Why Self-Care Should Last Beyond Mother's Day

A Mother's Day Reflection

One of the first text messages I received on Mother's Day was from my Aunt Bev.

"To the hardest working Mother I know!!! Sit back, relax, and enjoy your day!!! 🫶🏾🌺🥂"

My first response was simple:

" Thank you. I wish I could today, but I have some new opportunities I need to prepare for this week."

And then I paused. I thought to myself...No. I need to rest.

Yes, I am hardworking. Yes, I wear many hats. But every day, I am a mother. Every day, I show up. Every day, I pour into everyone else.

And on this day, I decided to pour into myself.

So I did what I always do on Sunday — my ritual of self-care.

A facial. An aromatic bath (of course). A mask. Washing my hair. Grooming my nails. Movement. Meditation. Cooking a nourishing meal. Sitting outside for a little sun, gratitude, and stillness.

Just breathing.

This was also another Mother's Day without my mom. Eleven years later, grief still visits.

I miss her every day.

Getting through life without her has been one of the hardest journeys, but I push through — because that's what mothers do.

But this Mother's Day made me reflect differently.

I saw so many mothers celebrated, loved on, gifted with flowers, pampered, and cared for — and thought:  Why only one day?

Mothers carry so much every single day.

My mother taught me self-care long before I understood its importance. When my son was just three years old, she sent me to a spa for the day. She taught me that caring for yourself is not selfish — it is necessary.

And now, my son reminds me of the same thing.

He constantly reminds me how amazing I am, especially during moments when I question if I've done enough. He has watched my journey, my sacrifice, and my resilience his entire life.

When we travel together, he encourages my spa time and never rushes me. He always says, "When you go get what you need, it's more pleasurable for me too. You're more relaxed."

Motherhood is beautiful, but let's be honest — it is not easy.

We carry the impossible and somehow make it possible.

Recently, my cousin Dude told me, "You can hold up the world and make it look easy."

And honesty? Sometimes it feels heavy.

But mothers keep showing up.

So I started thinking...

What if Mother's Day wasn't just one day?

What if we practiced caring for ourselves all year long?

What if self-care became a ritual instead of a reward?

That thought planted a seed and reminded me of my bath times I took each evening when raising my son.

Because if you do not have a self-care ritual, I want to help you create one.

I want to give a woman a Mother's Day gift that lasts all year long — a moment of peace, restoration, and intentional care.

Not just in May.

But every month.

Because motherhood happens every day.

And whether you are a mother, caregiver, business owner, nurturer, or simply someone carrying a lot...

You deserve care every day, too.

With love and intention,

Lanelle