05/12/2024
Mother's Day can be complicated for a lot of people. People who have never known their mother's or felt mothered at all can get slammed with all of the loving, pretty posts depicting perfect mothers. Loss, death, grieving, hurt, pain, trauma, abuse, neglect, addiction - can all eat at those who have themselves suffered or who have suffered at the hands of their and mothers.
Then there are the invisible mothers of whom I send my deepest condolences, love, and blessings. You are the ones who have lost children, could never get pregnant, aborted, miscarried, stillbirthed, and everything in between. You matter.
We also have mothers who adopt, step-mother, and caregive without any acknowledgment of how HUGE this is. You choose the complicated karmic dance of responsibility of these lives.
Not everyone wants to celebrate this holiday. And, so many amazing mothers walk on this earth who have devoted their heart and souls to family.
I am so immensely blessed to have my mother, Kathleen Gabrielli, who birthed me and who is the wind beneath my wings of love, support, and ongoing unconditional care! Woah! Thank you, mama, you have been my inspiration and my heart song! I have learned so much from your gifts and your sweet absolute devotion to your family.
AND, on top of that, I also get blessed with another mother, Janet Gabrielli, as my dad chose this incredible woman to be his wife! They jumped in during my teen years, wooo! I am so blessed to get double the mothers and especially to have you, Janet, in my life! You also love me unconditionally, and have shown me the breadth of chosen family and how deep that can run. I'm so grateful. Dad made the best choice ever!!
Then there's the ONE who made me a mama, Selah Dalomba. You rock my world!!! I am over the top proud of you, and all of the ways in which you love deep, work hard, show up fully, and build community. Mothering you is one of the favorite things I do in life.
Speaking of chosen, I also get to witness, support, and love Jibben Hillen and Cerek Hillen - my step sons. I have really enjoyed watching both of you create expertise in your careers and choose the sweetest beloved's to live and share life with.
Extra special shout outs to my niece, Samantha Gabrielli, who I can't get enough of! I'm so proud of you too! This year has been a wild one, ha, so grateful to be on your side!
Love goes out to all of you, in all of the complexities and abundance of what mothering can mean.
