Hey. We know what time of year it is. There’s something about the second Sunday in May. Brunch reservations. Instagram tributes. A collective pause to honor mothers, often painted in broad strokes of love, gratitude, and joy. And while that can be beautiful, it doesn’t speak to everyone. For many, Mother’s Day is something else entirely. It’s complicated. It’s tender. It’s heavy. Maybe even hollow.

This week, we’re holding space for the people who don’t see themselves in the Hallmark version of the day. The ones caring for mothers who are slipping away in slow motion. The ones who’ve buried theirs, or walked away from relationships too heavy to keep holding. Grief, love, care, guilt, they all mix together in ways that don’t photograph well. So if you’re carrying something this weekend that doesn’t fit neatly into a card, we see you.

👟UNheardof and adidas honor the legacy of founder Phil Lipschutz’s grandmother with the Rivalry Low “Grandma’s Couch 2.” It’s floral, it’s emotional, and it’s got handwritten notes from Grandma Naomi stitched inside. 

🦸From hero to zero. Boomers are flipping the script on inheritance, embracing the “Die With Zero” philosophy. Instead of hoarding wealth for their kids, they're choosing to spend it on themselves, prioritizing experiences over estates.

⛪Busy week at the Vatican. The Vatican and AARP co-hosted their first global symposium on aging, titled "The Memory: A Symposium Addressing the Opportunities and Challenges of an Aging Global Population." The symposium highlighted priorities like combating ageism, supporting caregivers, promoting age-friendly communities, and creating inclusive work environments.

For many, Mother's Day is a joyful ritual chock full of cards, flowers, and warm memories. But for others, this day holds something much more complex. If you're reading this and feeling quietly out of step with the celebration, we get it.

Maybe your mom is gone, and not just “gone,” but still deeply missed. The kind of absence that sneaks up in grocery store aisles and Thursday afternoon Zoom calls. You may have spent years as her caregiver, walking beside her through illness or decline, only to now face a quieter, lonelier kind of love.

Or perhaps your mother is still here, physically, but no longer the person who raised you. Dementia and Alzheimer’s can rearrange a person so completely that the grief begins while the body still lingers. You're showing up, giving baths, repeating names, answering the same question for the seventh time, and aching for the mom you remember. 

There are also those who have chosen — or been forced — to step away from a relationship that no longer felt safe. Estrangement isn’t talked about much on days like this, but it’s real, and often rooted in difficult decisions made after years of effort, reflection, and pain. It’s okay to carry mixed emotions, even if the rest of the world is posting memories and mimosas.

Wherever you find yourself this Mother’s Day, know this: your experience is valid. You are not broken or cold for feeling sadness, confusion, or even relief today. Love, especially love between parents and children, is rarely simple.

If you’re looking for community or support, consider checking out:

It’s okay if this day looks different for you. Take a walk, ignore your phone, write a letter you don’t send, or simply breathe. However you mark the day — or don’t — you are not alone.