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Mother’s Day and Caregiving: Honoring Love When the Relationship Has Changed
Mother’s Day can feel tender and complicated when you are caring for an aging parent or a mother whose illness has changed the way she shows up in the world. She may still be physically present, but Alzheimer’s, dementia, a terminal illness, or the decline of her body may have shifted the relationship in ways your heart is still trying to understand. You may still be able to see her face, hold her hand, or sit beside her, yet miss the sound of the mother you once knew. You ma
Sonya Strider
3 days ago4 min read


For the Mother Who Is Tired: A Mother’s Day Message of Love, Gratitude, and Permission to Breathe
Mother’s Day is often filled with flowers, cards, brunches, pictures, and beautiful words of appreciation. But for some mothers, Mother’s Day arrives when their hearts are tired, their bodies are worn down, and their souls are quietly whispering, “I need a moment to breathe.” This is for the mother who has given so much of herself that she can barely remember the last time she rested without guilt. The mother who has held the family together while silently falling apart. The
Sonya Strider
3 days ago4 min read


The First Mother’s Day Without Your Mother: Living Because She Lived
The first Mother’s Day without your mother can feel like your heart is standing in a room where something sacred is missing. The world may keep moving. Stores may still be filled with flowers, cards, gifts, and reminders to celebrate. People may still post pictures and write tributes. Families may still gather around tables. But for you, this day may feel different now. It may feel quieter, heavier, unfamiliar, and deeply tender. Because this is the first Mother’s Day without
Sonya Strider
4 days ago4 min read


Still His Girl: A Father’s Day Reflection on Love, Loss, and Letting Go
Father’s Day is here. For many of us, it stirs up more than cards, cookouts, and memories. It’s a day of reflection—a moment to honor the...
Sonya Strider
Jun 15, 20253 min read


Finding Strength on Mother's Day: A Message of Hope for the Grieving Heart
Missing you every day.... Mother’s Day can be a bittersweet occasion for those grieving the loss of a mother, a child, a significant...
Sonya Strider
May 11, 20253 min read


Embracing a New Year While Carrying the Weight of Grief
As the clock strikes midnight on December 31st, the world seems to collectively breathe in hope and exhale the burdens of the past year....
Sonya Strider
Dec 31, 20242 min read


Honoring Our Loved Ones This Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is often a time for gratitude, togetherness, and celebration. But for those of us who have lost someone dear, it can also be...
Sonya Strider
Nov 28, 20243 min read


I Wonder if They Dance in Heaven: A Reflection on Joy, Love, and Connection
He was so excited the day I became a Doctor.
Sonya Strider
Jun 17, 20243 min read


When Mother's Day Is Different
Mother’s Day is a time of celebration, a day when we honor the incredible women who have shaped our lives with their love, strength, and...
Sonya Strider
May 10, 20243 min read


Thinking of YOU on Mother's Day- How Is Freedom?
As Mother's Day approaches, I never know how I will feel. It is hard being a motherless child. No matter the age or the relationship, you...
Sonya Strider
May 10, 20243 min read


You Want to Help Me??
I wrote this the day after my mother died, December 4, 2015. If your loss is really recent or you are struggling this year, remember...
Sonya Strider
Dec 14, 20233 min read


Breathe Sis, Breathe
Breathe Sis... Breathe.... December 3, 2015, 1:49pm. Have I breathed since then?? My whole world stopped that day. I could say I never...
Sonya Strider
Dec 3, 20232 min read


Silent Night!
The time between Thanksgiving and the New Year can be the most festive and the most solemn. It can be the loudest with celebrations,...
Sonya Strider
Nov 30, 20233 min read
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