Whilst many associate Mother’s Day with breakfasts in bed, homemade presents and quality family time, for some the day is not as exciting and fun-filled.
WATCH BELOW: Georgia Love talks about Lee’s support during mum’s death
Mother’s Day can be a painful reminder for those whose mothers are no longer with us, as well as for mothers who have lost a child.
What’s more, some mums may have strained relationships with their children and vice versa whereas others may be struggling with fertility issues.
Mother’s Day as we know it today actually originated from a place of tragedy when in 1908 West Virginia woman Anna Marie Jarvis held a church memorial to honour the legacy of her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis who had been a peace activist and nurse during the American Civil War.
The first Australian Mother’s Day was started by Sydney woman Janet Heyden 16 years later when she successfully campaigned for local schools and businesses to donate gifts to lonely mothers at Newington State Hospital – many of whom had lost husbands and children during World War One.
Whilst social media will no doubt be flooded with happy family photos and tributes this year, we’re thinking of these celebrities this Mother’s Day.
Lisa Wilkinson
In March 2018, The Project host shared the sad news that her beloved mum Beryl had passed away.
“You were an angel, a fighter, and a devoted mum and grandma right to the end. Be at gentle peace now,” she wrote on Instagram at the time.
Since then, Lisa has shared plenty of heartwarming memories from over the years and kept Beryl’s memory alive.
“Sending much love to everyone, like me, who for whatever reason is missing their mum today,” she wrote on Mother’s Day 2020.
“The love, it never leaves you… Here’s to Mums.”
Sam Wood
When Sam Wood was 15-years-old, he lost his mum to cancer.
“It’s something that is a massive part of my life and something I think about it every day without fail,” the former Bachelor told OK! magazine in 2015.
Sam and wife Snezana named their daughter Willow Wendy after Sam’s late mum and their youngest child Charlie Lane also has a special connection.
“Charlie was born on my mum’s birthday which was just beautiful,” he told Now To Love.
Georgia Love
Like many children who have lost their mum, 2016 Bachelorette Georgia Love has dubbed Mother’s Day her “least favourite day on the calendar”.
The TV journalist’s mum Belinda lost her battle with pancreatic cancer aged 60 just weeks after Georgia found love with her Bachelorette winner, Lee Elliott in 2016 and only a day after the finale aired.
“The thought of Mother’s Day is just a bit too much to fathom,” she told Stellar in 2017 ahead of her first one without Belinda.
However, Georgia keeps her mum close in her heart and in honour of the 2020 day, teamed up with Damsel Fly and the Pancare Foundation to create a special candle where 100 per cent of profits went towards supporting Australians battling pancreatic cancer.
“The best present I can give my Mum, in her name and her memory,” she wrote at the time.
Jake Ellis
Jake’s mum Robyn passed away in January 2018 after a 25 year battle with breast cancer and Mother’s Day will always be a significant occasion.
“Mother’s Day is still one of the most important days to me, although heartbreakingly difficult, I remember the beautiful memories, embraces and love,” the former Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise star wrote on Instagram in 2020 alongside a clip of himself and Robyn reuniting during hometown visits with Georgia Love.
“Words will never express how lucky I am to have had such an amazing Mother, but moments like this scream a thousand words of how special she was and will always be. Forever grateful.”
In a previous chat with WHO, Jake also remarked: “Losing Mum so young and having issues with my dad made me realise life is short and that I should really fight for what I want in life.”
Lee Carseldine
Shortly afterwards, the reality star’s mum passed away but Lee admitted to Now To Love: “I think with her, she was someone who touched a lot of people very closely on a one-on-one basis and I just want to continue that legacy and I think she’d be proud of the stuff we’re doing in her name.”
The Survivor star went on to work with the Stroke Foundation to raise money and awareness about strokes and shared some wise words on his first Mother’s Day without his mum.
“Make sure you give your Mum a massive hug today and let them know how much you love and appreciate them. To those who unfortunately have lost their Mum, take time today to remember all the amazing acts of love from her which made you the person you are today,” he wrote on Instagram in 2020.
Lisa Curry
Mother’s Day 2021 is Lisa’s first one since the tragic death of her daughter, Jaimi.
Former Olympian Lisa and ex Grant Kenny’s eldest child was 33-years-old when she died in September but she along with children Morgan Gruell and Jett Kenny and grandchildren Flynn and Taj have kept her memory alive.
“It saddens me greatly that life goes on without Jaimi… constantly stopping to remember that she’s not here… that she didn’t see little Taj. So many beautiful moments that she would have loved. But we still include her in everything we do. Flynn and I talk about her often because she always said to me, make sure he remembers me, and we do,” she wrote on Instagram in April 2021.
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