Have you ever had a rough day and wanted nothing more than to go home, lock yourself away in your room, and breakdown? Have you spent nights tossing and turning in a fit of stress? Have you ever felt used, rejected, or lonely? Mom has, too.

Author Kristin Hannah once said, "I am a mother and mothers don’t have the luxury of falling apart in front of their children, even when they are afraid, even when their children are adults.” Many of us are so used to seeing our mothers put on a strong suit that we often forget that she has a soft side, too. I only recently came to this realization and instantly started crying. There have been days where I felt like I was going to fall apart, and just the thought of my mother feeling the same deep and depressing emotions, or even crying, brought me to tears.

I can count the times that I've seen my mother cry on one hand. As a single, black mother of two, she had no other choice but to be strong for us. She had to show us how rough and unforgiving this world can be and how to navigate through every rough patch. She didn't let me see a tear fall from her eyes through her divorce to my father and it is impossible for me to imagine the pain that she felt. She didn't let me know just how lonely she was all of those years when it was only us and I can't even fathom the amount of stress that my brother and I have created for her.

The strength of a mother is unparalleled, but it is impossible for one to never come in touch with their feelings. From the moment I was formed inside of my mother to now, she has had to mask her emotions for the sake of her children. Now that I think about it, my mother has probably faced many secret battles that I will never know about. Even when I think that I've seen her in a vulnerable state, I know that it was only a quarter of what she was really feeling. Everything I have felt- unloved, used, rejected, and pain- she has felt, too.

Whether your mother is divorced, unemployed, sick, abused, experiencing loss, or in any other situation, she is fighting a silent battle. Give her space and give her love. Let her know that it is okay to be vulnerable sometimes.

Take a moment and think about everything your mother has gone through and take into account how life events have impacted her. Make it your duty to love all mothers: grandmothers, mothers, aunts, sisters, and friends. Ask them how they are feeling and let them know that they are loved and appreciated, because they will not always be around for you to tell them so.