What Makes a Mother? Dr. Shefali Tsabary Has Changed Her Definition of Mom Motherhood Holidays

What makes a MOTHER? I have come to redefine my definition of mother. I used to think of it in simplistic terms: a mother is one who raises her children. But I now see this as limited.

A mother is beyond one who bears, raises or adopts a child. She is one who gives. Period.

She is one who gives life, is connected to life and is one with life. In this sense every man, woman and being who gives is a mother. And, in this sense, every CHILD is a mother onto themselves – we are birthed on earth to give of ourselves – and no one gives more than a child. And it is here – in that each of us is a child of this Universe – that we unite the most.

Beyond the mother who is on the PTA, the mother who is a CEO, the mother who has 10 kids or two, the mother of an anxious child or an over-achieving one – we are all children of this vessel called the Universe, with the same struggles, desires, confusions, longings, laments and dreams. We unite because we were all children once.

  • You are a child.
  • You are a reflection of life.
  • You are one with life.
  • You are a giver.
  • You are heart.
  • You are breath.
  • You are.

Can we – just for this one day – honor the child within us all, the child that longs to be seen, honored and validated?

Can we – just for this one day – pledge to give to every being we encounter, be it a man, an uncle, an aunt or a stranger?

Can we – just for this one day – open our hearts and GIVE FOR THE SAKE OF GIVING?

Let this Mother's Day be one where we honor the CHILD IN EACH AND EVERY BEING ON EARTH. In this way we honor the Mother that is LIFE, that is this wondrous Universe, that is our ONE HEART.

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Comments (2)

Elisa Schmitz
What a beautiful perspective, Dr. Shefali! I love the way you expand the definition of "mother" to include men and even children. Thank you for the reminder that we are all one, on Mother's Day and every day. Happy Mother's Day to YOU and your family! xoxo
Ann Marie Patitucci
This is beautiful, Dr. Shefali Tsabary ! Thank you for sharing this with our tribe!
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