|  Blog Post   |  I think you might be a mother.
Justine Froelker Workshop facilitator

I think you might be a mother.

Mother’s Day comes quiet and loud for someone like me.
Holding both ache and awe,
grief and gladness braided like a wildflower vine.

I am a mother.
To three forever wonders—
never here,
yet always, always here.
In breath, in heartbeat, in dream and prayer.
In the way I trace the shape of what could have been while loving fiercely what is.

I mother in the ways I know how:
With hands that teach.
With eyes that see people.
With a heart that breaks open for beauty, for love, for the light in the dark.
I mother in the quiet tending—
Of people.
Of this earth.
Of the tiny brave spaces between us.

There are many kinds of mothers.
The ones with babies in their arms.
The ones with babies in heaven.
The ones who mother through mentorship, through meals, through mercy.
The ones who long.
The ones who lost.
The ones who chose.
The ones who became.
The ones who are still becoming.

I reserve a bit of this day for me,
and most especially for every heart who has mothered something into being.
Because mothering isn’t a title.
It’s a way of moving through the world.
With nurture.
With courage.
With fierce, unyielding love.

So, if no one has told you today—
I think you might be a mother.

Author:

A Licensed Professional Counselor, Justine Froelker has over 25 years of experience in mental health, personal growth, and professional development. For eleven years, she was certified in Dr. Brené Brown’s work on vulnerability, courage, and empathy. Justine now shares her own curriculum, Courage is Built Here™. This transformative program empowers individuals to live and lead with self-awareness, authenticity, and resilience, building a foundation for courage-centered leadership. In addition to writing her blog since 2013, Justine is an accomplished author of twelve books—including five Amazon bestsellers—Justine has written across genres, from children’s books to in-depth explorations of infertility, faith, grief, and leadership. She has delivered two TEDx Talks, The Permission of the And and The Donut Effect, which highlight her unique perspective on navigating life’s complexities with grace. Justine is a sought-after speaker who travels nationally and presents virtually to global audiences, delivering keynotes, workshops, retreats, and trainings on topics such as leadership, resilience, mental health, coping with burnout, courageous and curious conversations, and fostering cultures of inclusion and belonging. Justine lives in St. Louis with her husband Chad and their two dogs, Gertie and Winston. You’ll often find her volunteering at Wild Bird Rehabilitation—supporting the medical team and feeding hundreds of tiny, hungry babies during baby bird season. And during butterfly season, her home comes alive with the flutter of wings as she raises hundreds of monarch and swallowtail butterflies.

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