Editor’s NoteIn Celebration of Mother’s Day Month – For the Women Who May Never Be Called “Mom”

This Mother’s Day, I found myself thinking not only of the women who proudly carry the title “Mom,” but also of those who may never hear the word spoken to them, not because they don’t deserve it, but because life simply took a different path.

Some women walk this world with arms aching for a child they’ve never held, their journey touched by infertility. Others have not found the partner they hoped to share parenthood with. And some, because they decided not to have children sometimes of who they love or how their life unfolded, have never been given the chance to be called “Mom.” There are so many roads, and not all lead to that one word.

And yet here’s the truth we often forget:
You don’t need to give birth to be a mother in spirit.

Being a mom is more than biology. It’s in the gentle way you guide your younger sibling. It’s in how you show up for your friends, your nieces and nephews, your partner, how you comfort, protect, and give selflessly when no one is watching. It’s in the nurturing role you take at work, at home, or in your community.

The word “Mom” may be short, but it carries the weight of sacrifice, sleepless nights, deep love, silent tears, and endless strength. And even if that title has never been officially yours, your heart may already know exactly what it feels like to carry those things.

So, to every woman reading this:
You are enough.
Your beauty is not defined by whether you are called “Mom,” but by the love and kindness you bring into the lives of others.

This month, I celebrate you.
The woman who nurtures, who loves, who carries light, even when no one sees it.
The woman who has learned to find happiness in herself.
The woman who is learning to accept the things she cannot change and still chooses joy.

May you know that your heart is just as full, your presence just as meaningful, and your role in this world just as important.

Happy Mother’s Day Month, to every kind of mother.