I still remember when the video “The World’s Toughest Job” went viral. In it, people were interviewed for a position called “Director of Operations,” where the job demanded over 135 hours per week, with no vacations, sick days, or salary. They were warned it would be both physically and emotionally draining, especially at the start. The job description mentioned that other employees might yell, hit, or even urinate on them, and that appreciation would be hard to come by. Out of 2.7 million viewers, only 24 people asked about the position, and those who interviewed were stunned when they learned what the job entailed. The reveal? This challenging job is something billions do every day: motherhood, which moved many interviewees to tears.
Mother’s Day in the U.S. was established in 1908 by Anna Jarvis, and it was the first holiday celebrating women. When it became too commercialized, Jarvis opposed it and spent her life trying to remove it from the calendar. Nowadays, around 25% of all flowers sold each year are purchased for Mother’s Day. It’s the day with the highest number of phone calls, 122 million in the U.S. alone, and about 14 billion dollars are spent celebrating it annually. While it’s nice to have a dedicated day to show love to moms, I hope we honor them every day. Personally, I’m not fond of the overly commercialized version we see now. Sure, the cards from my kids are sweet, but what makes today more special than any other day as a mom? Is today more significant than discovering I was going to have a child or the days spent bringing my babies into the world? Does it hold more meaning than the days we wake our kids up, feed them, teach them, take them to different activities, and tuck them into bed? Is it a bigger deal than all the nights spent up with sick children or comforting them through life’s challenges? In the end, we don’t need a particular day because every day is meaningful.
The video got it right about the tough demands of motherhood. From the start, it’s incredibly painful—think childbirth—and physically challenging, emotionally, and mentally tiring. You trade your pre-baby body and life for stretch marks, scars, and a little one who constantly needs your full attention. Forget about leisurely showers, solo bathroom trips, or a spotless house, at least for several years. Your breasts may sag, your hair might fall out due to pregnancy or stress, and lack of sleep can last for years. You choose to let your heart walk around outside your body, often multiple times, as you bring a life into the world. You love this tiny human more deeply than you could have imagined and live with the fear of what it would mean to lose them. Yet, despite all this, you wouldn’t trade a second of it.
We’re the ones our kids run to when they’re hurt, the ones they want to tuck them in, and the ones they say “I love you” to. They might not fully appreciate us until they become parents themselves (Mom, I completely get it now—I apologize for all the trouble I caused and love you dearly), but that’s okay. Motherhood is amazing not just because they love you, but because loving them makes you a better person every day.
Even though we might go to bed exhausted, we have achieved something valuable every single day.
I often hear, “Do you work, or are you just a mom?” This question gets under my skin because being a mom is hard work, whether or not you have another job. Yet, there’s a powerful trade-off here. Moms have more influence than we realize. We’re raising the next generation, shaping future leaders, teachers, and innovators. Our role is the most significant of all. Every night, even if we wish we’d done more or been more patient, we have accomplished the most crucial task—we’ve been moms. Perfectly imperfect moms.
Motherhood holds incredible power and responsibility. We control most of the nation’s spending choices, like the grocery budget, and we influence 85% of all purchasing decisions, according to Edison Research. So, here’s my simple suggestion: This year, let’s make Mother’s Day a celebration of our real strength as moms and acknowledge our collective influence. Let’s use our spending power wisely to demand healthier products and make a positive difference for our families’ future. As a mom, I deeply respect the efforts of all women and mothers. It’s nice to have a special day to relax or enjoy ourselves, but the aim of this blog is to celebrate everything you do as a mom and hopefully make it a bit easier.
So whenever you read this, Happy Mother’s Day! To all moms and stepmoms, grandmothers and godmothers, those who hope to become mothers, and those who have experienced loss—your contributions are recognized and valued. From one mother to another, Happy Mother’s Day, today and every day! Are you JustAMom like me? Will you help me use our collective power to improve our family’s health?
