Gift Ideas and Different Ways to Honour Mums this Mother’s Day

Different ways to honour mothers: with Good Mourning 

This Mother’s Day, we wanted to reflect on some of the different ways that many people might be marking the day – including remembering and honouring Mums who are no longer with us. We spoke to Sally Douglas and Imogen Carn, who created the popular Good Mourning podcast and book after losing their Mums unexpectedly.  

Here, Sally and Imogen get real on grief, how they honour their Mums’ memories on Mother’s Day, and how to be there for your loved ones who are having a hard time around this day (before you read on, please note this blog includes references to death and sudden losses). 

The Good Mourning podcast has a really unique take on sharing and speaking about grief. Can you tell us a bit more about it? 
Our podcast and online community (and book!) are focused on creating candid, relatable and authentic grief support. Although we all experience grief at some point, it can still feel awkward to talk about – we want to change that by having honest and approachable conversations that break down the barriers to talking about loss.  
 

We pride ourselves on being down to earth, honest and authentic – nothing is off the cards, and people appreciate that. We also involve our community in our podcasts and give them the chance to share their stories and voices, which our listeners appreciate, as it gives them an outlet to express themselves. 

Sal’s mum, Rose, died in November 2019 from a seizure (also known as SUDEP) and Im’s mum, Vanessa, died in February 2020 by suicide. Their deaths came as a huge shock, and we were wholly unprepared for the journey that lay ahead. 

 
For Sal, being from the UK originally, less than 24 hours after receiving the news, she found herself on a long-haul flight back to the UK from Australia. As the sole executor of her mum’s estate, she had to plan the funeral, close her accounts, empty her house and do all of the other “dead-min” tasks all while battling jet lag and trying to come to terms with her loss and her grief. Although she was heartbroken and in deep grief, she was able to function and sort everything out. 

 

Sal wearing the Diamond Letter R Necklace in 10k Gold for her mum Rose. 

On the other hand, Im’s mum died when her daughter was nine months old and her experience with grief was visceral. It consumed her emotionally and physically and she was unable to function for months. 

 
We both found grief incredibly lonely, despite having good support. Both being in our early 30s, most of our peers hadn’t experienced a big loss, and didn’t know what to say. Even with friends around, if no one can truly understand what’s going on for you, it can be isolating. So, we signed up to a grief support group meetup, and that’s where we met. 

 
We became friends and would talk for hours about what grief was like – we’d compare notes on all the emotions and physical things that were happening, like anxiety, exhaustion and brain fog. 

 
It led us to talk about how we both noticed how little society talks about grief and how many of the resources we felt, don’t talk about what it is really like. We wanted to find grief support that was honest and reflected the actual experience of grief – because it is all consuming and flips your world on its head. And so, we had the idea to start the Good Mourning podcast, to create a platform to have honest conversation about loss, in a way that wasn’t doom and gloom. And the rest, as they say, is history. 

Reach out. If you’re supporting someone, take a few minutes out of your day to send a text and let them know you are thinking of them. If you know someone caring for their mother or child at the end of life, let them know you are thinking of them, too. This simple gesture can mean so much to the person who is grieving or experiencing anticipatory grief.  

Also, being mindful starts with being truly present. One of the best ways you can support someone grieving is to really listen. Even if you don’t quite understand what it feels like to grieve, try to practice active listening with compassion and without judgement. 

We honour our mums every Mother’s Day by doing something that they loved. It might be watching their favourite TV show or cooking a meal that they used to make. It doesn’t have to be huge, but little things like that make us feel connected to them.  

One of the biggest things we want you to know is that grief is a forever thing, it just gets easier over time. But we still miss those who have gone, so check in on those who you think might be struggling with loss, no matter how long it’s been.  

And, if you are checking in on someone, don’t be afraid to say the name of their person – just because they are no longer here, that doesn’t mean that they might not want to talk about them or hear their name. In fact, one of the best things you can do to support them is to show that you’re keeping their memory alive. Ask questions and share a favourite memory or a quality that you loved most about them. Let them know you are keeping their memory alive. 

Why do we celebrate Mother’s Day? 

Mother’s Day has a long history, dating back to ancient times when people honoured maternal figures and goddesses, and even held festivals in their celebration. The Greeks would have spring celebrations in honor of Rhea, the goddess of fertility, motherhood, and generation.

Over time, the concept of Mother’s Day has evolved and it is now an annual celebration of motherhood in many countries around the world, celebrated on the second Sunday of each May. It is a day to honour and show appreciation for the love, care, and sacrifices that mothers make for their families. 

Mother’s Day can be a time to celebrate all Mums – whether you’re fortunate enough to celebrate in person, you’re sharing the love over distance, or perhaps you’re honouring a memory this Mother’s Day.  

Mother’s Day Gift Guide 

If you are searching for the perfect Mother’s Day gift for your Mum, mother figure, or another special Mum in your life; or perhaps you’re looking for a unique, wearable way to keep your Mum close to your heart (or you want to make this meaningful gesture to a loved one) - we’ve put together an edit of thoughtful gift ideas. 

When it comes to gifts they’ll love, we are firm believers that personal is best. A jewellery gift that reflects their name, personality, or someone who means the world to them, makes the perfect gesture for Mother’s Day.  

Discover our top 5 ideas for Mother’s Day gifting: 

1. Initial necklaces 

A timeless, personalised gift idea that’s also on trend right now, a diamond initial necklace is a piece that the Mum in your life can wear to elevate her look every day. Gift her own initial, her children’s initials, or any letters that will have personal meaning to her. If you are honouring your Mum’s memory, wearing her initials could also be a beautiful way to keep her close to your heart at all times.