Published May 6, 2026
Mother’s Day is an important time to reflect on all that we ask moms to do — and to ask ourselves what we are doing, and what we should be doing, to support them.
I think about my mom, who passed over years ago, and how hard she worked. Rarely, did I see her sit down. There was always something else for her to do. And the memories are bittersweet as I think about how much love she gave me and my siblings, what an amazing role model she was, and how much I miss her.
As the mom of two amazing kids, I am doing my best to follow her example and give them everything they need to thrive. Like most kids, they have brought me so much joy, so much love, and of course, quite a bit of stress and worry.
Moms want the best for their children. Yet, for millions of moms across the country meeting their children’s basic needs become even more challenging when their finances simply don’t add up.
The high cost of child care, housing, and food make it difficult for families to make ends meet. One in five households with children struggles to put food on the table. And moms want to protect their kids. In the case of food insecurity, many moms forego meals to help ensure their kids have enough.
That is where the federal nutrition programs — the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), school meals, the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), and the Summer Nutrition Programs — come in. WIC provides nutritious food for nutritionally at-risk women when they are pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding, and for infants and toddlers. SNAP provides grocery benefits to help families with low incomes put food on the table. School meals allow moms to count on nutritious breakfasts and lunches to feed their children on every school days; CACFP supports meals served in child care and afterschool programs; and the Summer Nutrition Programs help replace lost school meals during summer break.
These programs allow moms to worry a little less — to know that their kids have access to the food they need to thrive — and help alleviate some of the financial pressure so many are facing.
This year, we must recommit to supporting moms so they can focus on raising their children, instead of being stressed, stretched, and struggling to put food on the table. That starts with making sure that the federal nutrition programs are accessible and provide the supports moms and their kids need. WIC must be fully funded; the devastating SNAP cuts made by Congress last summer that will cause millions of families to lose access to the program must be reversed; Healthy School Meals for All (schools offer all students breakfast and lunch at no charge) should be implemented nationwide; and CACFP and the Summer Nutrition Programs should be accessible and available in every state.
Let’s really celebrate, honor, and support moms this year.