HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY
To the Caretakers, the Celebrated, and the Estranged
Did you know? In 1900, global life expectancy was 32 years. In 2025, it was 73 years. The human lifespan doubled in 125 years. Incredible! DOZENS OF FREE BOOKS IN THIS POST. Scroll down to find the latest offers.
Greetings! If you’re new here, or if you’ve migrated over from my previous newsletter, welcome.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers, grandmothers, foster mothers and pet moms.
I hope you are celebrating today with all the women in your life.
Whether or not they have raised children, women are the natural caretakers of our world. The drive to nurture and care for the vulnerable is part of our DNA and social conditioning. It is who we are and what we do. This weekend, all women deserve celebrating.
Growing up, we honored the women in our family with restaurant dinners or large family gatherings. Like all our special occasions, these days were filled with food, music, and laughter.
My mother was a woman of many talents. She was an avid gardener, musician, quilter, and antique collector; and enjoyed storytelling and card games. She was also a trained nurse, a deaf translator, and a woman of deep faith. Some called her eccentric. Sadly, she passed away at age 89, during the height of the pandemic when long-term care homes were closed to visitors. We weren’t able to visit her for her final Mother’s Day. Her loss was traumatic.
Life is short. We don’t know what tomorrow brings. Remember, you only have one mother.
On Mother’s Day, my husband honors me with a sappy card, bright flowers and brunch. But what I truly want is to be with my children. Unfortunately, distance and estrangement make that impossible.
Estrangement is always difficult, but the pain is sharper on holidays. To all the moms in similar situations: I see you, and I wish you an extra-special Mother’s Day.
My upcoming book, Katarina’s Dark Secret, explores these themes of estrangement and dysfunctional families. If you’ve read the first two books in the series, you’ll remember Peter’s guilt over the conflict with his mother before she returned to Ukraine during WWII. As he studies her diaries, he uncovers a dark history. Once Pandora’s box is open, it cannot be closed. Peter must decide whether to keep chasing ghosts or step forward to create a better future.
[Check out the series here to get caught up before the new release.]
During WW2, Katarina’s estrangement with a family member created a lifetime of pain for her and her children.
Today, no mother should ever feel alone. If you are, I encourage you to celebrate your own strength. Reach out to friends, go for brunch, or buy yourself something special.
For those with moms, please consider paying it forward. Buy a meal for a lonely couple, or a flower for an older woman. Share your love with those who might be struggling.
If your mother has passed on, I would love to hear from you. What is a special memory you carry of her?
Below are some photos of the strong women in my family.1) A family photo from Ukraine (European Russia), early 20th centure. Notice the dark clothing, typically worn by my Mennonite forebears. 2) A family photo, early 20th century. The modern clothing and background suggests this photo was taken in Canada. 3) My mom’s parents with her younger siblings: 1940s. 4) circa 1978. Me, my paternal great-aunt (she raised my dad), with my daughter. 5) 1993: A three generation photo of me with my mother and her mom, following the funeral of my paternal great-aunt. 6)My parents with five grand-children, circa mid 1980s enjoying a picnic in their backyard.
If you’d like to learn more about my books, please click the image at the bottom of this page. If you’re interested in Christian non-fiction, you can find this work on Amazon under the pen name Miranda J. Chivers.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
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About the Author
MJ Krause-Chivers is a historical fiction writer and a descendant of Ukrainian Mennonite refugees who fled the Russian Civil War in the 1920s for the safety of Canada. This deep-rooted family history drives her compassionate and unflinching approach to the dark realities faced by refugees, both past and present. In her forthcoming novel, “Katarina’s Dark Secret,” she explores the enduring weight of migration and the resilient threads of family that refuse to be broken by time or borders.
“Katarina’s Dark Secret” is coming soon to Amazon. Subscribe to receive updates and exclusive content as we uncover the secrets of the past.
Proceeds from my historical fiction series support Ukrainian charities. Buy a book, save a life.
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UKRAINE: Spring has sprung but the worst humanitarian crisis since the second world war continues. Approximately ten million Ukrainians are displaced, both internally and globally. Women, children and the elderly, who cannot escape the war zone, survive in meager circumstances under the constant shadow of death.
Your support is needed to provide life-saving essentials—from generators and thermal kits to food and emergency medical care—to those who refuse to be broken by the darkness.
Please donate to these registered charities who work diligently at the front lines bringing life to the suffering: Friends of the Mennonite Centre in Ukraine and AMD for Hope
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