For over 30 years, dozens of volunteers have handcrafted about 100 teddy bears every month to donate to children at the Utah County Children’s Justice Center. These bears are given to children who come to the center as part of the investigative process after being physically or sexually abused. What a comfort a new teddy bear must be to a child who is going through such trauma. This is mothering.

Every year, backpacks, coats, books, school supplies and even weekend food items are donated to local schoolchildren. Without these donations, many children in our community would go without the basic necessities needed to learn, be warm and have food to eat when they are not in school. This is mothering.

During 2022, 87,988 people in need were given food through Tabitha’s Way food pantries in Spanish Fork and American Fork. Almost four million meals were distributed. More than 19,000 volunteer hours were served. Last year, the Utah Food Bank distributed 67.3 million pounds of food. Many of the recipients of the food were children — about one in nine Utah children are unsure where their next meal is coming from. This is mothering.

Those who work with public libraries spend most of their days in efforts to benefit children. Whether they are reading stories to children, performing puppet shows for children, helping children find books to read or creating any of the hundreds of programs designed for the education and enjoyment of children, they are contributing to and bettering the lives of our kids. This is mothering.

Every day, hundreds of teachers and other school personnel — both men and women — care for the physical, emotional and educational needs of our children. While this is their job, most show that it is more than a job by the love that they put into it. They often stand in for mothers that are not there in children’s lives for a variety of reasons. This is mothering.

Each year, hundreds of children in Utah County are given gifts at Christmastime through United Way of Utah County’s Sub for Santa program. The recipients are from families who are going through difficult times, making it almost impossible for them to provide gifts for their children. Because of so many generous donations, hundreds of children wake up to gifts on Christmas morning. This is mothering.

Around the world, aunts, uncles, grandparents and friends step in to help guide, have fun with and help children with whatever is needed. My own children have been so lucky as to have many of these second mothers in their lives. This is mothering.

My own beloved mother spent her adult life teaching, caring for, reading to, playing with, feeding, protecting, laughing with, crying with and loving her five children and her many grandchildren. My grandmothers did the same. This is mothering.

After dedicating her life to mothering us, my siblings and I are now experiencing the privilege of giving back, at least a bit, to our mom, as her health is declining. Other people help in our efforts to care for our mom. This is mothering.

Happy Mother’s Day.