The Day Before Mother’s Day I’ll Never Forget (2021)

Me with my sons, Joshua and Gabriel, during our first visit to Wahlburgers in St. Charles. Looking back, I didn't know this would be my last Mother's Day celebration with Joshua—a memory I will always cherish.

Author's Note (2026): This post was originally written in June 2021, shortly after Joshua's move to Arizona. I have preserved it largely as it was written at the time.

Joshua passed away on February 5, 2022. At the time, I believed this day marked the beginning of a new chapter in both of our lives. Looking back now, I see it as something even more precious: one of the final ordinary days I shared with my son before life changed forever.

Today, I am grateful for every laugh, every conversation, every meal, and every photograph from that day.

A day before Mother's Day.

A day before my firstborn planned to move away from home.

A day I wasn't looking forward to.

On this day, our last together before his move, everything felt bittersweet. Every moment carried a sense of sadness as I anticipated what was to come, yet I embraced the moments in between—filled with love, laughter, and happiness.

My mind understood the season I was about to enter: a mother of an officially adult child. My heart rejected the whole idea! Can any of my readers relate? Please share.

What made the transition even harder was that he was moving from Illinois to Arizona—1,709 miles away. An estimated 26-hour drive. Yes, I did the math!

Months before his plans were finalized, I cried out to God on my knees, pleading for this door to close. Yet I also prayed for His will to be done in my son's life rather than my own.

God, give me the strength to endure and enter this new chapter of my life.

Sure enough, God's will was done. The door remained open. The plans came together quite suddenly, with less than two weeks' notice. And here we were—the day before Mother's Day, spending our last day together before his journey.

God was still very present. My faith gave me peace even though my heart ached. I trusted God—with my heart and with my son.

Holding back tears, I sat and watched as my oldest son and my youngest son joked around across the table from me, talking, sharing stories, and laughing. I didn't want the day to end.

The entire day was spontaneous.

A year earlier, Wahlburgers had opened on South Randall Road in St. Charles. My family had been counting down the days until its grand opening. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, they pushed through delays and finally opened their doors. Yet somehow, we had never made the trip.

Then, on this day, I thought, "Why not now?" Let's make this a memorable last day together before his move.

We all agreed there was one word to describe our experience:

Perfection.

A delicious vegetarian option—the Impossible Wahlburgers served with crispy onion strings.

Our food was cooked to perfection, and every bite was delicious.

I highly recommend taking your family—or your date—here. The atmosphere was inviting, clean, and entertaining. There were photo opportunities, a stage with a microphone, a tater tots display, and a wall filled with memorabilia.

After our visit to Wahlburgers, I surprised my boys with a trip to Classic Cinemas Charlestowne 18 Theatre in St. Charles. We had the entire theater to ourselves and enjoyed watching Mortal Kombat together.

Next, we stopped by Clear Wave Car Wash, where Joshua had once worked. Since he planned to drive his 24-year-old black Toyota Camry across the country, we wanted to get it cleaned up and ready for the road ahead.

We ended the day with dessert at Colonial Cafe.

A day before Mother's Day.

A day before my firstborn planned to move away from home.

A day I wasn't looking forward to.

Yet it was also a day God had made and purposed for us to enjoy—a day to celebrate a new season, even if I wasn't quite ready for it.

At the time, I was preparing to send my son off on an adventure across the country. It felt like the end of an era, but God was already going before him and preparing both of us for the season ahead.

Now, as I write this on June 8th—just one month later—I can tell you that he is back home.

His adventure was short-lived, but God was present every step of the way in his life, just as He was in mine during our time apart.

What happened, you ask?

Well, that is a story for another day.

Photos by Marcy Bachelor

Wahlburgers | St. Charles, Illinois