compassion

May brings blooming💐flowers, warmer🌞days, and two meaningful observances: 

Mother’s Day and Mental Health Awareness Month 

It’s a time to reflect on the strength, resilience, and love🩷of mothers—and to acknowledge the importance of caring for our mental and emotional well-being.

For many, Mother’s💕Day is a joyful celebration. For others, it can stir complex emotions—grief, longing, or unresolved pain. Whether you’re a mom, missing your mom, or navigating a complicated relationship, this day can carry a lot. That’s why this month is an invitation—to honor both joy and struggle. 

To care for others while also caring for ourselves.

I know this personally…

During the darkest seasons of my addiction and untreated mental health struggles, I was estranged from my mom.  We were emotionally disconnected, and I carried a lot of shame, anger, and unmet expectations. Even after I got sober, we had a few years of silence. But once I began healing —once I got honest, got help, and started doing the inner work—I learned something life-changing: acceptance.

I learned to accept who she is.

And..maybe even more importantly, I learned to accept

who I am in our relationship.

That shift changed everything. Over time, our connection grew stronger—not perfect, but real.

And real is enough.

Grateful to honor my Mom weekly, on a series,

You can follow here👇🏻

“Mom’s Monday📝 Notes”

But my healing didn’t stop there….

I was also estranged from my own daughters as a mother. Addiction and unaddressed trauma created distance, hurt, and silence. That pain is something I will never forget. But with time, consistency, and humility, those relationships have been restored. I’ve learned how to show up as a healthy, present mom—and today, we’re walking in grace💜and rebuilding trust together. 

That’s nothing short of a miracle.

Here’s how we can honor both this month:

1.Celebrate🥳 the Real Stories of Motherhood

Motherhood isn’t just about picture-perfect moments—it’s about the messy, beautiful, courageous everyday journey. Let’s uplift the real stories of mothers who show up, even when it’s hard. The ones battling anxiety, healing from trauma, or recovering from addiction while still pouring love into their families.

2.Make Space for Grief💜and Healing

If Mother’s Day is hard for you, you’re not alone. Journaling your thoughts and emotions can be a powerful step toward healing😇

That’s one reason I created the thINK journal—to offer a safe, encouraging space for anyone on a recovery or mental wellness journey to process and grow through writing.

3.Support🤓Mental Health Conversations

Let’s normalize therapy, support groups, journaling, prayer, rest—whatever helps you stay grounded. Moms especially carry invisible loads; checking in on their mental health is a form of love.

4.Give the Gift🎁of Presence

A kind word. A shared moment. A handwritten note. Presence often heals more than perfection. You don’t have to have the right words—you just have to show up.

This May, let’s celebrate courage.

The courage💪🏻of mothers. The courage💪🏻of those facing mental health challenges. The courage💪🏻to feel, to heal, and to keep going. If you or someone you love needs a tool to process emotions and build self-awareness,

Please check out my guided recovery journal: 👇🏻

If You Think It, Ink It.

It’s filled with powerful prompts from My Own Healing Journey—designed to help you write through the hard stuff and reconnect with hope.

To all the mothers, caregivers, and healing hearts—this month, we see you. We honor you. And we stand with you.

Big Virtual Hugs,

Happy Mother’s 💕Day and Happy Mental Health Awareness May!

- ❤️ , Amy C.