Syeda AB Jan
There are some people in life whose sacrifices are so silent that the world rarely notices them. Mothers are often among those people. My mother, Peerzada Masarat Shah, is the true epitome of love, patience, and strength. When I look back at my childhood, I do not only remember the happy moments — I remember her struggles, her sleepless nights, and the countless ways she tried to give us a better life while teaching us to understand the world with kindness and wisdom.
Mother’s Day is approaching, and while many people will celebrate their mothers with flowers and gifts, some emotions can never truly be wrapped in paper. A mother’s love is far deeper than a single day of appreciation. It lives in every sacrifice she makes, every tear she hides, and every smile she forces simply to make her children feel safe.
My mother taught us lessons no school ever could. She showed us how to remain strong during difficult times, how to stay humble when life becomes unfair, and how to keep moving forward even when exhaustion fills the heart. I saw her struggle quietly, carrying responsibilities that were often too heavy for one person, yet she never allowed us to feel hopeless. Even in her hardest moments, she made sure we had comfort, guidance, and love.
Psychologists and researchers often speak about the importance of mothers in shaping a child’s emotional well-being, and rightly so. Studies have shown that when mothers feel appreciated and emotionally supported, their happiness positively affects the entire family. A mother who feels valued becomes emotionally stronger, more attentive, and better able to nurture her children’s mental and emotional growth.
Children deeply absorb the emotional state of their mothers. When a mother feels peaceful and loved, children often grow with greater confidence, emotional balance, and healthier relationships. Research has also found that children perceive less-stressed mothers as more understanding and emotionally available. Mothers become the first teachers of emotional resilience, showing their children how to face pain, stress, and uncertainty with grace.
But the painful truth is that mothers are often appreciated far less than they deserve. Many spend years sacrificing their own dreams, comfort, and health simply to secure a brighter future for their children. They carry emotional burdens silently because they believe their family’s happiness matters more than their own.
This is why Mother’s Day should not only be about celebration; it should also be a moment of reflection. It is a reminder to truly see our mothers — not just as caregivers, but as human beings with emotions, fears, exhaustion, and dreams. Sometimes, the greatest gift we can give our mothers is not an expensive present, but genuine appreciation, time, understanding, and love.
And while we celebrate mothers, we must also remember grandmothers, whose love quietly shapes generations. The warmth, values, and emotional bonds passed down through grandmothers continue to live in children and grandchildren alike. Families are built not only through blood, but through the emotional strength women carry across generations.
Today, when I think about my mother, I realize that much of who I am comes from her sacrifices. Her struggles became the foundation of our strength. Her pain became our protection. Her love became the light that guided us through life’s darkest moments.
A mother may never ask for recognition, but she deserves it every single day. Behind every strong child is often a mother who chose courage over comfort, love over rest, and hope over despair.
This Mother’s Day, let us not only celebrate mothers with words, but honour them with gratitude that lasts beyond one day — because a mother’s love is not temporary. It is eternal.
