Weekly Round Up: The Mother’s Day Edition

Time for this week’s round-up of the best of the blog posts which I’ve read over the past week. These are the posts that have moved me, taught me something, inspired me, and which I’ve wanted to share with you. Don’t forget if you have written a post which you would like readers to see, just leave a comment below.

Straddling as many time zones as I do, this is my second Mother’s Day (Mother’s Day was celebrated in March in Europe).  You’ve been writing some heartfelt and beautiful posts to mark the day. Yvonne‘s lyrical evocation of memories of her mother back home in Ireland, Yvonne aka Seasoned Sista’s gratitude on this day, and Beth writing of how “creating a family with Ari has been  “the highest luck, happiness and blessing that I could have ever hoped for.”

Of course, it’s a painful day for many of us too.  Justine writes so beautifully of keeping her heart open even though it has been broken through losing her babies and for Jessica this will be her first Mother’s Day without her Mom.  Each Mother’s Day, each birthday, each holiday we face without our mothers is painful, but that first is the hardest.

When I think of how much I long to see my Mum again, I think of all the ordinary moments, the cups of tea we shared, the TV soaps we watched together, and I would give anything to have one ordinary day with her again. I was reminded again of this when I read Tric’s blog this week and Jackie’s, both of whom reminded me of the importance of banking happiness and special memories.

In “Another Mother’s Day”  Nancy echoes the sentiments of many who cherish their own children, but still feel the loss of their own mothers.  Meanwhile, in “Not Your Hallmark Mother’s Day”, Katy writes of being a mother for nine Mother’s Days, but five of those have been marred by cancer’s unwelcome intrusion in her life. 

While some of us are focused today on the mothers we have lost, there are mothers who are mourning the loss of their children. Our TV news shows are nightly showing pictures of distraught mothers in Nigeria whose daughters have been taken from them for daring to dream of education. Terri knows girls like these better than most of us and she writes movingly of their plight and how you can help in her blog.

Katherine shares The Day I Started Lying to Ruth: A Cancer Doctor on Losing His Wife to Cancer, a compelling essay by Peter Bach, a physician at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, as she reflects on how cancer has stolen too many of our wonderful mothers.

And speaking of wonderful mothers, I’d love if you could help me spread the word on The Special Parent’s Handbook, a new book by Yvonne Newbold.  Yvonne, as I’ve mentioned here before, is a very special lady from the UK, who is living with cancer and parenting a special needs child. She is an inspiration to me and to many others, and I know that your support on Mother’s Day would mean the world to her.

Elsewhere in the blogosphere

Debbie has created a wonderful welcoming community at Where We Go Now. I know that she puts her heart into growing this community and maintaining it as a safe and nurturing space for all.

Check out this healthful rainbow barley salad over at the Pink Kitchen.

Eileen has reviewed Nancy’s terrific Getting Past The Fear guide to chemotherapy.

Randi Rentz talks body image after cancer on the Living Beyond Breast Cancer blog.

Happy to see that Helen is joining me in Blogging For Mental Health on May 14. Please consider joining us too.

“Do not tell me what to feel” is Knot Telling‘s plea to those who think they know how she should be handling her life.

I love this post by Gai on finding the courage to pursue your dreams.

Please welcome a new blog to the round-up  – FECThis.

Oh the joys of Tamoxifen – or not! Diane is experiencing painful leg cramps with the drug.

Tami is celebrating all that’s good in her life and celebration is also the theme of Jen‘s latest post – so wonderful to hear that her latest scan was clear. Jen wrote last week of the dreadful scanxiety which had understandably taken hold and it’s a theme  that is echoed by Catherine in her latest blog

I have chosen to move my CT scan by five weeks so that for just a little window of time, it can feel like life isn’t all about cancer. This isn’t a cowardly decision, it’s a brave one. That’s how I see it. What is life all about anyhow? Is it about the terror of scans and the waiting for results?

Reading Philippa’s blog this week had me reflecting on how our lives are made up of shadow and light and how we live our lives in the interplay between the two is a key factor in our mental health. And that leads me neatly onto Elizabeth. I want to end this week’s round-up where I started – with Mother’s Day – and to share these words by Elizabeth.

Life is full of mixed feelings. I hope that at least one of the feelings you experience tomorrow is serenity. If you are a mom who has lost a child, I know you worked to love and protect your children. If you are a daughter who has lost a mother, I know you brought moments of great joy into your mother’s life just by being her child. If you wanted children but it was not meant to be, think of all of the children to whom you have mattered by being a nurturing presence

Until next week.

Yours with love

Marie xxx