Welcome back to season two where we dive into the complicated reality of Mother's Day for foster and adoptive moms, exploring how joy and grief often coexist in our parenting journey. I share my personal struggles with balancing celebration, complicated emotions, and the mantra that helps me navigate it all: "two things can be true."

• Mother's Day feels different when you share it with your children's first mothers
• Parenting feels drastically different when attachment comes naturally versus when it doesn't
• Breaking dysfunctional cycles adds another layer of complexity to motherhood
• Finding peace amidst chaos becomes a daily practice when raising children from trauma
• Even when we struggle with attachment, we still show up and try every single day
• We get to choose how we respond, even when circumstances feel overwhelming
• Acknowledging both the beautiful and difficult parts of motherhood helps us find balance

If nobody has told you today, you are doing a good job. It's okay to fail—you can repair. It's okay to struggle—your muscles are getting stronger. Be exactly where you are in the process, doing the best you can with the information and skills you have today.