Women’s History Month: Honoring the Women Who Hold Our Families Together

At the beginning of March, our CCBS moms gathered once again for a Mama Bear Retreat – a time of connection, reflection and renewal.

It feels fitting that their time together coincided with Women’s History Month and the celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8.

Since 1975, International Women’s Day has been recognized by the United Nations, though its roots stretch back to the early 1900s.

In the United States, Women’s History Month grew from a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California in 1978 before becoming nationally recognized in 1980 through a presidential proclamation by President Jimmy Carter.

As the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum explains, March is now designated as a time to “honor, acknowledge and study women’s accomplishments throughout American history.”

But beyond history books and proclamations, Women’s History Month is personal.

It is about the women who shape our homes, our schools, our communities – and especially the women walking the courageous path of raising boys through the complex middle school years.

The Often-Unsung Strength of Women

In his 1980 presidential proclamation, President Jimmy Carter wrote:

That truth remains today.

• Women lead businesses and innovate in boardrooms.
• They shape young minds as educators.
• They stand at hospital bedsides as doctors, nurses and caregivers.
• They mentor, advocate, organize and create.

And in countless homes, they mother – biologically, adoptively, step-by-step or as loving mentors and guardians.

Harriet Beecher Stowe once called the mother’s heart the “child’s schoolroom.” Motherhood is not simply nurturing; it is leadership, creativity and resilience in action. It is often invisible work with generational impact.

And yet – let’s be honest – sometimes the role of the mother can feel thankless. As author Jodi Picoult wrote …

The Middle School Years: A Particularly Tender Season

For families with boys ages 10 – 15 … the very age group we serve at Cherokee Creek Boys School … this stage of life can feel especially intense.

An article from NPR by Juli Fraga titled Being Mom to a Middle Schooler Can Be the Toughest Gig of All highlights research from psychologists Suniya Luthar and Lucia Ciciolla. After surveying more than 2,000 well-educated mothers, they found something surprising …

Mothers of middle schoolers reported lower levels of happiness and higher stress than mothers of infants.

That finding stops many people in their tracks.

We expect newborn exhaustion. We prepare for toddler chaos. But the emotional complexity of parenting during early adolescence often catches families off guard.

Mothers in the study described feeling lonely, uncertain and hyper-aware that they can no longer control their child’s world the way they once did. As one mom shared in the article:

That tension — between protecting and releasing — can be one of the hardest balancing acts in parenting. If you are a mom reading this and quietly thinking … “yes, that’s exactly how it feels” … please hear this clearly …

Why Support for Moms Matters

Research consistently shows that when parents feel supported, children benefit. Studies highlighted in the American Journal of Public Health have found that stronger parental social support is linked to better psychological outcomes for children.

In other words, when moms have support, kids do better.

This belief is woven into the mission of Cherokee Creek Boys School. Our program is grounded in three Core Pillars – Family, Nature and being Boy-Friendly – and we believe deeply that family involvement is critical to long-term success.

But this month, rather than focusing on the school, we want to focus on the women.

Because behind every boy doing the hard work of growth, there is often a mother – or grandmother, aunt, stepmother or mentor – doing her own hard work quietly and faithfully.

The Power of a Circle

Several times a year, CCBS hosts Mama Bear Retreats (also known as WomenRest Retreats).

These gatherings offer a small, safe setting for mothers to explore what is in their hearts and to “walk the path of courage, love, truth and wisdom.”

At our 20th Anniversary Celebration in 2023, several alumni moms spoke about the friendships formed through CCBS – friendships that continued long after graduation.

What stands out is not just gratitude for the school – but gratitude for each other.

As Crystal Richard wisely said: “Behind every successful woman is a tribe of other women who have her back.”

Women’s History Month reminds us that progress has always been fueled by connection – women educating one another, mentoring across generations, standing shoulder-to-shoulder in seasons of challenge and change.

Honoring All Women

While we celebrate mothers in March – especially those navigating the complex journey of raising struggling boys – we also honor women who are not mothers.

Doctors and nurses who bridge the gap between medical care and family comfort.

Our sons are influenced daily by strong women in classrooms, clinics, churches, workplaces and communities. Their courage and compassion matter.

When we honor women, we model for our boys what respect looks like.

Practical Encouragement for Moms

… and the Women Who Love and Support Them

Whether your son is at CCBS, considering placement or walking a different path entirely, here are a few gentle reminders:

Find Your Circle

Seek out other women who understand your journey. It may be a retreat, a therapist-led group, a trusted friend or a community of moms. As the NPR article suggests, mothers who open up to others report greater resilience during these years.

Give Yourself Permission to Rest

You cannot pour from an empty cup. Even small moments of renewal – a walk in nature, quiet reading, shared laughter – replenish your nervous system and restore perspective.

Drop the Comparison

Joan Ryan wrote, “Motherhood is about raising and celebrating the child you have, not the child you thought you would have.”

Comparison steals energy. Your son’s path is his own.

Celebrate Small Wins

Growth in adolescence is rarely linear. Notice incremental courage. A calmer conversation. A better choice. A moment of honesty.

Ask for Help

The NPR piece highlighted that moms who reach out for reassurance cope better. Asking for help is not weakness; it is wisdom.

A Hopeful Closing

Women’s History Month is about more than looking backward.

It is about recognizing the strength, leadership and love shaping families right now.

If your heart feels heavy as you navigate the middle school years, please remember … this season, though challenging, is not permanent.

Boys grow.
Families heal.
Support makes a difference.

At Cherokee Creek Boys School, we have witnessed something beautiful over the years. When mothers are supported, encouraged and connected, they become steadier anchors for their sons. And when women gather without judgment, something powerful happens.

Courage multiplies.

During March, as we celebrated Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, we honored you – the moms, mentors, teachers, caregivers and leaders – shaping the next generation.

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