Sometimes, it’s the teacher who stays behind after school, who notices when we’re having a bad day, who believes in us more than we believe in ourselves.
Or the aunt who, though she never married or had children herself, loves her nieces and nephews as fiercely as any mother would.
When we hear the word ‘mother,’ most of us instinctively picture the woman who gave birth to us, the one who held our tiny bodies first, whose lullabies cradled us to sleep, who watched over us through every scraped knee, exam result, and growing pain. But if we pause and truly reflect on the women who have shaped us, we begin to understand that “mothering” goes far beyond biology. It is not defined by blood, but by boundless love, quiet strength, and unwavering presence.
This Mother’s Day, let’s broaden our hearts to celebrate not just the mothers who brought us into the world, but every woman who has ever mothered someone in her own quiet, powerful way. Because ‘mothering,’ as a verb, as a way of being, is something many women do without ever having children of their own. They love, protect, nurture, and guide. They step in when no one else does. They pour themselves into others without expecting anything back.We’ve all met these women. Perhaps it’s the grandmother who took over parenting duties when life pulled others away, working tirelessly, loving deeply, never once asking for a thank you. Her hands are worn, her eyes full of stories, and her heart is vast enough to hold an entire family together. Or the aunt who, though she never married or had children herself, loves her nieces and nephews as fiercely as any mother would. She shows up to every school play, listens without judgment, and gives the kind of hugs that say, “You’re safe.”
Sometimes, it’s the teacher who stays behind after school, who notices when we’re having a bad day, who believes in us more than we believe in ourselves. She sees not just our grades but our fears, our dreams, our hidden strengths. She becomes a second mum, cheering us on from the sidelines long after we’ve left her classroom. And then there are the everyday heroes, women who don’t fit into neat categories, but whose actions speak volumes. The neighbour who watches over your children when you’re caught at work. The friend who brings you soup when you’re sick, even when she’s busy with her own life. The single sister who becomes a parent to her younger siblings after a family tragedy. These women take on motherly roles not because they have to, but because their hearts are just that big.
In cultures like ours, where families often stretch across generations and the lines between roles blur, we are lucky to see the true breadth of what mothering means. Grandmothers, in particular, are often the glue that holds everything together. They’ve lived through struggles we can only imagine; wars, poverty, loss, and still find the strength to laugh, to forgive, and to love unconditionally. Their food tastes like home, their words carry wisdom, and their presence brings comfort unlike anything else.
Aunts are another source of quiet strength. Free from the weight of daily parenting, they often become our confidantes, our safe space. They’re the ones we run to when we can’t face telling our parents something. They offer perspective, reassurance, and love, without expectation or judgment.
Then there are the mentors, the coaches, the bosses who take us under their wing. They see something in us that we’ve never seen ourselves. They give us opportunities, courage, and sometimes the gentle push we didn’t know we needed. These women might not tuck us into bed at night, but they mother us in every other way, guiding us through life’s twists and turns with steady hands.
There’s also something deeply moving about the women who become mothers by circumstance. Life throws unexpected challenges, and some step into the role of a mother without ever planning to. A friend who becomes a foster parent. A cousin who takes in a child when no one else can. A young woman who raises her siblings so they have a chance at something better. These women often do the hardest kind of mothering, the kind that comes without preparation, without recognition, and sometimes without support. And yet, they give everything they have, because love, not obligation, leads the way.
What all of these women have in common is not a title, but a spirit. Mothering, at its core, is about showing up. It’s in the small, everyday gestures that often go unnoticed, the lunch boxes packed with care, the whispered “drive safe,” the sacrifices made silently and without applause. It’s in the hands that hold ours during times of fear, the eyes that light up with pride, the voices that say, “You’ve got this,” when we’re ready to give up.
This Mother’s Day, let’s not limit our gratitude to traditional definitions. Let’s widen the lens and recognise every woman who has offered her love like a shelter, who has been a steady light in someone’s life, who has chosen to care and nurture even when it wasn’t her responsibility.
And while we do that, let us not forget our own mothers, the women who gave us life and then gave us everything else too. Today, I want
to take a moment to honour my
own mother.
“Amma, you are the heart of my world. You have given so much, quietly and selflessly, every single day. You’ve been my protector, my teacher, my biggest cheerleader, and the one person who has never given up on me. Your sacrifices, made without ever asking for recognition, have shaped the person I am. From the sleepless nights to the quiet prayers, from your strength during hard times to the warmth of your everyday love, you’ve shown me what it truly means to be a mother. You’ve taught me resilience, kindness, and the power of unconditional love. This day belongs to you, but if I had my way, every
day would.”
To all the women out there who mother in ways big and small, whether you’ve given birth or not; thank you. Thank you for holding us, helping us, loving us. Thank you for every kind word, every act of care, every silent act of devotion. You may not all be called “mum,” but you are mothers in every sense that truly matters. Happy Mother’s Day.
