REFLECTIONS: Mother’ s Day 2026
by Teresita Bacani-Oropilla, MD
It was actually the day before Mother’ s Day. Children, grandchildren, great grandchildren poured into the assisted living facility, bringing gifts of flowers and decorated candy dishes. They came to pay homage, to see and to be seen by age-old mothers or grandmothers, maybe for the first time, sadly and most likely, for the last time also.
To wit, one grandma had been in this home for nigh seven years. Unable to self-care due to Parkinson’ s disease, she was quick of mind but not of body. She was visited by a beloved granddaughter to show off the latter’ s 3-month-old baby girl. The joys and memories of days gone by flooded grandma’ s memory yet contrasted with the present. She remembers helping to raise and play with the now new mother, but did not have the strength to even lift the little baby gurgling in her crib. and free. Mothers are still present, passed down recipes applauded, similarities and differences discussed. The past, the present and the future are further aired.
However, the older generation express their belief that relationships have deteriorated, that their grandchildren are attached to electronic devices more than to their peers and parents, that parents themselves have taken on more responsibilities rather than pay personal attention to their children’ s needs, emotional or otherwise.
Has it become a blame game? Should mothers revert back to old relationships and cut back on new tasks?
Mothers, old and new, what say you? Dr. Bacani-Oropilla is a retired pediatrician and psychiatrist.
Mother’ s Day brings out cherished memories with joy but with a twinge of sadness at the loss of youth and what it can do.
Family reunions, on the other hand, can become more open
26 LOUISVILLE MEDICINE