“Perhaps one day, they’ll understand all the sacrifices she gladly made out of love for them.” – John Mark Green

Growing up, we rarely grasp the depth of our mothers’ love and sacrifices. We’re too busy being children wanting every new toy, every sweet treat, assuming it’s our right. We don’t see the superhero in plain clothes making it all happen. As a kid, I never paused to think about how my mom managed to give me everything I asked for. I was lost in my own little world, confident that wanting something meant I should have it. And somehow, Mom always came through, as if by magic. Only later did I start to wonder: What did she go through to make my wishes come true?

When We Were Kids, We Just Didn’t Know

In childhood innocence, we take our parents for granted. If I wanted a toy car or the latest gadget, I pestered my mom until she got it for me. I never thought about the extra hours she might have worked or what she sacrificed to afford those gifts. While I was busy playing with friends or daydreaming about new adventures, Mom was busy holding our world together.

Looking back, I realize there were times she quietly went without so that I could have with. Remember those days you demanded a specific birthday gift or some trendy shoes? Our mothers somehow made it happen – maybe by cutting corners in the household budget or skipping something for themselves. As kids, we just didn’t know. We saw the gift, not the sacrifice. We saw her smile as we tore open the wrapping, not the exhaustion in her eyes. We were too young to understand, and our moms never wanted to burden us with their struggles.

A Mother’s Unseen Sacrifices

Fast forward to our hectic teenage years and early twenties, and we become even more self-focused. School, friends, first love, starting a career, our lives get busy, and Mom often drifts into the background. We might roll our eyes when she asks if we’ve eaten or when she insists on a curfew. We assume she’s just nagging, not realising that every question is rooted in care. In those moments, we can’t see that our mother is a person beyond just “Mom,” someone who has her own feelings and fatigue.

Think about it: Who was your mom before she had you? She was a girl with hopes, dreams, maybe hobbies and a career. She had a favorite song, a favorite dress, friends, and plans. Then we came along, and her whole world changed. Overnight, her identity shifted to being our mom. It’s a beautiful transformation, but also a story of sacrifice. She put many of her own dreams on hold to make sure our dreams could come true.

Consider some of the everyday roles and sacrifices a mother makes out of love:

• Chef and Nutritionist: Cooking meals after a long day, ensuring we were fed with the best she could provide (even if she was too tired to eat herself).
  
• Caregiver and Nurse: Staying up all night to rock us to sleep when we were sick or had nightmares, even though she had work the next morning.
  
• Teacher and Counselor: Helping with homework, teaching us right from wrong, and listening to our problems. She offered advice and hugs when our hearts were broken or when we felt like failures.
  
• Chauffeur and Scheduler: Driving us to school, practices, and friends’ houses; juggling schedules so we never missed an opportunity – all while she often had no time for herself.
  
• Housekeeper (Unpaid!): Cleaning the house, doing endless laundry, picking up after us without complaint, keeping our home a safe haven.
  

The list could go on. She wore all these hats without expecting anything in return. Take a moment to imagine: How many times did your mom pretend she wasn’t hungry just so you could have the last slice of pie? Or work through her headaches silently because the family needed her? Those are the unseen sacrifices. They’re not written in any record book, but they’re etched in our hearts – if we only look.

Unappreciated and Unpaid – The Silent Reality of Motherhood

One of the saddest realities is that society doesn’t truly reward or even acknowledge mothers for all their hard work. Parenting, especially motherhood, is often called the toughest job in the world, yet it comes with no paycheck, no days off, and no formal “thank you” ceremonies. My mom didn’t receive a medal for the nights she stayed by my bedside when I had the flu, or a bonus for negotiating toddler tantrums and teenage dramas. No one claps when a mother makes dinner after an exhausting day or pays the bills on time with tight finances. It’s expected, almost invisible labor.

Did you know that if moms were paid for all the jobs they do, they’d earn over $145,000 a year? Studies have calculated that the cooking, cleaning, chauffeuring, tutoring, nursing, and countless other roles a mother fulfills would equal a six-figure salary in the workforce. And yet, mothers do it all for free – powered by unconditional love. Talk about dedication!

Despite all her efforts, we rarely stop to say I appreciate you. Motherhood can feel like a thankless marathon. She never asks for rewards, yet she deserves them the most. We celebrate celebrities and athletes with awards, so why not honor the woman who gave us life and taught us how to live it? Too many mothers spend years giving without recognition. No applause, no trophies, just quiet dedication. It is time to change that and finally shine a light on her love and sacrifices.

It’s Never Too Late – A Wake-Up Call

For many of us, the wake up call comes when we step into our parents’ shoes. Maybe it is the first night you stay up with your own baby and whisper, “Oh Mom, is this what you went through for me?” Your back aches, your eyes burn, yet you keep going out of love. In that moment, you finally feel the depth of your mother’s strength and realize you never truly thanked her for all those sleepless nights.

You do not have to be a parent to see your mom clearly. Sometimes it happens later in life when you notice her hands have aged or her face looks more tired than before. Time is moving fast. She will not always be here. All those years she supported you, and maybe you rarely said thank you.

If you feel that mix of love and regret, you are not alone. The good news is, it is not too late. As long as she is here, there is still time to make her feel appreciated. Do not wait until all that remains are memories and unspoken words.

‘’ Appreciate your mom now, before any more time slips away. Trust me, the best time to show gratitude is today. Right now. Because every day we have with our mothers is a gift.’’

Gratitude: The Best Gift You Can Give Mom

When it comes to showing love, we often think of flowers or jewelry. But no diamond can bring that sparkle in her eyes that your Gratitude Award® can. What mothers truly want is to feel appreciated and loved by their children.

She is the woman who still says, “Do not spend on me, save it for yourself.” All she really wants is to know that her sacrifices mattered, that you see her, value her, and are thankful for everything she has done.

So give her something that truly speaks to her heart. Honor her with a Gratitude Award® that says, Mom, you are my hero, my strength, and my forever inspiration.

Make This Christmas One She’ll Never Forget

As the holiday season approaches, many of us start thinking about gifts and celebrations. But this year, give your mother something that no store can offer, your love, your time, and your gratitude.

Sit beside her, hold her hand, and tell her what she means to you. Remind her of the moments that shaped your life, the nights she stayed awake for you, the meals she cooked even when she was tired, the words she said that you never fully understood back then. Tell her you finally see it all now.

“I wish I could rewind time,” you might whisper, “just to sit at that dinner table again when you said, let us eat together while we can, one day everyone will be in their own world.”

I never understood it then, but I do now. Life has taken us in different directions, yet my heart always finds its way back to her.

“Mom, I wish I had never answered you in anger.”
“I wish I could stay with you forever.”
“All I want is to see that smile on your face and no tears in your eyes.”

No gift can ever measure what she deserves, but if we could, we would “bring the whole world to her feet.”

So this Christmas, do not wait for someday, make it today. Tell your mom how much you love her. Give her that hug she has been waiting for. Let her know she is your hero, your heart, and your forever home.

Act now and honor her with a Gratitude Award®, a symbol of everything she has done and all the love she has given. Do it now, while you still can, because every day with your mom is a blessing, and every thank you you give her is a prayer that will echo in her heart forever.