Every second Sunday of May, social media timelines explode with polished photographs, glowing captions, copied quotes and predictable hashtags. WhatsApp statuses become flooded with “Happy Mother’s Day” messages accompanied by flowers, emojis and generic declarations of love. For many people, the day has slowly become a digital ritual of appearance rather than a genuine moment of appreciation.
Every year, Mother’s Day arrives with the same predictable routine. WhatsApp statuses overflow with glittering graphics. Facebook timelines suddenly become emotional theatres. Instagram captions appear with borrowed quotes, copied poems and recycled photographs. Even people who rarely speak to their mothers suddenly become online philosophers for twenty-four hours. By evening, the performance ends. The next day, many mothers return to loneliness, neglect, emotional stress and silence.
That is the tragedy of modern Mother’s Day.
For many people, celebrating mothers has become cosmetic. It is easier to type “Happy Mother’s Day” than to genuinely honour a mother through meaningful action. It is easier to forward a message than to spend quality time with the woman who sacrificed sleep, comfort, dreams and opportunities to raise children. Social media has made celebration look loud while real appreciation remains absent.
Mother’s Day was never meant to be an annual public relations exercise.
The true meaning of Mother’s Day lies in gratitude, sacrifice, honour and intentional love. It is about recognising the invisible labour mothers perform every single day. Mothers carry burdens that society rarely acknowledges. They wake up early, worry constantly, sacrifice silently and continue giving even when exhausted. Many mothers are the emotional backbone of families. They absorb pain quietly so their children can feel safe and secure.
Some mothers work full-time jobs and still return home to cook, clean, guide homework and solve family problems. Others are single mothers carrying responsibilities that should have been shared. Some are grandmothers raising grandchildren because parents are absent. Others are widows struggling to keep families together under difficult economic conditions. Many mothers are fighting silent battles nobody sees.
A copied social media post cannot adequately honour such a sacrifice.
The real celebration of mothers must move beyond online appearances. Genuine appreciation requires sincerity and action. A mother does not simply need a colourful status update. She needs love demonstrated consistently.
One of the most meaningful ways to celebrate mothers is through presence. Many children have become strangers to their own mothers despite living under the same roof. Phones, work schedules and modern distractions have replaced conversations. Some mothers only interact with their children through short instructions and rushed greetings. Spending uninterrupted time with a mother matters more than expensive gifts. Listening to her stories, asking about her health and engaging in heartfelt conversations can mean far more than public online declarations.
Respect is another forgotten aspect of Mother’s Day. Some people post glowing tributes online while speaking harshly to their mothers in private. Others embarrass, ignore or dismiss their mothers during ordinary days, but suddenly become emotional online once cameras and audiences appear. Real honour is reflected in daily conduct. How one speaks to a mother during disagreements matters more than social media captions.
Support also defines genuine celebration. Many mothers are overwhelmed physically, emotionally and financially. Helping with responsibilities is a meaningful expression of gratitude. Children can cook for their mothers, clean the house, handle errands or simply allow mothers time to rest. Adult children can support mothers financially, especially those struggling with medical bills, rent or daily expenses. Appreciation becomes authentic when it reduces a mother’s burden.
Another important aspect of Mother’s Day is forgiveness and reconciliation. Some families are deeply fractured. Pride, misunderstandings and unresolved conflicts have created painful distances between mothers and children. Mother’s Day can become an opportunity to rebuild broken relationships. A sincere apology, a phone call or a personal visit may heal wounds that have lasted for years. Time is unpredictable. Many people only realise the value of their mothers after losing them permanently.
Society must also broaden its understanding of motherhood. Not every woman who nurtures children gave birth biologically. Some stepmothers, aunties, grandmothers, teachers, guardians and older sisters have played motherly roles in children’s lives. They deserve recognition, too. Motherhood is not only biological; it is deeply relational and sacrificial.
Equally important is remembering that some people experience Mother’s Day painfully. There are grieving mothers who have passed away. Others were raised without maternal affection. Some women long to become mothers but struggle with infertility. Therefore, Mother’s Day should not become a competition of exaggerated happiness online. Sensitivity and compassion matter.
Ironically, the loudest online celebrations are sometimes the most superficial. Public performances often replace private responsibility. Social media rewards visibility, not sincerity. A person may upload ten emotional statuses while never checking on their mother’s well-being. Another may remain silent online but consistently care for, support and honour their mother every day. Between the two, the second person understands the true meaning of Mother’s Day.
Ultimately, Mother’s Day should not be confined to one Sunday every year. Genuine appreciation for mothers must become a lifestyle. Mothers deserve consistent love, respect, care and recognition throughout the year. They should not only feel valued when trends demand it.
READ ALSO: Mother’s Day: Why schools must honour teachers’ maternity rights
The greatest gift a mother can receive is not a viral post, expensive flowers or copied quotes. It is knowing that her sacrifices mattered. It is being treated with dignity. It is being remembered, supported, listened to and loved sincerely.
As society becomes increasingly performative, Mother’s Day must return to its original essence: gratitude expressed through meaningful action rather than public display.
By Ashford Kimani
Ashford teaches English and Literature in Gatundu North Sub-county and serves as Dean of Studies.
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