How to write a Mother’s Day letter of love and get it published

The Mercury is launching a national campaign encouraging you to write a Mother’s Day letter to your mum during the coronavirus pandemic. It’s a priceless, powerful gift during these times of isolation. HERE’S HOW TO GET YOURS PUBLISHED.

OUR mums are the ones who, right now, are assuring us everything is going to be all right.

With wisdom and kindness, they remind us how powerful the human spirit can be, how important it is to have compassion and kindness and give us a torch to find light in the darkness. 

As a global pandemic grips the world, impacting each of our lives in different ways, we need our mums more than ever. And they need us.

It’s less than one week until Mother’s Day and most mums would love nothing more than to lift everyone’s spirit on May 10 with a family celebration full of hugs and with laughter echoing through the house. 

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But travel restrictions and social distancing mean many families will be unable to physically be together, particularly those with elderly members.

Mother’s Day will look a little different but it can still be just as special. And with one simple gesture, potentially more meaningful than ever.

Today, The Mercury launches a national campaign encouraging you to write a Mother’s Day letter to your mum to tell her what she means to you. It’s a priceless, powerful gift that costs you little.

Rebecca Gibney and her mum Shirley

Some of our favourite Australians, including Olympian Cate Campbell, actor Rebecca Gibney and model Elyse Knowles have shared letters they have penned for their mums this year. 

Their letters reveal beautiful insights into what their mums mean to them through thoughts and raw memories.

HOW TO SHARE YOUR LETTER OF LOVE

1. Tell us in 200 words what your mum means to you and include a picture of your mum. We will publish a selection of the best on May 10. Please include TASMANIA in the subject line of the email and send it to: [e-mail]

*Maximum 100 words, and include full name, suburb and state.

If we publish your story your full name, suburb and state will be published. Please make sure you only send us images which you are entitled to let us publish. Not all letters will be published. Publication may be different for online and print. Online access is limited to digital subscribers only.

2. Read an excerpt to video and share it on your social channel on Mother’s Day and tag @The Mercury Newspaper.

REBECCA GIBNEY’S LETTER

It’s been a while since actor Rebecca Gibney saw her 85-year-old mother, with Shirley living in Australia and Gibney based in New Zealand. But she’s always in her heart.

She shared this letter penned for her mum this year…

A letter to my mother Shirley,

The glass is always half full. It’s better to be kind than right. Compassion is the greatest gift. Forgiveness will set you free. And no matter what happens things will always get better.

Just some of the lessons I learned growing up in the Gibney household. A household that was often tumultuous and uncertain. That on so many occasions required us to forgive quickly and to always see the positive. And there were days when that seemed impossible. When we would wake in the morning after hearing the yelling, the thumping, the tears. When we moved for the umpteenth time because Dad had a new job so there was a new school, new friends, new life.

For many people that would be hard and sometimes it was. But you made it OK. You turned it into an adventure. And you constantly reminded us that we were still the lucky ones. We had each other. We had a roof over our heads and a father that loved us despite his alcoholism. And we had you. You were always there. Always. We knew that. And somehow that did make everything OK.

Mum you taught me the power of the human spirit because even when life was beating you down you continued to get back up. You showed forgiveness when most people would have turned their backs. You continuously blessed others with your generosity even when you barely had anything for yourself. Always giving.

Even today you perform random acts of kindness — every week you give flowers to a stranger. Because you want them to know that they matter. And you care. It’s because of these lessons, Mum, your family is living proof that we can overcome whatever life throws at us.

Especially now. I know we will get through this because you taught me how to. With kindness and compassion and respect.

These are the greatest gifts you have ever given me and I will be forever grateful.

Happy Mother’s Day Mum. I love you to moon and beyond.

Rebecca