104 | Why Mother’s Day Isn’t Always Joyful for Midlife Moms—And How Mindfulness Helps You Cope

Does Mother's Day stir up more emotions than you expected—joy, sorrow, guilt, or longing?Whether you're celebrating, grieving, navigating a complicated relationship, or simply surviving the day, this episode offers a peaceful, honest space to reflect on the truth of motherhood in all its forms. No pressure, just presence.

• Hear a deeply personal story of caregiving and complex love that reflects the real emotional landscape of this day.
• Practice a grounding mantra and gentle affirmations that validate every feeling—joy, sadness, guilt, and grace.
• Learn how to create small rituals to anchor yourself in peace when emotions run high.

🎧 Press play to make space for the full truth of your experience—and find compassion no matter what this day looks like for you.

You’re listening to the right show, formerly known as the Mindful Life Changes or Mindful Career Change Podcast. We’ve made some pivots through the years, but we’ve finally landed on the right path: producing content for moms seeking calm within the chaos of midlife changes.

New episodes drop on:

• Sundays: 20-minute episodes addressing common midlife challenges with practical strategies plus a featured mindfulness practice (affirmations, mantras, or meditations)
• Wednesdays: Short guided practice sessions to reinforce Sunday's mindfulness technique and reset your week

More from The Mindful Midlife Mom:

Discover Valerie's articles on ohhellomidlife.com or watch her videos on Youtube @ohhellomidlife

This podcast explores patience, meditation, confidence, presence, and overcoming resentment while cultivating calm, peace, mindfulness, clarity, mantras, and addressing loneliness and burn out; it covers boundaries, caregiving, guilt, affirmations, working moms, self-care, midlife crisis, empty nesters, empowerment, people pleasing, compassion fatigue, family caregiving, stress relief, self-worth, stress management, and how to shift from reactive to centered when feeling short tempered, offering tools for self acceptance, easing mental exhaustion, building emotional resilience, harnessing inner strength, and preventing caregiver fatigue for those in the sandwich generation through expert advice on boundaries setting.

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Transcript

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Today's Mother's Day mantra. Being a mom is never easy, but always worth it. Mother's Day, A day that carries so many different emotions for each of us. For some, it's a celebration filled with brunches and handmade cards, but for others, and perhaps for all of us at different points in our lives, it brings complicated feelings to the surface. Maybe you're missing your mom who is no longer here, whether through loss, distance, or complicated circumstances perhaps. You're doing your absolute best as a mother yourself, carrying the weight of endless responsibilities while questioning if it's enough, or you might be on a difficult journey to motherhood. Facing challenges and heartache along the way. This day can stir up sadness, annoyance, guilt, or even reopen wounds that were never fully healed. It can make you ache for the mother you miss, or the mother you wish you had. Today's episode isn't about diminishing anyone's joy or celebration. Those moments of appreciation are precious, especially for mothers who rarely hear thank you, or get a moment to themselves. But this episode is a sanctuary for all the other feelings too. A space to acknowledge that motherhood in all its forms is complex, challenging, and deeply personal. Whether you're celebrating, grieving, striving, or simply getting through the day, I invite you to join me in finding a moment of peace with our Mother's Day mantra. Never easy, but always worth it. A simple truth that honors both the struggles and the profound value of a maternal journey. Whatever form it takes in your life right now. Hello and welcome to the Mindful Life Changes podcast. We dive deep into the challenges and transformations shaping our lives from shifts in our roles at home, and work to the transitions we navigate physically and mentally as we gracefully age. I'm your host Valerie Mekki, a career change guide and mindfulness enthusiast. Before we dive into our mantras today. I want to share that this Mother's Day feels different for me too. I'm living part-time with my mom right now, supporting her as she cares for my dad in an assisted living home. I'm not with my husband on this day, and in some ways neither is she. It's complicated. A word that perfectly describes so many aspects of motherhood and our relationships with our mothers, and that's exactly why I believe in today's mantra. Being a mom is never easy, but always worth it. This simple truth acknowledges both the challenges and the profound value of a maternal journey. Whatever form it takes in your life. So let's take a moment to center ourselves with this mantra. Find a comfortable position, whether you're sitting, standing, or lying down. If it feels right, close your eyes or soften your gaze. Take a deep breath in through your nose and exhale fully through your mouth, letting any tension you might have and letting it go. I'll recite our mantra three times. Simply listen and let the words wash over you. So let's begin. Being a mom is never easy, but always worth it. Being a mom is never easy, but always worth it. Being a mom is never easy, but always worth it. Now, as you continue to breathe deeply, I'll guide you through some affirmations that honor the full spectrum of motherhood experiences. After I say each one, take a moment to repeat it to yourself, either silently or aloud, whatever feels comfortable to you. So let's begin. I acknowledge that motherhood comes with joy and sorrow often intertwined. I honor my complicated feelings about Mother's Day without judgment. I am doing my best, and my best is enough. I release any guilt or pressure I feel to experience this day in a certain way. I allow myself to feel whatever arises today. Sadness, love, longing, or peace. I am worthy of compassion, especially when motherhood feels overwhelming. I celebrate the strength it takes to nurture others even when it's difficult. I find peace in knowing that love persists even amidst the complications. I embrace the perfect, beautiful journey of motherhood, whether I am a mother, have a mother ahold the absence of one. Let's return to our central mantra for today. Take one more deep breath in and let all the air out. Being a mom is never easy, but always worth it. Take one deep final breath in and out. And when you're ready, slowly bring your awareness back to the present moment. If it feels comfortable to you, place your hand over your heart to help seal this practice with self-love and care. This mantra and these affirmations are yours to recite whenever Mother's Day or any day brings complicated feelings to the surface. You might find it helpful to recite the mantra in the morning, especially if you anticipate emotional challenges throughout the day. You might also create a small ritual around the mantra. Perhaps light a candle, hold a meaningful object, or simply take a quiet moment to yourself as you recit it. The keys to create a moment of peace and connection with yourself amidst whatever emotions arise. For a deeper experience, I recommend listening to episode 52, where we explore a guided body scan and transformative.'I am' and'you are' affirmation specifically designed for moms. That episode offers additional tools to help you calm your mind, celebrate your strength, and remind yourself of your incredible worth. It is a beautiful way to expand this moment of peace and continue nurturing yourself. There is no better way to develop a healthy habit than by setting yourself up for success. Subscribe to this podcast and bookmark this episode so you have it handy whenever you need a moment of peace. A miss complicated feelings. If you found this episode helpful, please share it with someone who might be struggling with Mother's Day emotions or show your appreciation by giving us a rating wherever you listen to podcasts. Your support helps other midlifers discover our content, allowing this podcast to grow and blossom. Thank you for sharing this time and space with me. Every moment you dedicate to being mindful is a step towards a more fulfilled and vibrant life. Remember that. However you experience Mother's Day with joy, sorrow, or complex of emotions, your feelings are valid and you are not alone. I look forward to our next mindful gathering. I'll talk to you soon.