As Mother’s Day approaches on May 10, 2026, I find myself reflecting more deeply than before. This year’s theme honours mothers for their strength, resilience, and stewardship, calling them the silent architects of the nation who quietly shape generations.  

It’s an honourable recognition, and one that feels especially timely. Yet something in me hesitates. I wonder, how long are we going to be calling them silent, quiet, unappreciated and etc. The larger question is why should they even be labelled so? Why should they even be othered?  

 Though these labels come from admiration, they can unintentionally create a sense of othering. They subtly pressure unfair expectations on women to keep giving, stay gentle, and appear strong no matter what they are carrying, leaving little room for their own voices, tiredness, ambitions, or vulnerabilities. 

 

I’ve seen women serve everyone at the table and only sit when the meal is nearly over. 

I’ve watched mothers remember every detail for everyone else while putting off their own needs for another day. 

 In a society that tags them this way, many women feel they must live up to an image that expects them to give without asking, nurture without needing care themselves, and remain strong even when they’re quietly breaking.  

True respect, I believe, begins when we move beyond these limiting labels and see every mother and mother-figure as a complete, vibrant human being, powerful yet allowed to rest, guiding yet deserving of guidance, resilient yet free to ask for support. 

At iDare, we believe true appreciation goes far beyond cards, flowers, or social media posts. It calls for a consistent, everyday respect for every woman who mothers someone. 

 

The Mother and the Other Misconception 

Motherhood, in its truest sense, isn’t limited to biology. It lives in the aunt who steps in during tough times, the teacher who stays back to counsel a struggling student, the neighbour who feeds and comforts children when parents are away, and the older sister who quietly sacrifices her own dreams to support her siblings.  

They wake up before dawn, mediate conflicts with patience, pass on values of kindness and perseverance, and find creative ways to stretch limited resources. Their resilience isn’t loud or flashy, it shows in the decisions made day after day, and in the dreams, they sometimes set aside so their children can chase theirs.  

I’ve watched this pattern closely. On Mother’s Day, timelines fill with heartfelt tributes. We post photos, share stories, and promise to do better. However, by Monday, life returns to normal. 

This isn’t just about mothers by blood. It’s about every woman who nurtures. The colleague who mentors younger team members with patience. The friend who listens without judgment. The grandmother whose lap holds generations of stories and comfort. They all deserve 365 days of respect, not just one. 

 

Here is what some of the women here at iDare think about this: 

 
“As a new mother, this past year has shown me how much time, patience, and emotional energy it takes to nurture a little human. Motherhood is truly 365 days of responsibility - no breaks, no holidays. It’s constantly juggling between finding time for yourself, managing your career, and still wanting to be with your baby all the time.  

Maybe it’s instinct, maybe it’s love, but I have naturally felt the need to protect and nurture my child at all times. Support helps, but at the end of the day, the weight and love both stay with the mother.” 

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“Yes, I get the thought behind it is to honour mothers for everything they do, all the sacrifices, love and dedication. Still, my question is, why are they in a position to make sacrifices, a reflection of societal norms that glorify self-sacrifice as noble. 

Yes, it may have come from a place of love, but we are fooling ourselves if we think all women do this solely out of love, and not also out of obligation, compulsion, conditioning, and so much more.   

Why have we taken it, time and time again, glorified it, put her on a pedestal, while she continues to sacrifice and suffer, looking for her happiness in other people? At the same time, we post and express pride in how amazing our mothers are.  

Our mothers are human first. She was a girl once, someone with hopes and dreams, someone who had her own way of looking at life and relationships before patriarchy very rudely snatched it all away from her while handing her responsibilities, sacrifice, calling it love and duty, reminding us that change is possible when we challenge these ingrained beliefs.  

It shows up very differently in homes with daughters vs. homes with sons. Sons get to be blissfully unaware of what their mothers go through, not because they don't care or don't want to know. It's because mothers won't share; they will keep it hidden.  

 On the other hand, daughters get to learn the same rules, are asked to follow the same path, and are also taught to sacrifice for their families or be called selfish for choosing otherwise.  

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Stewardship in Action:  

 
True stewardship begins when we move beyond celebration to action. It means sharing household responsibilities without being asked. It looks like checking in regularly, not just when we need something. 

 It shows up in giving women space to rest, pursue their own ambitions, and feel valued as complete individuals, not only in their nurturing roles. 

This Mother’s Day 2026, let’s do more than post beautiful messages. Let’s make a personal commitment: to notice the small acts of care around us, to express gratitude often, and to support the women in our lives not just as mothers, but as whole, vibrant individuals with dreams, boundaries, and needs of their own.  

At iDare, we dare to believe that consistent love and respect can create bigger change than any single celebration ever could.