Dear Friend,
Happy Mother’s Day from my family to yours.
I’ll be honest, this day can be a hard one for me. My mom passed away in 2004 after a long fight with colon cancer. I was just 13 years old, and I miss her every single day.
This photo, taken around 1995 at a family wedding, shows my mom with me, my twin sister Ida, and our big brother Arya. She actually made all of our outfits by hand. That was who she was: deeply loving, endlessly hardworking, and incredibly talented.
Before she passed, she worked at K-Mart. There were many late nights when my sister and I would be there with her, helping fold clothes so we could all get home a little sooner. And even after long shifts, she would stay up with me to finish homework, especially because I insisted on getting everything just right.
Working late has stayed with me into adulthood. I like to think she’s still with me during those quiet hours, just in a different way.
Today, I’m remembering my mom not only in reflection, but through action. Honoring her means continuing the fight for women’s equality, supporting families through economic hardships, funding public education, and more.
However, you’re holding this day—whether in celebration, remembrance, or something in between—please know you’re not alone. And to all the moms and mother figures out there: thank you.
Onward,
