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Article: Mother, MAY I ?

Mother, MAY I ?

Mother, MAY  I ?

With May comes Mother’s Day; and this year the day was a bit bittersweet for me. After 23 years of celebrating Mother's Day with my children actually living with me, this year is officially the last one of that ilk. It’s not that there haven’t been changes over the past five years; first when my oldest went to college, and then my middle one went away to college… and those Mother’s Days were certainly different than previous ones. But this year was the last one before all three of my kids are “out of the nest.”

As I prepare to send my youngest off next month, lots of emotions go through me… and they strike unpredictably. Yes, I am excited for him and his new chapter which is sure to be challenging and exhilarating; but I am also apprehensive about many things… obviously I am nervous for him, and I worry that he made the right college choice. And then there are a myriad of little things such as: will he remember to sunscreen his ears and drink enough water? I will miss seeing his face in the morning and the pride I feel when he’s engaged in a conversation with an adult. I will miss his friends… watching them play “die” in our back yard and the quick chats as they dart in and out of our door. I will miss those footsteps that I know so well. 

But with all that, I am excited to be a part of his next adventure; to meet his new friends, to follow along as he navigates classes, and to explore a region of the United States we don’t know well. And I am excited that after more than 23 years of focusing solely on others, there will be more time for me. I am looking forward to more one-on-one time with my amazing husband, to sleeping-in just a bit if I want to, and to the spontaneity that is impossible when you are a “full-time” parent. 

Motherhood is not for the faint-of-heart… it is messy and tedious, heartbreaking and exhausting; but it is also what fills my heart with pride, love, and fulfillment like nothing else I can imagine. It is fleeting moments of elation when every kid is doing amazingly and feeling the lowest of all lows when one of your kids is struggling and you just can’t fix it. And sometimes you CAN fix it; but you know that isn’t what’s best… so you trust your gut and step aside; and that can feel utterly debilitating. 

One of my best friends once said, “no one comes out of this unscathed,” and this is true in so many ways. Being a mom is truly the most difficult job because those beings are literally tethered to you… and to your heart. Those three are what can make my world come to a screeching halt or make it spin uncontrollably with happiness. Motherhood can be a synonym for each and any emotion you feel. As I navigate the coming months with changes that are sure to evoke a whirlwind of emotions; I am buoyed by the fact that I am not alone.

Recently, one of our very favorite artists, Noe Kuremoto, shared some new pieces with Trove. As with each collection, Noe’s work is intertwined with being a mother; I thought it fitting to share her words about motherhood:

“It’s raw and real. And it reminded me I’m not alone in this wild ride we call mamahood. Balancing a career, nurturing a relationship, and raising kids… it’s beautiful chaos. Let’s be honest — sometimes it feels like keeping a fully functioning family is the stuff of myths. Especially when both parents are deep in demanding work.

Maybe this is exactly what we shine a light on this Mother’s Day. Let’s celebrate working motherhood — messy, meaningful, unfiltered. Let’s stand tall in it. Our souls linked, stronger for having spoken the truth out loud.”

And with that, we leave you with these incredible photos of Noe- combining her art with her heart: career and motherhood intertwined not as the problem but as the magic.