It is a hard day for me, I am single and past the age of having children. When I was younger and my mother was alive, her not being a member and not coming to church with me I gave her the gift. Then after she died some times the gift is a flower you can plant so I take it and plant it on her grave. Also my branch I attend don't understand they are all married and have children and I try to explain how hard it is and they all say you will be a mother you could marry someone with children or we are all mothers. I just don't say anything anymore.
RichMay 7, 2019
Mother’s Day has been an extremely difficult holiday for me and my wife for the past several years. It is still difficult to read stories like this, partially because of the heartbreak but also because many members will still see and praise the “success” of adopting children. The people in this story would be just as important and wonderful if they had chosen not to have children. My wife and I have not pursued any treatment or adoption paths because we have decided not to have children. Even without children, there is a lot of life to live.
Last year I had people actually get offended because I didn’t want a Father’s Day gift at church. I’m not a father. I’m not going to be a father. Please don’t give me a gift. I’m not a veteran, so nobody gives me free meals on Veterans Day. I’m not a father, so I don’t want a gift on father’s day, regardless of the giver’s reasoning behind it.
Anyway, long story short: everyone is valuable, regardless of their fertility. The sooner we learn to celebrate that, the better for the many people who currently feel overlooked.
BEV TAYLORMay 6, 2019
I have a very dear friend who is 65, never married & Mother's Day is soooooo difficult for her, she cannot even attend church that day. Even though Mother's day gifts are given to all sisters over age 18, she still feels nothing :(
Rochelle HaleMay 5, 2019
God bless your family, and God bless that, through your own pain, you are helping so many others. I went through 5 years of infertility struggles, tests, surgeries, etc. with no specific answers. I was an early candidate for IVF, but it was very expensive in those days, and for several reasons adoption was not a viable option. Finally, we were blessed with one son, but empty arms and hearts take many forms. Thank you again for helping others who long to be mothers.
JanetMay 4, 2019
This article helped me as I was grieving for the lost parts of my motherhood that were taken with the loss of a husband and father. There is still a brightness of hope even beyond the grave and these pains will be overcome in time and with help from our Savior.
JemezblueMay 3, 2019
As a single woman who has never been married or in a relationship, Mother's Day is very hard, especially during my 30s and 40s. Now that I am in my 50s and any chance of having my own children behind me, I really work hard on being grateful for what I do have. Those who have an eternal mate need to be grateful because that very hard chore of finding someone has been done. I am still looking. However, I have moved on with my life, I have returned to school and working with a small local community to help them with history and genealogy. Life is beautiful! Look for it! Life is good!
Be Grateful! Be Busy! And have fun with what you do have, because there is someone that does not have what you do. (and yes, I still get mad and storm around the house, but that's okay and I go on.)
Jennifer JohnsonMay 3, 2019
Beautiful article!
ShareeMay 3, 2019
Mothers Day can be a sad time not only for those who have had infertility problems or have lost babies, but also for those for whom celebrating their mother is painful, due to their treatment at the hands of an abusive mother.
Charles DefranchiMay 3, 2019
I admire the courage, faith and determination of this beautiful young couple. I am sure they will be able to help and comfort many who could not be otherwise. In the end, I like what Elder Holland once said: "this world is filled with thorns, thistles, briars and noxious weeds," but we are still being promised joy, partly in this world, and certainly in the here-after.
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KimberlyMay 11, 2019
It is a hard day for me, I am single and past the age of having children. When I was younger and my mother was alive, her not being a member and not coming to church with me I gave her the gift. Then after she died some times the gift is a flower you can plant so I take it and plant it on her grave. Also my branch I attend don't understand they are all married and have children and I try to explain how hard it is and they all say you will be a mother you could marry someone with children or we are all mothers. I just don't say anything anymore.
RichMay 7, 2019
Mother’s Day has been an extremely difficult holiday for me and my wife for the past several years. It is still difficult to read stories like this, partially because of the heartbreak but also because many members will still see and praise the “success” of adopting children. The people in this story would be just as important and wonderful if they had chosen not to have children. My wife and I have not pursued any treatment or adoption paths because we have decided not to have children. Even without children, there is a lot of life to live. Last year I had people actually get offended because I didn’t want a Father’s Day gift at church. I’m not a father. I’m not going to be a father. Please don’t give me a gift. I’m not a veteran, so nobody gives me free meals on Veterans Day. I’m not a father, so I don’t want a gift on father’s day, regardless of the giver’s reasoning behind it. Anyway, long story short: everyone is valuable, regardless of their fertility. The sooner we learn to celebrate that, the better for the many people who currently feel overlooked.
BEV TAYLORMay 6, 2019
I have a very dear friend who is 65, never married & Mother's Day is soooooo difficult for her, she cannot even attend church that day. Even though Mother's day gifts are given to all sisters over age 18, she still feels nothing :(
Rochelle HaleMay 5, 2019
God bless your family, and God bless that, through your own pain, you are helping so many others. I went through 5 years of infertility struggles, tests, surgeries, etc. with no specific answers. I was an early candidate for IVF, but it was very expensive in those days, and for several reasons adoption was not a viable option. Finally, we were blessed with one son, but empty arms and hearts take many forms. Thank you again for helping others who long to be mothers.
JanetMay 4, 2019
This article helped me as I was grieving for the lost parts of my motherhood that were taken with the loss of a husband and father. There is still a brightness of hope even beyond the grave and these pains will be overcome in time and with help from our Savior.
JemezblueMay 3, 2019
As a single woman who has never been married or in a relationship, Mother's Day is very hard, especially during my 30s and 40s. Now that I am in my 50s and any chance of having my own children behind me, I really work hard on being grateful for what I do have. Those who have an eternal mate need to be grateful because that very hard chore of finding someone has been done. I am still looking. However, I have moved on with my life, I have returned to school and working with a small local community to help them with history and genealogy. Life is beautiful! Look for it! Life is good! Be Grateful! Be Busy! And have fun with what you do have, because there is someone that does not have what you do. (and yes, I still get mad and storm around the house, but that's okay and I go on.)
Jennifer JohnsonMay 3, 2019
Beautiful article!
ShareeMay 3, 2019
Mothers Day can be a sad time not only for those who have had infertility problems or have lost babies, but also for those for whom celebrating their mother is painful, due to their treatment at the hands of an abusive mother.
Charles DefranchiMay 3, 2019
I admire the courage, faith and determination of this beautiful young couple. I am sure they will be able to help and comfort many who could not be otherwise. In the end, I like what Elder Holland once said: "this world is filled with thorns, thistles, briars and noxious weeds," but we are still being promised joy, partly in this world, and certainly in the here-after.
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