May 01st, 2026

 🌸🌸A Day for all moms🌸🌸

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As Mother's Day approaches this month, I couldn't help but notice all the Mother’s Day content pop up on my social media feed. It has really put things into perspective for me about Mother's Day. It’s a wonderful reminder to honor all the incredible moms out there—natural, foster, surrogate, or step.

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I think of my own mom who gave birth to six children. I only had two children. After giving birth to my kids, I appreciated my mom's bravery and resiliency even more after giving birth to six children! I often I wondered how she did it with all of our different personalities. But, she did it!! She had a deep faith and love of life and serenity. Her favorite prayer, besides the Holy Rosary, was the Serenity Prayer...It was a simple prayer that adorned our kitchen wall throughout my childhood. 

  ​"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.

This month we celebrate all moms.

Mom's come in all shapes and sizes and become our advocates, protectors and teachers. Good, Bad, or indifferent--All mom's play a significant role in the foundation of our lives. Although I miss my mom--she entered Heaven at the age of 92 in 2020-- I think of all of the things she taught me and the way in which she approached the challenges she faced in her life with grace and dignity..I try with all my might to emulate the attributes she possessed. I always felt protected by my mom. God knows I needed her then as I need her Heavenly prayers of protection now! 

Even in the animal kingdom we see moms giving birth and protecting their newborns. At the Ichikawa Zoo there were two new births last month leaving the little macaque Punch-kun as the older baby now. One of the babies is now attempting to walk and explore her new world. Her new mom is constantly watching and protecting her baby from harm as she gently swoops her up in her motherly arms. The arms that bring comfort and warmth to her newborn. Watching from a distance, Punch-kun was amazed at this new development in his world. How fascinating this must be for him to see this taking place right in front of his tiny eyes. He's such a smart little macaque monkey. The very next day he brought out his own plushy Oranmomma to show that he too has a mom for his security and protection. Okay, all of my readers, this must sound anthropomorphic to some of you, but I truly believe that animals feel things too.

In Punch-kun's case, being abandoned by his mom due to her physical inability to nurse him after his birth, he was left to learn another means of motherhood by depending on two very competent Zookeepers who became Punch-kun's "mom's" for the first months of his life caring for him, feeding him,  and making sure he had a plushy to hold on to for the strength and comfort he would need when he transitioned into his troop. How many of us need the help in the birthing process whether human or animal to live and survive. It's these advocates and helpers that make these miracles happen. Punch-kun still latches on to his "Mom" Dads for the comfort and protection he needs and deserves. He also knows that when feeding time arrives, he always waits at the door for his "Mom" Dads to take him inside to have his bottle of milk and special food just for him! Those dedicated zookeepers are still caring and watching over their special macaque baby monkey, Punch-kun. Mom's all over the world human or animal never forget the important role they play in a child's life. 

So, in closing this months blog, 🌸
​I would like to honor all the amazing moms—natural, step, surrogate, and foster. They deserve to be celebrated EVERY day, not just one. 💖 

🌸🌸Happy Mother's Day to ALL moms (and "Mom" Dads, too!)🌸🌸
Happy Tales to you!
xoxo Yvonne