Mother’s Day

First published in May 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Amid all of this chaos, stress and uncertainty, there’s been a constant source of love and inspiration in our lives whom we should all joyously celebrate: our warm, comforting and sometimes nitpicking moms, who, with their scrupulous attention to tiny details of everyday life, never stop trying to make our lives better. To these and all moms our heart goes out, and we take inspiration from their lives to sail us through these tough times.

Here’s a special, light-hearted tribute to a mother from a loving daughter, wishing her a Happy Mother’s Day!

“I have had it up till here!” she said aloud and I stopped mid-step.
Wondering what trouble I had gotten myself into now.

As I turned to face my mother, she let out a laugh
And pointed at her teacup, which was brimful at last.

Playful, caring, nurturing, loving
Our mothers are truly darlings

Sometimes mischievous, mostly daring,
They are a one in a million, far from comparing.

Many a rainy day and over a cup of tea
We’ve exchanged heart-to-hearts that are etched in memory.

Nothing more special, nothing at all,
Can come close to a mother’s love.

Originally published on Still Steeping, the Teabox blog, on May 19, 2020. Lightly edited for clarity in October 2026.