Birthdays feel different when your mother is dead.
No one makes you feel special the way that she did.
Birthdays feel different when your mother is dead.
No one starts your morning with a phone call the way that she did.
And no one buys you a dozen pink roses the way that she did.
No one finds you the perfect gift the way that she did.
No one makes your favorite devil’s food cake with buttercream frosting the way that she did.
And no one surprises you the way that she did.
No one knows you the way that your mother does.
Because no one knows you the way that your mother does.
No one remembers your birthdate the way that your mother does.
No one remembers your cries and your giggles and your firsts the way that your mother does.
And no one remembers all of your previous birthdays the way that your mother does.
No one treasures every memory of you the way that your mother does.
No one feels like you are a part of their body and soul the way that your mother does.
No one loves you the way that your mother does.
And no one loves you the way that your mother does.
Others may try but it’s just not the same.
Because birthdays feel different when your mother is dead.
A version of this post was originally published April 22, 2021.
