Mother’s Day: Heart (and the Soul) by Peri Hayes I miss my mom. Fortunately for me, there is so much in this world which evokes fond and lasting memories of her. When I see beach glass, I think of my mother – and so, I collect a lot of it, I create with it, and I say her name often and loudly – Jennifer Hayes, my momma. With Mother’s Day on the horizon and nearly one decade (simultaneously feeling like yesterday and many unforgiving years) since my mom passed, I still celebrate with the mothers in my life and in honour of mine. I buy delicate flowers for resilient women, and I reflect on all that my mom provided for my brother and me – demonstrating before us, empowering us, facilitating a blissful childhood – oh, how I do not take this for granted.
With a burning question, I turned to one of the strongest women I have ever known and one whom I deeply admire – Sheila Martin, my dearest nana. Nana experienced that which no mother ever should and many do, the death of her baby. My mother was 47 when she passed and still, she is her baby. “In your words, what does it mean to be a mother?” Upon consideration, here lie Nana’s answers: “A mother is loving, giving, caring, understanding, forgiving and a source of comfort – especially with hugs, many hugs, limitless hugs.” “Mothers are the glue of the family, and they are the heart (and the soul) of all civilizations.” “Mothers worry, even well after their little birds fly the nest. When you leave for school and begin your careers, we worry about you, still – just the same as when you were young and climbing that tree. I spent many sleepless nights, and I would do it all over again.” Working with children is another fulfilling facet of my current life. “I miss my mommy” are words which frequent my ears – and so, I hold them, I assure them that Mommy will be so- o-o excited to hear all about their daily adventures, and I remind these precious babies that they are safe. I cry internally sometimes, because I miss my mommy too. Sometimes I will say exactly this, and my students know that they are not alone – they are never alone. Whether your mother is next to you or at a distance, close in heart or estranged, your community will scoop you up and hold you. Because of my incredible community, I have not truly felt alone for a single day in my life.
It is a privilege and a gift to be the grown up that you had (or that you needed) when you were young. To the mothers reading, you are ca- pable of magic because you are the magic. Through the selfless time and sleepless nights dedicated to bring- ing visions and wonders to life, I see you and I wish you a fabulous, most deserved, Happy Mother’s Day.
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Page 8 Hometown St. Thomas • May 2026
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