Thank you for sharing this, Katrina. It's a beautifully-written piece. I'm sorry for all that you've been through. And I hope things are doing a little better now in Asheville. 🙏
Thanks for reading, Chris! Things are still a mess in Asheville and surrounding mountain towns but progress is being made. I know that Asheville will come back better than ever because of its amazingly talented, smart, and resilient people! ❤️ Happy new year to you!
This is such a moving essay, beautifully written and meaningful on so many levels. Thank you for sharing it.
I used to read “Are You My Mother?” to my son when he was small (he’s now almost 40!), and I often felt like crying as I read it. It was the concept of losing a mother, that universal need for a mother no matter what age you are, that got to me—and still does, even at my advanced age (not saying!). It’s a need that never does go away.
Your idea of a rewriting of “Are You My Mother?” for grownups, with the animals all saying “YES!” to being our mothers, is brilliant! We desperately need mothers right now—and to mother others. Most of us have a hole in our hearts marked “Mother.” I know I do/-and mine has been gone for 25 years!
I hope your situation in Asheville improves soon. What a horrible time you’re going through! I live on the other side of the country and had no idea it was still so bad there (not much news about North Carolina here!) I’m so glad your home and cars are undamaged and that you and your children are physically safe. I’m sorry for beautiful Asheville too. We visited it once 40-plus years ago and I still remember how beautiful it was. Wishing you the best. Keep writing!❤️
Ruth! Your comment made me teary. Thank you for taking the time to give such a generous, loving response. It warms my heart to know that this essay is connecting for folks from all walks of life; that was my intent. And our situation is getting better and better by the day! The boil water notice was lifted the week before Thanksgiving, and that was definitely something worth celebrating and being thankful for! There are parts of Asheville that are still completely devastated. I wince passing by sections that have been totally cleared out--fields of dust and dead grass. But, I marvel at the surrounding beauty just the same--our mountains are still here and majestic. Thank you for visiting Human/Mother! I do hope to hear from you in the comments again!
Thanks for the update, Katrina! I’m so glad things are improving. I just subscribed to your newsletter, so you’ll hear from me again. All the best to you and yours.🤗
Thank you. I so relate to this complex and tangled relationship with your mother. I chose not to become a mother, but my relationship with my mother is just as fraught. You articulated so much of what I've been grappling with in the past few years. Thank you for this cathartic piece.
Aww, Suzano! I hope they were happy tears! Thank you for reading and for taking in my words, right to your heart. Your comment means the world to me, so thank you! And, I'm thinking about all y'all in Florida as well during what has been a real nightmare of a catastrophe. ❤️
Katrina, thank you for this. My daughter will turn forty two weeks from now. Because of my own complicated relationship with my mother, I feel that I was unable to provide the love and care that she needed. Her dad, my husband of forty-three years, died recently, and we are grieving deeply. Thanksgiving will be hard; so will her birthday. I love the idea of knowing that we have many mothers in this world, kind and generous people who give of themselves unselfishly. And you are one of them. Thank you for being my mother.🙏💕🫶
Mary, first, thank you. Second, I hope you can give yourself some compassion and grace with how you mothered your daughter. Third, I cannot imagine the grief that you and your family are wading through. I lost my own brother ten years ago, and, as I referenced in my essay, it nearly did us in. Miraculously, we have survived and are taking it one step at a time, even a decade later. Be gentle and kind to yourself. Mother yourself and allow mothers to mother you while you, in turn, mother others through your writing and, of course, your love. Thank you, Mary ❤️
Thank you for sharing this, Katrina. It's a beautifully-written piece. I'm sorry for all that you've been through. And I hope things are doing a little better now in Asheville. 🙏
Thanks for reading, Chris! Things are still a mess in Asheville and surrounding mountain towns but progress is being made. I know that Asheville will come back better than ever because of its amazingly talented, smart, and resilient people! ❤️ Happy new year to you!
Happy New Year to you as well! :)
This is such a moving essay, beautifully written and meaningful on so many levels. Thank you for sharing it.
I used to read “Are You My Mother?” to my son when he was small (he’s now almost 40!), and I often felt like crying as I read it. It was the concept of losing a mother, that universal need for a mother no matter what age you are, that got to me—and still does, even at my advanced age (not saying!). It’s a need that never does go away.
Your idea of a rewriting of “Are You My Mother?” for grownups, with the animals all saying “YES!” to being our mothers, is brilliant! We desperately need mothers right now—and to mother others. Most of us have a hole in our hearts marked “Mother.” I know I do/-and mine has been gone for 25 years!
I hope your situation in Asheville improves soon. What a horrible time you’re going through! I live on the other side of the country and had no idea it was still so bad there (not much news about North Carolina here!) I’m so glad your home and cars are undamaged and that you and your children are physically safe. I’m sorry for beautiful Asheville too. We visited it once 40-plus years ago and I still remember how beautiful it was. Wishing you the best. Keep writing!❤️
Ruth! Your comment made me teary. Thank you for taking the time to give such a generous, loving response. It warms my heart to know that this essay is connecting for folks from all walks of life; that was my intent. And our situation is getting better and better by the day! The boil water notice was lifted the week before Thanksgiving, and that was definitely something worth celebrating and being thankful for! There are parts of Asheville that are still completely devastated. I wince passing by sections that have been totally cleared out--fields of dust and dead grass. But, I marvel at the surrounding beauty just the same--our mountains are still here and majestic. Thank you for visiting Human/Mother! I do hope to hear from you in the comments again!
Thanks for the update, Katrina! I’m so glad things are improving. I just subscribed to your newsletter, so you’ll hear from me again. All the best to you and yours.🤗
Thank you. I so relate to this complex and tangled relationship with your mother. I chose not to become a mother, but my relationship with my mother is just as fraught. You articulated so much of what I've been grappling with in the past few years. Thank you for this cathartic piece.
This made me cry! Sending much love and virtual hugs from Florida to a very brave and beautiful woman. ❤️
Aww, Suzano! I hope they were happy tears! Thank you for reading and for taking in my words, right to your heart. Your comment means the world to me, so thank you! And, I'm thinking about all y'all in Florida as well during what has been a real nightmare of a catastrophe. ❤️
Katrina, thank you for this. My daughter will turn forty two weeks from now. Because of my own complicated relationship with my mother, I feel that I was unable to provide the love and care that she needed. Her dad, my husband of forty-three years, died recently, and we are grieving deeply. Thanksgiving will be hard; so will her birthday. I love the idea of knowing that we have many mothers in this world, kind and generous people who give of themselves unselfishly. And you are one of them. Thank you for being my mother.🙏💕🫶
Mary, first, thank you. Second, I hope you can give yourself some compassion and grace with how you mothered your daughter. Third, I cannot imagine the grief that you and your family are wading through. I lost my own brother ten years ago, and, as I referenced in my essay, it nearly did us in. Miraculously, we have survived and are taking it one step at a time, even a decade later. Be gentle and kind to yourself. Mother yourself and allow mothers to mother you while you, in turn, mother others through your writing and, of course, your love. Thank you, Mary ❤️
🙏❤️🫶
So lovely!
Thanks, Mara! :)
Thank you for reading and sharing, Melissa 🙏🏼I'm glad you found it cathartic. ❤️