Student Wellbeing

Celebrating Mothers – Not Just for a Day, but Every Day

Mother’s Day is celebrated in Australia and many countries around the world on the second Sunday of May. It is a special opportunity to recognise the incredible contributions of mothers and caregivers. Traditionally, it’s a day filled with cards, flowers, breakfast in bed, and heartfelt “thank yous.” But for many mums, it’s also a moment of reflection, because motherhood isn’t something that can be captured in a single day.

From the moment a woman learns she is expecting, the journey of motherhood begins. It’s filled with love, joy, challenge, and sacrifice. The real celebration of motherhood lies not just in one day a year, but in the 364 others, when mums are waking up early, packing lunchboxes, juggling work and family, staying up through the night with sick kids, and endlessly showing up for their children in big and small ways.

The Reality of Motherhood

Motherhood is often described as the hardest job in the world and for good reason. It is physically demanding, emotionally stretching, and incredibly rewarding. It means trading uninterrupted sleep, privacy, and sometimes even career goals for moments of deep connection, sticky cuddles, and unconditional love.

Despite the challenges, stretch marks, sleepless nights and endless laundry, most mums would do it all again in a heartbeat. Why? Because motherhood is also filled with moments of unmatched joy: the tiny hands that reach out for comfort, the spontaneous “I love yous,” and the privilege of being someone’s safe place.

The Strength and Influence of Mothers

Whether working outside the home or not, mothers work hard. And beyond the walls of their homes, mothers play an essential role in shaping the future. We raise the next generation of leaders, carers, innovators, and changemakers. Day by day, we help shape their hearts, values, and resilience.

We may not always get it perfect (no one does), but every day we are doing the most important job there is: we are being mums. Imperfectly, wonderfully, and with more strength than we often give ourselves credit for.

More Than a Gift: The Power of Appreciation

While gifts are lovely, often what mums appreciate most is genuine recognition, a heartfelt “thank you,” an unexpected note, or a few minutes of connection. Just like in the workplace, where appreciation fuels motivation, mums thrive when they feel valued.

And here’s something even better: encouraging children to show appreciation doesn’t just help mums, t helps them too. Research shows that expressing gratitude increases happiness, lowers stress, and strengthens relationships. So, encouraging your children to show appreciation this Mother’s Day might be one of the kindest gifts you can give both them and you.

Let’s Celebrate the Real Power of Motherhood

This Mother’s Day, let’s go beyond the flowers and cards. Let’s celebrate the everyday strength, love, and determination that mothers bring into the world. Let’s also take the opportunity to reflect on how our everyday choices, what we buy, how we parent, and how we care for ourselves, help create a better future for our children.

To all our mums, stepmums, grandmothers, and carers in our school community: thank you. We see you. We appreciate you. And we celebrate you today and every day.

Happy Mother’s Day from all of us.