They told me motherhood is measured
In lullabies and first steps
In sticky fingers wrapped around yours
And bedtime stories whispered into soft, waiting ears
But no one tells you how it lives on
In silence
In the empty spaces that still echo
With a love that never left
I am still a mom
Even when there are no small shoes by the door
No laughter spilling through the halls
No arms reaching up for comfort
My heart still knows your name like a prayer
I carry you in quiet ways
In the way I pause when I hear your favorite song
In the way I look for you in crowds
I know you are not in
I mother you in memories
In dreams that feel almost real
In tears I wipe away before anyone sees
Because this love is still mine to hold
They may not see you
But I feel you in every heartbeat
In every breath that catches
When the world moves on without you
Motherhood did not end with your absence
It changed shape
Became something softer, deeper
Woven into who I am forever
So even in the quiet
Even in the ache that never fully fades
I am still your mom
And I always will be