There’s no doubt that this Mother’s Day, just a little more than a week away, will look quite different than those celebrated in the past. We won’t be heading out for brunch. Moms won’t get that much-needed few hours at the spa (what I was planning to ask for). We probably won’t be gathering with multiple generations under one roof.
But we’ll do our best to work with what we’ve got, make new memories, and celebrate mom with a new understanding of what she really means to us. Many significant others are witnessing what their stay-at-home or work-at-home partners tackle each and every day, and there are other families having to sacrifice much more to be home with their kids right now. They’re working, schooling, and nurturing all in one go, every single day, with no vacation (or spa day) in sight.
So, yeah, if you ever had the suspicion that your parents or spouses were superheroes, you might be witnessing the proof to cement that theory.
That’s why Penny Preville’s specially curated medallion collection feels right on the money for mothers any time, but particularly for Mother’s Day 2020, a year in itself that has been quite a mother—except the kind of mother that’s followed by an expletive, not the lovely, generous kind we’ll be celebrating next weekend.
Our moms mean the world to us—and they give the world to us too—but we’re used to sampling little bits of that love, that giving, that healing they bestow on us over time. And yet this crisis is a bit like one of those reality shows where everyone’s stuck together in a house—interactions are frequent and more fruitful, and you learn more about a person in a very short period of time than you ever could under normal circumstances (this episode of real life won’t end with a love triangle and a trip to the boom boom room, however—well, not for most of us).
So it’s in this hyper loop of time that mom wears all of her hats at once: protector, doing her best to keep her family safe; nurturer, giving everything to see her children grow; provider, working at a makeshift desk in the playroom; giver, sacrificing her time for those she loves; and healer, taking care of the sick, the sad, the scared.
Each of those roles is highlighted by Preville’s medallions. The Protector features the iconic evil eye of ancient Greece “to honor the mother who protects and defends; forever the eternal guardian,” as it’s described by the brand.
The Nurturer medallion is inspired by ancient wheels, symbolizing order and routine. “To honor the mother who continues to shape us, who fosters growth and inspires us,” says the collection’s release.
The Giver is an engravable piece, octagonal in shape with a frame of diamonds. The keepsake-style pendant symbolizes strength with an air of elegance and refinement “to honor the mother who, when given the chance, will always sacrifice of herself to provide for her loved ones.”
The Provider, my personal favorite of the group, is inspired by ancient padlocks, a design that symbolizes power and security. It’s inscribed with the word moon over a crescent of diamonds, which represents compassion and connections with others, while a single diamond star is said to represent enlightenment and divine guidance. “To honor the matriarch; the mother who enlightens. She never fails to offer what others around her need.”
And finally there’s the Healer, a floral medallion inspired by the lotus flower, symbolizing enlightenment, peace, and rebirth “to honor the mother who can solve any problem; a recurrent source of wisdom in troubling times.”
Versatile in design and meaning, these pendants could be purchased for myriad reasons, whether for a mom, a friend, or for oneself. But their meanings are particularly apt for how weirdly urgent this Mother’s Day feels—like mom really should be recognized exponentially this year, even when she deserves it every other year too.
Top: A group of medallion pendants for Mother’s Day in 18k gold, $2,500– $3,565
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