Remembering My Mother on Her Birthday: A Letter to the One I Miss Every Day

There are some days when grief feels fresh, even after decades. Today is one of those days. My mother was born in 1936 and left us in 1993 —  three decades ago. Yet, on her birthday, the ache of missing her returns with the same sharpness, reminding me that love never fades, even when the person is no longer here.

Missing Mom on Her Birthday

People often say, Time heals all wounds. But when it comes to losing your mother, time only teaches you how to live with the absence. My mother’s birthday is always a reminder of her presence in my life — the warmth of her hands, the calm strength in her voice, and the way she held our family together with quiet grace.

If you’ve ever lost your mother, you’ll understand. Birthdays are not just dates; they become milestones of memory, where love and longing meet.

A Letter to My Mother in Heaven

Dear Ma,

Happy Birthday.
You would have been eighty-nine today. I often imagine what life would look like if you were still here — meeting your grandchildren, guiding me with your wisdom, and sitting with me over a cup of tea, wordlessly steadying me when life feels overwhelming.

You left too early, but your lessons still guide me. You taught me the value of traditions, the importance of resilience, and the strength of moving forward with dignity.

Even now, I miss your presence in the smallest things — the sound of you moving around the house, the way you made comfort an integral part of everyday life.

You are gone from sight, Ma, but never from my soul.

Always your child,
Neeru

A Poetic Tribute to My Mother

You are the lullaby in my restless nights,
the prayer folded in my every breath,
the root from which my life still grows.

Gone from sight,
but never from soul.

Happy Birthday, Ma.

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Why This Matters

Writing a birthday letter to my mom in heaven is my way of keeping her memory alive. For anyone missing their mother today — on her birthday or otherwise — know that grief is not weakness. It’s love, with nowhere to go.

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Neerja Bhatnagar

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