Our Earth exists because of the sun. It is the sun that shines each day, giving light and warmth to the land that flowers and plants depend upon. Without the sun’s rays, the earth would be dark, lifeless and barren. Each green leaf functions only because of photosynthesis, which requires sunlight. Every flower that blooms and every fruit that ripens is an outcome of the sun’s presence.

When the night falls, the moon takes its place. Its soft light does not scorch, but soothes. The moon covers the earth in calmness, inspiring poets to write verses and lovers to dream. The moon pulls the tides, guides sailors in the night, and gives peace to a restless world. When we fall asleep, the moon stands as a quiet guardian, putting the stars in company with the nightingale’s song.

Now imagine our Earth without the sun and the moon. What would happen if both disappeared one day? Surely many of you would think that’s impossible. Yet some may say it could happen, and if it did, the entire world would collapse into chaos. Life would lose its balance, and everything that breathes would perish. The sun and the moon may seem ordinary because they are always present, but they are in fact extraordinary– without them, nothing could survive.

The same truth applies to our mothers. Just like the sun and the moon, they sustain life, often without recognition or applause. They are the constant force behind every home, the reason we wake up to warm food and clean clothes. A mother is incomparable. Imagine a household without her, who would take care of the countless chores, the endless responsibilities? If the sun disappears, life ends in no time. If a mother disappears, a family too would collapse, even if not instantly. So how often do we pause to thank her? How often do we realise that her labour is as vital as the sun’s rays or the moon’s calm light? Sadly, most of us take it for granted.

For a couple of days, the responsibilities of managing the house fell on me. Only then did I truly realise how much my mother does silently, without complaint. From cooking and cleaning to keeping everything in order, she manages it all effortlessly – something I struggled to do for two days. I was exhausted, my body ached, and I kept wondering how she still finds the strength to repeat this routine every single day. Research shows that mothers lose nearly 700 hours of sleep in the first year of a child’s life,  and women worldwide spend 2.5 times more hours on unpaid household work than men. Living through just a fraction of her daily duties made me feel this truth deeply. My heart was moved, and for the first time, I understood why she deserves endless gratitude.

In the process of being a mother and a wife, she often forgets to remain a person for herself – a person who deserves self–care, happiness, and the freedom to cherish her own likes and dislikes. Many mother don’t even remember their favourite food, because they simply eat whatever their family eats. Sometimes they don’t buy the dress they love, because the children’s needs come first. They don’t sit down to rest even when their bodies ache, because there’s another task waiting. Psychologists describe this as the “invisible self “ of caregiving – when women pour so much of their energy into others that their own needs and desires are neglected. It is not because they don’t have dreams or likes of their own, but because they quietly place them in the background, believing that their family’s happiness is more important than their own. Over time, this selflessness becomes so normal that they themselves forget what they once wanted, but they reveal how deeply she has placed her family at the centre of her existence.

According to the American Psychological Association, women are more likely than men to experience “role engulfment “ – where their identity becomes completely tied to their role as caregiver, leaving little space for personal identity. This doesn’t mean they are unhappy, but it shows how their individuality is quietly sacrificed in the service of love. And yet, mothers rarely complain. They don’t stand up and demand recognition. They light up when we smile, when we achieve something, when we are well–fed. Their own needs fade, and our needs become their happiness. But as children, we must ask: Should a mother’s happiness always depend on others? Doesn’t she, too, deserve a life where her choices matter, her voice is heard, and her small joys are valued? Our mothers give so much of themselves to keep us happy that they sometimes forget what makes them happy. And while this sacrifice is beautiful, it is also heartbreaking – because love should not mean erasing oneself. A mother is the sun and the moon of the family, but she is also a person who deserves to shine for herself.

Mothers are often overlooked. We only notice their absence. If she falls ill for a day, the entire household struggles, chores pile up, routines break down, and life feels unmanageable. In those moments, her true worth becomes visible. But why wait until then to appreciate her? Appreciating our mothers should not be confined to one day called “Mother’s Day “. Instead, let every day be an acknowledgement of her love. Many of us buy Mother’s Day gifts such as phones, a dress or something fancy. But I feel, instead of gifting material things on Mother’s Day, why not make some efforts to help her, to appreciate her - just a simple “Thank You“ will make her feel special. These efforts should not be limited to a single day, but these actions should become a habit.

Life cannot continue without the sun and the moon, and a family cannot continue without a mother. Because our mothers are the sun and the moon of our lives – always shining, always glowing, always keeping the world alive. So let us not wait for one Mother’s Day in a year. Let us help her, share her burdens, and show gratitude in small ways.

The best gift to a mother is our time, because when we give her our time, we give her our heart.   

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