Mother’s Day will soon be here, on the 26th March.
For many of us this may trigger difficult feelings. There is an expectation, less so now I am much older, that on this day we give love and appreciation to our mothers. Mothers are wonderful. Facebook will, no doubt, be flooded with pictures of mothers alongside glowing tributes.
The media is abound with adverts depicting a harmonious but busy family life. This sells goods: Christmas presents, washing powder or gravy powder – you get the picture.
I would never resent anybody who has such a loving relationship, I say embrace it and cherish it. By all means, show it to the world, dig out those photos and share away. And for those who had a loving (or not so) mother who has passed, I’m sure the day is both bitter and sweet – a chance to remember and yet a reminder of such a loss.
But what about those of us with more complicated relationships or non-relationships? We may be a daughter, a son, or even the mother? Should we lay low? Should we be ashamed? Would a day off social media would be a good choice?
In reality there are many who are estranged or have difficult relationships with family members. Adverts do NOT represent reality for all. Social Media often reflects the good times, rather than the more difficult times.
What I am trying to say is that if you feel this way that you are not alone. The charity Stand Alone aims to support people who are estranged from a parent, a child or another family member. The charity works with people of all ages: Students who are without family support to senior citizens who still struggle with the difficult relationship they have/had with a parent. They also support parents who may struggle with relationships with their children.
You are not alone.
Stand Alone runs support groups for adults who are estranged either from their parents or children. The groups run in Sheffield, Newcastle and London. (Not in Leeds at the moment)
It’s okay to have a complicated family life, it’s not easy, but you are not alone.
Leeds Wellbeing Web 