Bereaved Mother's Day 2015

Today is International Bereaved Mother's Day (formerly Babyloss Mother's Day). It's a day set-apart to honor mothers who have lost children at any age or gestation and for any reason. This special day falls on the first Sunday of each May, the week before traditional Mother's Day. I have been recognizing it since it started in 2010, the year my beloved daughter, Lily Katherine, was born and died. I am thankful for this day since I have no children on Earth to celebrate Mother's Day and it is a very difficult day for me. Bereaved Mother's Day is a day to be loved and supported by others who "get it."

Here is what Carly Marie (the creator of this special day) had to say about it: "This day was created to get people to start talking about the real meaning of Mother's Day. Do you know who started it? Anna Jarvis founded the traditional Mother's Day to honor her mother who experienced the death of 7 of her children and somehow through the years it has turned into a commercialized mess that card companies make millions of dollars from, but the worst thing is that bereaved mothers are completely forgotten. This special day was created in 2010 to honor and celebrate the mothers who carry some if not all of their children in their hearts rather than their arms. In our modern day society, mothers who are grieving the death of their babies and children are usually forgotten. The traditional Mother's Day has proven to be an emotionally difficult day for so many mothers around the world. Just because your baby died does not mean that you are not a mother anymore. You are your baby's mother forever and people need to start recognizing this fact."

I'm thinking of all my dear friends who hold their children in their hearts, rather than their arms. Feel free to leave your child's name in the comments section.

I'm bummed out that my mom, our neighbor/friend, and I usually go to a Mother's Day Tea and Tour on this day, but unfortunately it didn't work out this year for different reasons. :(

♥ Lily Katherine and Luke Shiloh ♥