Writing Prompt:
Mother’s Day
May is known for many things, but one that stands out in particular is Mother’s Day. While Hallmark has shaped it into a day of joy and celebration, for many, relationships with their mothers are more complicated. The day — and even the days surrounding it — can bring joy, grief, gratitude, longing, or confusion — sometimes all at once. Write using one (or more) of the following statements as your first sentence and see where your thoughts take you from there.
💗 Loving & Supportive
- “She was my biggest cheerleader — even when I didn’t believe in myself.”
- “Every recipe I cook has her voice in it.”
- “I never doubted her love, even when we disagreed.”
💔 Grief & Loss
- “Mother’s Day feels like a spotlight on what I’ve lost.”
- “I still find myself reaching for the phone to call her.”
- “Grief doesn’t always feel sad — sometimes it just feels empty.”
🌱 Complicated & Evolving
- “We didn’t always understand each other, but I think we tried.”
- “I’m still learning to forgive her… and myself.”
- “Our relationship got better when I stopped expecting her to be someone she wasn’t.”
🌈 Chosen Mothers & Mentors
- “She wasn’t my mom, but she showed up like one.”
- “Love doesn’t require blood — she mothered me with her presence.”
- “I found a mother in someone I never expected.”
🤷♀️ Strained or Distant
- “It’s hard when people talk about their moms like best friends — I don’t relate.”
- “We keep conversations surface-level because it’s safer that way.”
- “Some years I skip Mother’s Day altogether.”
🌤️ Healing & Hopeful
- “We’re both learning to do better, one conversation at a time.”
- “I’m building the kind of mother-daughter relationship I wish I had — with my own child.”
- “She tried in her own way — and I’m finally seeing that.“
Story Starter:
Countdown to the Unexpected
“With only ten days of school left, everyone in Mrs. Carter’s class was counting down — except me. Because I knew something was about to happen that would change everything before summer even started…”