This post “may” remind you of some milestones in your life. I share a couple of mine with you. Remember our mothers this month. And we memorialize those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
May is a month for creating memories and remembering old ones.
Mother’s Day
In the United States, we observe Mother’s Day on the second Sunday in May. You may not be one, but we all have one, although, like me, yours may be deceased. (I know other nations have a similar day on a different date.)
Me with my mother when I graduated from medical school in 1978
You may have pleasant or not-so-pleasant memories of your mother; nurturing may not come easily to some women, possibly because they did not receive it. Sometimes when that happens, other women step in to bridge the gap. They deserve to be honored too.
Memories
May is a traditional month for proms, graduations, and weddings.
I married my husband in May. He had just graduated with his Master’s degree. I had finished three years of undergraduate studies to start medical school in August. We expected to live happily ever after. And we have, for the most part. But there were bumps along the road, as I explained in this post.
Mother’s Day celebrates mothers. While many enjoy meaningful family gatherings, others may experience grief and loss, which should be acknowledged and addressed. May also marks National Women’s Health Month, focusing on women’s health needs. The Women’s Health Initiative remains a vital tool for understanding women’s unique health needs and the current administration has pledged support…
Memorial Day is more than just the unofficial start of summer – it is a day to honor the brave men and women who died defending our freedom. The poppy, symbolizing this remembrance, is tied to the iconic war poem “In Flanders Fields” by Lt. Col. John McCrae, a Canadian physician deeply affected by the…
How does this post prompt you to think about May? What else comes to your mind about May?
How do you honor your memories, good and bad? What new memories do you want to create?
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Dr. Aletha
Wondering what to get Mom for Mother’s Day? Maybe some help with remembering her passwords?
Mother’s Day celebrates mothers. While many enjoy meaningful family gatherings, others may experience grief and loss, which should be acknowledged and addressed. May also marks National Women’s Health Month, focusing on women’s health needs. The Women’s Health Initiative remains a vital tool for understanding women’s unique health needs and the current administration has pledged support despite recent funding concerns.
Mother’s Day
We designate the second Sunday in May to honor mothers in the United States.
American Press Association, C. C. (ca. 1912) Youngest parader in New York City suffragist parade. New York, ca. 1912. 1912 May 4, May 6. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/97500068/.
From Garry Marshall, the director of Pretty Woman and Valentine’s Day, comes MOTHER’S DAY, an all-star comedy that celebrates parenthood and family.
Jennifer Aniston, Julia Roberts, Kate Hudson, and Jason Sudeikis lead an incredible cast in a film that intersects the lives of a group of people maneuvering their way through a crazy week of difficult relationships and family dysfunction in the week leading up to Mother’s Day.
It’s a comedy that will make you laugh, cry, and cheer! (This is an affiliate income-generating link)
Mother’s Day-a sad reality
But life isn’t a sitcom; sometimes family dysfunction, unexpected tragedies, and unfilled dreams can make this and other holidays difficult.
While many will buy flowers and cards for mothers and attend family brunches honoring motherhood, many will also spend Mother’s Day in grief and envy.
Many will spend the day mourning the absence of a loved and longed-for child. On a day dedicated to motherhood and maternal bonds, many will spend the day grieving over what they don’t have or never got to experience.
If this Mother’s Day brings you hurt rather than joy, I encourage you to be honest with trusted family members and friends. Let them know you’re struggling and be willing to ask for help.
You’ll probably find that your honesty will encourage others in your life to open up and share their hurts with you.
If you struggle with depression, anxiety, or other issues that limit your enjoyment of life for any reason, consider seeking professional help. Start by talking to your physician, who may refer you to a mental health professional. You may also want to consider an online source for help available through Brightside.
)This is an affiliate link provided for your convenience. )
Every May beginning on Mother’s Day, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office on Women’s Health (OWH) leads National Women’s Health Week (NWHW).
This observance aims to highlight women’s health issues and priorities and encourage women of all ages to prioritize their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) is a long-term national health study funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, or NHLBI. (An agency of the National Institutes of Health, NIH.)
The original WHI study began in the early 1990s and concluded in 2005. The study continued as Extension Studies in 2005 and 2010. The program was groundbreaking because it focused on women’s health when most medical studies focused on men.
The main research areas are cardiovascular disease, cancers, and osteoporotic fractures. Studies also focus on strategies to prevent the major causes of death, disability, and frailty in older women.
On April 22, 2025, multiple news media reported that the current administration was “gutting” funding for the WHI, shocking the medical research community.
However, barely two days later, the decision was reversed. According to CNN, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said, “we are not terminating this study.”
Thousands of women and babies get very sick each year from a dangerous condition called preeclampsia, a life-threatening high blood pressure disorder that occurs only during pregnancy and the post-delivery period.
Preeclampsia and related disorders such as gestational hypertension, HELLP syndrome, and eclampsia are most often characterized by a rapid rise in blood pressure that can lead to seizure, stroke, multiple organ failure, and even death of the mother and/or baby.
Post Images
The featured image was created by the AI feature of WordPress.
The photo of suffragettes with a baby is from the Library of Congress Free to Use collection.
Graphics used in this post are from the Office on Women’s Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, womenshealth.gov (last updated February 27, 2025)Accessed at [https://womenshealth.gov/nwhw]
The PDF available for download is from the National Cancer Institute.
Exploring the HEART of health
I’d love for you to follow this blog and follow me on social media.
I share information and inspiration to help you transform challenges into opportunities for learning and growth.
Add your name to the subscribe box to be notified of new posts by email. Click the link to read the post and browse other content. It’s that simple. No spam.
I enjoy seeing who is new to Watercress Words. When you subscribe, I will visit your blog or website. Thanks and see you next time.
watercress words by Dr Aletha 