Mothering Sunday was originally a Sunday in the middle of Lent in which young people who had left home went back to their “mother church” for mass. This meant that they would see their family and they would often pick flowers along the route to give to their mother. This gradually evolved into the day we celebrate today.

I never used to take the celebration seriously. It was something that meant normal lessons in school were replaced with an afternoon of art where we could make a mess and have fun making lists of words to rhyme with “mum”. All the while peeling a film of glue from our hands (the 80s equivalent of having fun on the Wii).

Throughout my teenage years I would buy a card and flowers/chocolates/plant/diary, whichever I could afford. I’d hand them to my mam, give her a hug and bring her breakfast in bed. It was mostly a formality, this was what you did on Mother’s Day and it’s only lately that I’ve come to realise how important Mothering Sunday actually is.

When I came out to my own mother a couple of years ago she was incredibly supportive from the very moment I uttered those words that had been spinning around in my head for years. She took it all in her stride and life carried on as normal. When she came to the realisation that her marriage was over, she carried on through the turmoil. Through numerous hospilizations, two serious car accidents and the sudden death of her father she kept going and came through it all a more mature and reflective person. Nothing fazes her. I look back on these times and feel guilty for my childish obstinance which lasted longer than it should and could have. I owe her so much for helping me become who I am today that I feel as though I can never repay her. I think that’s a feeling we all share.

Some of us never knew our mother, some of us didn’t get on and the relationship was broken, some of us lost her far too early. Some of us see our mother every day but rarely spend time with her. Whatever our circumstances, Mammy will be at the forefront of our thoughts today.

Happy Mother’s Day!

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