Birthmother’s Day is not a holiday you will find on your calendar. Nor will you find Birthmother’s Day cards in the aisles at Hallmark.

Birthmother’s Day is beginning to become more recognized in the adoption community. It was created in 1990 by a group of Seattle birthmothers not only to educate others about adoption and bring recognition to birthmothers but to give birthmothers the opportunity to come together and honor the children they gave life to and relinquished. Birthmother’s Day is always the Saturday before Mother’s Day symbolic because our (birthmothers) motherhood comes before the motherhood of another.

Birthmom’s Day Celebrations, receptions, and banquets are beginning to pop up all across the country hosted by different agencies and support groups as a way to honor birthmothers.

Just as with anything in the adoption community, Birthmother’s Day doesn’t come without controversy. Some birthmothers feel that celebrating Birthmother’s Day makes them second class and that we should celebrate Mother’s Day just as anyone else does.

I feel that whether or not a birthmother chooses to acknowledge herself on Birthmother’s Day or Mother’s Day is a personal opinion and decision each birthmother must make on her own.

I do understand that not every birthmother will want to be recognized on Birthmother’s Day and I am respectful of that and expect the same in turn. Since I personally do like to be acknowledged on both days, I will be sharing a few articles and ideas with you in the days leading to Birthmother’s Day and Mother’s Day.

Personally speaking, I choose to partake in both days. Birthmother’s Day to me is about joining hands with other birthmothers and acknowledging the common underlying bond that we all share. Birthmother’s Day also gives me the opportunity to deal with the differences in my motherhood to Charlie versus my motherhood to Noah.


Then on Mother’s Day, I celebrate my own mother as well as my motherhood to Noah. He usually wakes me up early and proudly gives me a card he made at school. I do still think of Charlie on Mother’s Day and the fact that he and I do not celebrate in the same way that Noah and I do. Charlie usually gives me a call on Mother’s Day morning and says, “Happy Mother’s Day, Burpmom!”

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For more information on Birthmother’s Day, check out the following links:
Celebrating motherhood

Birthmother's Day