my mother's love essay

Essay on Mothers Love for Students and Teacher

500+ words essay on mothers love.

There is nothing that can come close to the love that a mother feels for her children. Women are inherently good mothers. Till birth women carry their young and then continue their love & affection throughout their childhood and even into adulthood. Every Mother always makes sure that their children are safe and happy throughout their childhood. It is the love for their child that a mother feels that drives these feelings. No one can describe in words the feeling that a mother has towards her children. In fact, most people do not understand unless they become a mother themselves. Love always encourages us in any falls which come in life. She is the only person who has no demands except our best future.

Mother as a Caretaker

A Mother always wants best for her child and never compromise on anything related to her child. Parents protect their child from any difficult situation and provide him all comfort that they can afford. Mothers love is not only about pampering her child but also about letting her child know the moral and cultural values.

A good upbringing makes the better future of a person and a mother does an excellent job to give the best future for her child. She converts a house into a home; she works as a superwoman because to keep managing household works and to fulfill all family members’ requirement on time is no easy task at all.

If we talk about working ladies than we can’t even imagine how she would manage all things together. I am proud of my mother who has nurtured me along with doing a job and also managing home properly.

Read 500 Words Essay on Mother here

Mother as a Best Friend

After birth, a child finds his mom as the first friend who plays with him along with extra care and nourishment. She interacts with her child as a friend and keeps watching all her child’s activities.

A mother never feels tired while playing with her child and always fulfills all his demands without thinking of her. A mother is like an angel for her child.

Mother as a Mentor

Without any expectation, a mother keeps on working for the betterment of her child. She plays all roles including mom like a mentor, a teacher, a friend, a caretaker.

She loves her child more than any other thing in this world but sometimes she becomes little strict towards her child for making him capable to fight with different circumstances comes in life. Mother gives us that power with which we become able to accept them and get success.

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Mother – A Special Person of Our Life

When a child born; it is the mother who easily understands the feelings or requirements of her child. She spends every second around her child for fulfilling his all needs. Since childhood, our mother keeps telling us what is wrong and what is right in a manner to build us as a good human being and also encourage us to do good things in life.

She loves and cares us without any personal greed. The fragrance of a mother can easily be recognized by her newborn child. Since birth, a child is being observed by his mother. For providing a child all comforts she does all needful.

All mothers are pure by heart and want all the best things in their child’s life whether it is any toy, clothing, education and the values. Motherhood is the best part of life a lady can have. It is a full-time job without any salary but it worth’s a lot for a child. Mother’s love is something that can feel, mothers love is like a blessing by God, mothers love is everything. People who escape from the love of their mothers are really very unfortunate.

We as a child always take our mother for granted but without her our life becomes worthless. Mother is a precious gift by God which we need to keep with love and care. She does her job of motherhood with a pure heart and complete devotion. The first teacher is a mother for any child and if he keeps learning life’s lessons under her guidance nothing can stop him in achieving the heights of success.

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Home — Essay Samples — Sociology — Family Relationships — A Mother’s Unconditional Love

A Mother's Unconditional Love

Categories: Family Relationships Motherhood Parent-Child Relationship

About this sample

Words: 612 |

Published: Mar 16, 2024

Words: 612 | Page: 1 | 4 min read

The biological foundation of maternal love, the impact of maternal love on child development, literary and cultural representations of maternal love, challenges and sacrifices of motherhood, the enduring legacy of maternal love.

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Essay on My Mother

Here we have shared the Essay on My Mother in detail so you can use it in your exam or assignment of 150, 250, 400, 500, or 1000 words.

You can use this Essay on My Mother in any assignment or project whether you are in school (class 10th or 12th), college, or preparing for answer writing in competitive exams.

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Essay on My Mother in 150 words

Essay on my mother in 250-300 words, essay on my mother in 500-1000 words.

My mother is my greatest inspiration and the most important person in my life. She is loving, caring, and selfless. Her guidance and support have shaped me into the person I am today. She works tirelessly to create a nurturing home environment, and her wisdom and advice have helped me navigate life’s challenges. Her love is unconditional, and she is always there for me, celebrating my successes and comforting me during tough times. Beyond being a mother, she is also my best friend, someone I can confide in and share memorable moments with. I am grateful for her presence in my life and the profound impact she has had on shaping my character and values. My mother is truly irreplaceable, and I cherish every moment I spend with her.

My mother is the most important person in my life. She is my role model, my support system, and my best friend. Her unconditional love, care, and guidance have shaped me into the person I am today.

My mother is a selfless individual who always puts the needs and happiness of her family before her own. She works tirelessly to ensure that our home is a place of comfort and warmth. Her nurturing nature and compassionate heart make her the backbone of our family.

She is a source of wisdom and guidance. Whenever I face challenges or need advice, she is always there to listen, offer her perspective, and guide me towards the right path. Her words of encouragement and belief in my abilities give me the strength to overcome obstacles and strive for success.

My mother’s love is unwavering and unconditional. She is my biggest cheerleader, celebrating my achievements and supporting me during difficult times. Her faith in me fuels my determination and motivates me to pursue my dreams.

Beyond being a loving mother, she is also a friend. We share laughter, tears, and countless memorable moments together. I can confide in her, knowing that she will listen without judgment and provide comfort and understanding.

In conclusion, my mother is an extraordinary woman who embodies love, strength, and selflessness. Her presence in my life is a blessing, and I am grateful for the love and support she provides every day. She is not only my mother but also my role model, my confidante, and my source of inspiration. I am forever thankful for her unconditional love and the profound impact she has had on shaping my life.

Title: My Mother – A Beacon of Love, Strength, and Inspiration

Introduction :

My mother is a remarkable woman who holds an irreplaceable place in my life. Her unwavering love, unwavering support, and selfless nature have shaped me into the person I am today. In this essay, I will delve into the qualities that make my mother extraordinary, the profound impact she has had on my life, and the invaluable life lessons she has taught me.

Loving and Nurturing Nature

My mother’s love is boundless and unconditional. From the moment I entered this world, she has showered me with affection, care, and tenderness. Her warm embrace and comforting words have always been a source of solace. Whether it is a scraped knee or a broken heart, my mother’s presence brings comfort and reassurance.

She creates a nurturing home environment where love, support, and understanding prevail. She listens attentively to my thoughts, concerns, and dreams, providing guidance and encouragement. Her ability to empathize and show compassion has instilled in me a deep sense of empathy toward others.

Sacrifice and Selflessness

My mother’s selflessness is awe-inspiring. She always puts the needs and happiness of her family before her own. She sacrifices her own desires and ambitions to ensure our well-being and happiness. Whether it is waking up early to prepare breakfast, working long hours to provide for us, or staying up late to help us with our studies, she does it all without complaint.

Her selflessness extends beyond our immediate family. She actively participates in community service, volunteering her time and efforts to help those less fortunate. Her acts of kindness and generosity have taught me the importance of giving back to society.

Strength and Resilience

My mother embodies strength and resilience. She has faced numerous challenges and adversities with unwavering determination. From personal setbacks to financial hardships, she has never let them dim her spirit. Instead, she faces each obstacle head-on, showing me the power of perseverance and resilience.

Her strength is not just physical but also emotional and mental. She remains composed and calm in difficult situations, providing a steady support system for our family. Her strength serves as a guiding light during turbulent times, reminding me to stay strong and never lose hope.

Support and Guidance

My mother is my rock, offering unwavering support and guidance in every aspect of my life. She is my confidante, the person I turn to when I need advice, comfort, or a listening ear. Her wisdom and insight have helped me make important decisions and navigate through life’s challenges.

She encourages me to pursue my passions and dreams, instilling in me the belief that I can achieve anything I set my mind to. Her belief in my abilities has boosted my self-confidence and fueled my drive to succeed.

Life Lessons and Values

Through her actions and words, my mother has imparted invaluable life lessons and instilled in me essential values. She has taught me the importance of honesty, integrity, and compassion toward others. She emphasizes the significance of hard work, perseverance, and never giving up.

Her commitment to education has emphasized the value of knowledge and continuous learning. She has taught me the importance of empathy, understanding, and acceptance, fostering an inclusive mindset.

Conclusion :

My mother is my greatest inspiration and the epitome of love, strength, and selflessness. Her unwavering support, guidance, and nurturing nature have shaped my character and values. She has taught me important life lessons, provided a strong foundation, and instilled in me a sense of resilience and determination. I am forever grateful for her presence in my life, and I cherish every moment spent with her. My mother’s love is a constant source of inspiration, reminding me to always strive for greatness and to be a compassionate and caring individual.

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Essay on Mothers love

Students are often asked to write an essay on Mothers love in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Mothers love

Understanding mother’s love.

A mother’s love is a unique bond that cannot be compared. It begins from the moment a child is conceived and continues forever. It’s pure, selfless, and unconditional.

The Depth of Mother’s Love

A mother’s love is deep and profound. She is always ready to sacrifice for her children’s happiness and well-being without expecting anything in return. Her love is a shelter during the toughest times.

Expressions of Mother’s Love

A mother’s love is expressed in countless ways. It can be seen in her caring touch, her comforting words, and her constant support. Her love is a guiding light in our lives.

The Power of Mother’s Love

A mother’s love is powerful. It can heal wounds, provide strength, and inspire us to achieve greatness. It’s the greatest gift one can ever receive.

250 Words Essay on Mothers love

The quintessence of a mother’s love.

A mother’s love is a powerful force that shapes the world around us. It is an unspoken language of care, sacrifice, and endless devotion that transcends cultural, geographical, and temporal boundaries. Rooted in the biological imperative, a mother’s love is an epitome of unconditional affection and nurturing.

The Unconditional Nature of Maternal Affection

A mother’s love is unconditional. It does not discriminate or differentiate, and it does not diminish with time or circumstance. From the moment a child is born, a mother’s love serves as a constant, unwavering beacon of light that guides them through the tumultuous journey of life. This love is a safety net that catches us when we fall, a source of comfort when we are in pain, and a reservoir of strength when we feel weak.

The Sacrificial Aspect of Motherhood

A mother’s love is sacrificial. It is a love that gives without expecting anything in return. Mothers often put their children’s needs before their own, sacrificing their time, energy, and sometimes even their dreams, to ensure their offspring’s well-being and success. This selfless love is a testament to the lengths a mother will go to protect and nurture her child.

The Transformative Power of Maternal Love

A mother’s love holds transformative power. It shapes us, molds us, and influences our understanding of love and relationships. It teaches us empathy, compassion, and resilience, and it instills in us the confidence to face life’s challenges.

In conclusion, a mother’s love is an extraordinary force, a remarkable testament to the strength and beauty of the human spirit. It is a love that lasts a lifetime, a love that changes us, and a love that remains with us, no matter where life takes us.

500 Words Essay on Mothers love

The essence of a mother’s love.

A mother’s love is a profound and multifaceted concept, universally acknowledged as one of the most powerful forces in existence. This love is not only biological but transcends the boundaries of reason and logic, reaching into the realm of the inexplicable and the extraordinary.

The Biological Bond

A mother’s love begins even before birth. As the fetus grows within the womb, a bond is formed that is primarily biological, yet it serves as the foundation for the emotional connection that will develop over time. This bond is not merely a product of shared genetic material but is fostered through the physical connection that exists between a mother and her unborn child.

Unconditional Love

The love of a mother for her child is often described as unconditional. This means that it does not depend on the child’s behavior, achievements, or qualities. It is a love that is constant and unwavering, regardless of circumstances. This unconditional aspect of a mother’s love can be seen as an evolutionary trait, ensuring the survival and well-being of offspring. Yet, it also carries a profound emotional and psychological significance, providing the child with a sense of security and self-worth that can be foundational to their development.

Love as Sacrifice

Another dimension of a mother’s love is the aspect of sacrifice. Mothers often put their children’s needs before their own, willing to make great sacrifices for their well-being. This can range from the physical sacrifice of pregnancy and childbirth to the ongoing sacrifices made in raising a child, such as giving up personal time, career opportunities, or even aspects of their own identity.

Nurturing Growth

Mothers also play a crucial role in nurturing their children’s growth and development. Through their love, they provide the emotional, psychological, and physical support that children need to grow and thrive. This nurturing aspect of a mother’s love can be seen in everything from providing nourishment and care in early infancy to guiding a child through the challenges of adolescence and beyond.

Love’s Enduring Impact

The impact of a mother’s love is not limited to childhood but extends into adulthood. The love and support received from a mother can shape a person’s self-esteem, resilience, and capacity for empathy. It can influence their relationships, their approach to challenges, and their overall outlook on life.

In conclusion, a mother’s love is a complex and powerful force, encompassing biological connection, unconditional acceptance, sacrifice, nurturing, and enduring impact. It is a fundamental aspect of human experience, shaping us in profound ways and influencing who we become. The understanding of this love is not only crucial for appreciating the role of mothers in our lives but also for recognizing the deep bonds that connect us as human beings.

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An Introduction to the Essay

The word Mother is a very pious word and whosoever is called by the name ‘Mother’ is a person who sacrifices and prioritizes her children over anything. Her whole Life revolves around the well-being of her child, their growth, their development, and their welfare. A Mother not just only gives birth to a child but she takes a Lifelong commitment to take care of her child.

The only unconditional love in the world is the mother's love. My mother is my inspiration, my superhero, my best friend, and my guiding light. My life would not have been beautiful without my mother. Through ups and downs and in every step of life, she holds my hand and supports and encourages me. No matter what happens, my mother is always there beside me- cheering me up and motivating me. All mothers in the world are great and so, we should not celebrate their contribution in our life on Mother's Day only, which is 10th May, but every day of the year and throughout their life. It is because no gesture of appreciation is ever enough when it comes to acknowledging our mother. Her selfless love and sacrifice are the precious of all gifts under the sun.

An Essay on Mothers

My Mother- The Multi-Tasker

Mothers play an important role in everyone’s Life since she acts as a Protector, a Friend, and Guide for Life. A Mother does everything selflessly for her child and without any condition. There the love of a Mother is known to be Unconditional.

The way she manages my family with utter dedication and devotion is inspiring. The relationship with my mother is something very hard to explain. I do not merely love her because she is my mother and we should respect our elders. I love her because she is my world and when I was not able to speak and communicate she took care of me, time and time again. The best part about my mother is that even though I have grown older she knows and understands my needs without me speaking a word. I learned kindness and love from her. She taught me no matter how bad a situation might get, only love can improve it in the most effective way. She has been the rock-solid pillar of my life and in every big moment of my life.

My Mother has constantly supported me throughout my entire Life, whenever I am in a danger or in a situation where I am stuck, she has always been there for me, protected me, and guided me. She has been my favorite teacher who has taught me about Life and the beauty of it. She is the essence of truthfulness, sincerity, and lots of love. The only person who holds our family together is my Mother. She cares for everyone in the house and for the ones in need outside the house as well. One of the most beautiful things that I learned from my mother is empathy. Be it strangers or animals, she treats everyone equally which makes her more amazing. Moreover, she taught me to not hurt anyone on purpose and help people whenever possible. Not only this but also she taught me to not differentiate among rich or poor, beautiful or ugly. She says that it is the heart of a person that makes them beautiful and rich and not temporary possessions.

My Mother is my constant source of encouragement, be it in Life or in school for studies. She has always inspired me to do other activities along with my studies. She has taught me to enjoy every aspect of Life and live Life to the fullest. She wants me to do those things in Life as well which she could not do or pursue. She is my backbone for everything. My mother has inspired me through her hard work and sacrifices. She taught me once never to get disheartened by failure and to keep challenging the failure with our honest effort. And one day, failure will pave the path to our success. The strength of facing hurdles and overcoming it is what I have learned from her.

Mothers have never-ending qualities even though they do not get much credit for their goodness and hard work. She binds everyone in the family and plays a very important part in everyone’s Life. Even when I do something wrong in Life, she scolds me but at the same time, she makes me understand and helps me to get out of the situation. She forgives me after every mistake but ensures that I’ve realized my mistake first. She is the most selfless human being I have ever encountered in my life till now.

My mother knows me in and out. Even if I am lying she catches me immediately and I start feeling guilty. We should never lie to our parents and especially, to our mother. They simply do not deserve it. Mothers spend a significant part of their lives making us capable of standing on our own feet. Sometimes, they have to sacrifice their own career and happiness for that. So a mother's trust should never be destroyed. And when it comes to my mother, I would not change a bit about her. She is the best chef, reading partner, and an independent working woman who can balance almost everything with utmost perfection. Even her imperfection makes me proud of her. Without my mother, I would never become a better human being. My Mother is my biggest strength and makes me, even more, stronger when I go through all my ups and downs in life. The best thing she possesses is her patience. The patience she has is difficult for anyone to have. She deals with every situation in the family, in my life, or even in her Life with so much patience because of the reason the family is bonded so strongly. It is the responsibility of every child to appreciate their Mothers and give them the love and respect that Mothers deserve.

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FAQs on My Mother Essay

1. What is the role of a mother in a family?

Mothers provide an ideal environment for the family and are the best role model in everyone’s Life. She is the one person everyone in the family can totally depend on in Life. She is the only one who asks every member of the family at the end of each day if they’ve had their proper meals all day long or not.

2. What does a Mother do to provide a comfortable life to her children?

A mother works hard day and night in order to give her children a comfortable life. She teaches her children to believe in themselves and have faith in themselves and never give up on Life. She teaches them moral values and the difference between right and wrong and how one decision in their lives can impact their futures.

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The Person I Admire the Most: My Mother

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Essay on Mother’s Love

Lord Buddha said, “As a mother even at the risk of her own life, loves and protects her child, so let a man cultivate love towards his mother without measuring her”.

After going through this ‘Essay on Mother’s Love’, you will be able to understand the importance of a mother in your life.

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Essay on Mother’s Love (1100+ Words)

The bond between a mother and child is unparalleled. From the moment a child is born, a mother is born alongside them. The child gazes up at their mother, observing her every move and eagerly imitating her actions. The mind of a child is sharp, and they emulate their mother’s activities with great enthusiasm. The mother assumes the responsibility of caring for her child in all aspects, including their health, clothing, diet, entertainment, education, sports, and the development of their competitive spirit. Through love and affection, the mother captures the heart of the child.

Mothers play an extraordinary role in shaping the lives of their children. They mold their character through their own exemplary deeds, gradually stepping back and allowing their children to find their own path. The foundation laid by a mother, built on affection, perseverance, discipline, guidance, and even tears, enables her children to navigate life’s challenges with confidence. It is the mother who shapes her child into a noble individual through her wise, insightful, and graceful actions. The mother motivates her child to learn by embracing activities that foster character development and personal growth, creating a natural environment for their education.

At times, mothers may resort to strict measures to discipline their children and impart valuable lessons. They may withhold food, prohibit engagement in undesirable activities, or even resort to physical punishment. While these actions may seem harsh, their underlying intention is one of love and concern. The mother’s ultimate desire is to see her child grow into a capable and independent individual, free from inadequacies.

There are mothers who break societal norms and possess the confidence and inspiration to guide and correct their children. They employ modern scientific knowledge and theories on child development, which profoundly impact their children’s outlook on life. Regardless of the strategies employed, the mother’s influence profoundly shapes the child’s life, helping them develop their own destiny. The greatest achievement for a mother is witnessing her child grow into a courageous individual, capable of respectable accomplishments, thanks to her teachings on the values of integrity, sacrifice, and tolerance. An ideal mother never encourages her child to live as a dependent creature, relying on charity and assistance from others.

Motherhood can be described in terms of sacrifice. A mother willingly sets aside her own comforts and works tirelessly to provide her child with nourishment, clothing, and quality education. She endeavors to earn money and promises her child a bright future. This inherent quality of selflessness is found wholly in a mother. She assumes the responsibilities of motherhood from her child’s earliest years and remains a trusted advisor throughout their life. It is of utmost importance that we hold our mothers in deep respect and pay them the highest regard, not simply because they are mothers, but for their unmatched devotion and incredible sacrifices towards us.

A mother encompasses everything meaningful in our lives. She is the one who understands us intimately and stands as our closest companion in everyday endeavors and challenges. Sometimes, she shoulders an immense burden, working under tension, to support us personally and professionally, helping us overcome obstacles in our work or business. We owe our mothers our deepest gratitude for everything they do for us.

The words of George Washington, the first President of America, and Lord Buddha resonate with the incredible significance of mothers throughout history. Both Washington and Buddha recognized the profound impact mothers have on shaping their children’s lives. Mothers have been and continue to be a source of unconditional love, protection, and guidance.

However, in today’s society, the values and emotions children hold toward their mothers are diminishing. The allure of materialism and external displays of grandeur overshadow the intrinsic values and feelings that should define our relationships with our mothers. Although we celebrate Mother’s Day each year in May and send greetings on the occasion, there are cases where children, especially those who are independent and living far away, may unintentionally forget about their mothers. Despite this, mothers continue to pray with all their hearts for the well-being and happiness of their children. A mother’s love remains unwavering, regardless of the circumstances.

The role of a mother extends far beyond biological ties or mere affection. Mothers embody sacrifice and selflessness. They willingly put aside their own needs and desires to ensure their children have access to the best opportunities in life. A mother’s love knows no bounds when it comes to providing her child with good food, clothing, and education. She goes to great lengths to earn money and secure a promising future for her child. This natural and remarkable quality is found within every mother.

Furthermore, a mother’s responsibility extends beyond the early years of her child’s life. She remains a trusted advisor and source of guidance throughout their journey. Whether it’s offering wisdom, support, or a listening ear, a mother is there to provide guidance and navigate the complexities of life. It is through her unwavering presence that a mother becomes an irreplaceable companion and confidante.

The understanding between a mother and her child is profound. A mother knows her child’s strengths, weaknesses, and dreams like no one else. She becomes a co-partner in everyday tasks and challenges, ready to take on a tremendous responsibility to help her child overcome personal and professional obstacles . When her child is in need, a mother fearlessly battles alongside them, ensuring they achieve their goals and aspirations.

It is vital that we acknowledge and appreciate the immeasurable contributions of mothers. The words of George Washington and Lord Buddha serve as a testament to the universal significance of mothers throughout history. The love, dedication, and sacrifices of mothers transcend cultural and geographical boundaries.

While society may shift its focus towards superficial pursuits, it is crucial that we maintain the values and sentiments associated with motherhood. Let us not forget the profound influence that mothers have on our lives. Let us respect and honor them not only for their role as mothers but also for their unparalleled devotion and the sacrifices they make for us.

In conclusion, a mother’s love and influence shape the course of a child’s life. The significance of motherhood cannot be overstated. It is a bond that begins at birth and extends throughout our lives. We need to cherish and hold mothers in the highest esteem, recognizing their selflessness, sacrifice, and unwavering support. They are our guiding light, our greatest well-wishers, and the embodiment of love.

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Mothers Love Essay For School & College Students

Table of Contents

Mothers Love Essay

A Mother’s Love – The Greatest Gift Introduction: A mother’s love is often described as the purest and most selfless form of love one can experience. It is a bond that transcends all boundaries – physical, emotional, and spiritual. In this essay, I will explore the depth and significance of a mother’s love and how it shapes and impacts our lives.

Unconditional Love:

A mother’s love is unconditional, meaning it is given freely and without limitations. A mother’s love is not based on achievements, appearances, or expectations. It remains constant and unwavering, even in the face of mistakes or shortcomings. A mother’s love teaches us the importance of acceptance and forgiveness.

Sacrifice and Selflessness:

A mother’s love is accompanied by sacrificial acts and selflessness. From the moment a child is conceived, a mother’s priorities shift entirely towards their well-being. A mother willingly sacrifices her time, energy, and personal desires to ensure her child’s happiness and success. This selflessness serves as a powerful example of putting others before oneself.

Nurturing and Support:

A mother’s love is nurturing and supportive. A mother provides a safe and loving environment for her child to grow, learn, and explore the world. She acts as a constant source of encouragement, boosting her child’s confidence and instilling a belief in their abilities. A mother’s love nurtures and nourishes the body, mind, and soul.

Guiding Light:

A mother’s love acts as a guiding light in a child’s life. She offers wisdom, advice, and guidance, helping her child navigate through life’s challenges and make the right choices. A mother’s love is a source of strength, inspiration, and stability, providing a solid foundation for growth and development.

Conclusion:

A mother’s love is a transformative force that shapes and impacts our lives in profound ways. It is a love that transcends time and distance, remaining unwavering and constant. A mother’s love teaches us valuable life lessons about acceptance, sacrifice, selflessness, and nurturing. It provides us with the support and strength we need to overcome obstacles and reach our fullest potential. A mother’s love is truly the greatest gift we could ever receive, and we should cherish and appreciate it every day.

The Person I Admire The Most My Mother Essay In English & Hindi

My Mom Essay In English & Hindi

Essay on Mother’s Love

Mother’s love is the purest form of love. It cannot be compared with anything in this universe. The feeling of love that a mother has towards her children is inexpressible. Mothers always want the best for their children, and they will never compromise the quality of things they can offer to their little ones. Kids learning activities like essay writing will help them improve their English vocabulary and communication skills.

Mother is the most influential person in the life of an individual. Mothers perform numerous sacrifices in their lives to provide complete comfort and blissfulness to their children. Here is a short essay on a mother’s love for kids to practise writing essays in English . BYJU’S essay about a mother’s love allows the little ones to express their thoughts and imaginations through writing. Moreover, when kids write essays on mother’s love, they will comprehend more about the mother-child relationships and strengthen their bonds.

Unconditional love of mothers, impacts of mother’s love.

A mother is the pillar of a family. She is the imperative member who connects the family close together. A mother is like an angel to her child. She strongly supports her child in all difficulties. Every hardship of life can be easily eliminated with a mother’s love. No one can replace the part of a mother in a child’s life.

A mother plays numerous roles in the life of every child. She is the first friend of every child and their constant best friend. A mother is the first and favourite teacher of a child. With the lessons taught by a mother, children can achieve the heights of success very easily. A child develops an emotional connection with the mother from infancy. Teachers and parents can guide kids to visit online resources like BYJU’S My Mother Essay to learn and prepare an essay on my mother.

A mother is the symbol of compassion, truth, and honesty. Mother’s love is the greatest gift of God to a child. The actions performed by a mother make a house safe and cheerful for children. Even before the birth of children, a mother starts influencing them. They play a huge role in determining the attitude of children. The moral values that a mother teaches decide the future of the child.

Mother’s love plays a crucial role in shaping the character of children. Mothers are the child’s first link to any emotional attachments. From mothers, a child learns the foremost lessons of love and affection. The mother’s love must be supplied unconditionally to establish trust and develop emotional intimacy in a child’s life. The way a mother supplies love and care to her child will greatly impact their physical and mental well-being. Practising activities like essays on mother’s love in English will help students enhance their writing skills and perform well in their academics. For more essays, worksheets and stories , visit BYJU’S website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is a mother called an angel to a child.

A mother is the gift of God to a child, and she is the symbol of compassion, truth, and honesty.

What do children learn from BYJU’S essay about a mother’s love?

BYJU’S essay about a mother’s love will help kids improve their emotional attachments with their mothers. Essay writing activities will help them improve their English vocabulary and writing skills. Moreover, it will support them in their performance in their academics.

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My Mother Essay In English 100, 200, 300, and 500 Words

Every single creature in this entire world has come into existence because of its Mother. Every living being, whether moving or non-moving creatures. We all need a mother to come into this world and survive on Earth.

The concept and the importance of the beautiful word ‘Mother’ are enormous and can’t be explained only in a few words. It takes a lot to describe the mother.

In this topic, we have covered some details that express and tell you the importance and need of the Mother in each person’s life. By reading this, you will understand the meaning of Mother and her greatness.

Table of Contents

My Mother Essay 100 Words

My Mother’s name is Sarah Jane. She is a teacher by profession and teaches at the Mount Public School, Palghar, Mumbai. She is a good teacher by profession and a caring mother who takes care of every person in our family. She cooks very delicious food, and the taste of the food she cooked is incomparable with any of the other foods cooked by other chefs. She also works all the necessary works of the house, makes the house neat and clean, and prays to god regularly for the betterment and well-being of the family. She is a very kind and the most caring person in my life, and I always admire my mother. I love my mother so much.

My Mother Essay 200 Words

My mother is an angel to me and my whole world because, after my father’s death, my mother takes care of me and never makes me realize and feel my father’s absence in my life. She is a very brave and kind-hearted person. Every moment of my life, she treats me like a child and always guides and encourages me to move further in life and to achieve success. Because of her love and caring, thoughts, and admiration, I became a good character who never thinks to do bad to anyone.

She is a housewife and a self-made businesswoman who runs her small-scale business from home and fulfills all the needs of my studies. I always wonder how my mother manages this all alone without putting any burden on me and always behaves like a calm person. She used to take certain vocational classes of many ladies in batch slots and helps many of the ladies who are interested but unable to afford the class fees. She sets an example to many independent ladies who think they are baseless after their husbands and family support. I love my mother and always love her. I always pray to God to bless my mother with a healthy and prosperous life.

My Mother Essay 300 Words

My mother is a symbol of love, truth, honesty, and above all, the gods in this world. My mother is an amazing and confident woman and also an inspiration to me. I always admire my mother because of her self-made decisions and her loyalty in her life. Her name is Usha Patani.

My mother is good luck to me, so I always used to start my day with my mother’s smile, and every day I take her blessings. It helps me a lot and makes it very easy to do any work and clears problems very quickly. She is always concerned about my studies and helps me at the time of examinations. She also guides me in life to become a good person and do the right things and always suggests that I make the right decisions in life. She used to take care of my younger brother and me whenever we fell sick. She is a best friend to both of us and always tries to make us comfortable with her all the time. I and my brother always share our secrets with our mom.

She always cares for our happiness and always tries to make us feel comfortable. She cooks delicious food for both of us. Every day she makes breakfast and gives us lunchboxes for our school. On holidays, she always prepared and made something special and delicious foods and tasty cuisines and we enjoyed it a lot in our home. Sometimes, we also go out to celebrate our weekends and have fun. Whenever we get time off from our studies, we sit with our mother, and she tells us laughing stories, knowledgeable stories, and other conversations that help us follow in our lives and become a good people. She is one of the most kind-hearted people I have ever known in my life, and also love her so much more than anyone else in my life. I will never gonna do anything wrong, for which my mother’s dignity will fade because of me.

My Mother Essay 500 Words

We all know that the place of the Mother is at the top as she is more valuable than God. She is the most important and special person in everyone’s life. In fact, we can say that a mother is the most precious gift of God for anyone. Mother is the first teacher for every child from which a baby can learn respect and caring, learn to speak, and a child can see the world only because of a mother. She can be a friend, parent, guardian, caretaker, and teacher in her life for their child also, she takes the responsibility to run a family and make the home as beautiful as heaven. Her smile illuminates the entire home with her presence, affection, and love. Every human being or living creature has a special and emotional attachment to their mother. For all the babies in this world, the safest and most relaxing place is their mother’s lap.

A mother holds the entire responsibility of her family and the happiness of the people living in the house. She helps and takes care of everyone, whether they are elders, kids, or grandparents. She is so delightful and helpful that she is always ready to help her neighbors and friends when needed. Her love is unconditional and pure for everyone in her family. She never stepped back from her responsibilities and always takes care of the house without objecting by saying a single word. Many mothers are multifunctional as they take care of their house and run a business or do some other activities. She has a wonderful capacity to face the challenges in her life and a way to make them into opportunities. They have the ability to manage the obstacles that come in her path of handling the business and caring for the house. She surprises everyone with her skills. She is very good at multitasking, and she can handle it gently without any hesitation.

The nature of the mother is incomparable in this world she always loves their loved ones unconditionally without any returnable expectations. A mother is not just a simple word. It is a whole universe itself. A famous writer once said, “God could not be present everywhere for everyone. Therefore, they created mothers.” A house is not like a house with an absence of a mother, and a family is always imperfect and incomplete without her.

Genuinely, no one can define the meaning of the word ‘Mother.’ We all get a holiday every year on holidays weekends, but a mother has no holidays, no weekends, and works continuously throughout the year without a single leave, even when she feels ill. She never demands anything in return for her work and care. She possesses many qualities that make her an idol of care and love. She always forgives her loved ones for their mistakes and always tries to correct our faults with some strict measures to realize our mistakes and understand our responsibilities. She always sacrifices something to make their children responsible person in their life and achieve success and further a comfortable life. She is a selfless Human Being, and we must have to respect her.

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Mother’s Love Essay

Mother’s love is the first and most important behaviour that a new born is subjected to. It must be understood that, when we talk about mother’s love, it doesn’t necessarily refers to humans but to animals as well. The most fascinating thing about mother’s love is that it gets more and more deep with each passing day and stays with you till the end. There is actually so much into it that it’s difficult to describe it in words. Feelings can better be expressed and experienced than written. Nevertheless, I will try my best to explain mother’s love; though, you must be already having an idea.

Long and Short Essay on Mother’s Love in English

We have provided below essay on Mother’s Love in English for your information and knowledge.

The essays have been written in simple English to make them easily memorable and presentable when needed.

After going through the following Mother’s Love essay you will know what mother’s love means and how important is it for everyone, why it would be difficult to survive without mother’s love etc.

The essays will be tremendously helpful to you in your school exams and essay writing, debate or speech giving competitions.

Essay on Mother’s Love – Essay 1 (200 Words)

A mother is the person who plays most important role in every one’s life. No one can take place of her. Being a mother is the best feeling a woman can have ever in her whole life. Mother is the one who can do her best for giving her child each and every comfort. At different stages, a child tries to learn life’s lessons under his or her mother’s guidance. Mother’s love for her child is beyond any one’s expectations. Mother can easily identify each desire of her child even when her child is not able to speak properly.

Behind a person’s success, the most efforts who put, is the only one, the mother. Mother’s love can change that wrong way on which her child has started to move. Her love easily turns her child into the right way of truth and honesty. This is the power of mother’s love.

It is a kind of sweet connection between child and mother that if child gets hurt mother feels the pain. A mother feels intolerable pain when she gives birth to her child but when she only saw her child’s face she forgets all the pain and trouble. This is the greatness of a mother.

Essay on Importance of Mother – Essay 2 (300 Words)

Introduction

God’s best creation on the universe is Mother. We always heard from our elders or written in the ancient books, that God can’t go everywhere or can’t be available with everyone, so they have created Mother. Mother has all the quality such as caring, sweet, selfless love, patience, forgiveness, kindness, simplicity, perseverance etc.

Devki and Yashoda as a Mother

When the child born, this is the Mother who understand all the requirement of child as their relation are developed since child was inside her. Not only mother who gave birth is important while who brought up is also important. As Lord Krishna was having two mothers, one who had given him birth “Devki” and another foster-mother “Yashoda” who take care of him during his childhood. Both mothers have same love and affection towards Krishna. It is the quality of mother, she never differentiate between own kid and other kid, she always give love and affection to other kids also.

Importance of Mother in our Life

Mother is the first teacher for the child who teaches about good or bad things of life. She also prepares her child for future struggle of life and guides them to become a good human being. She is so kind hearted that she easily forgives her child for any wrong doing.

As we can’t compare the delivery pain of mother with any other pain in world, similarly we can’t compare the affection of mother towards her child with any other love in world.

One person in the whole world has same importance i.e. Mother. She has same respect whether you are of any country, any caste or any religion. In Hindi, we always heard “Putra Kuputra ho sakta hain, lekin Mata Kumata nahi ho sakti”. It means “Son can do any worse with Mother, but Mother can never think any wrong about her child” and it’s always true.

Essay on Mothers are Special – Essay 3 (400 Words)

Mother is the synonyms of care, sacrifice or selflessness. Mother’s love to their child can’t be compare with any love in the world. For a child, mother is so special that it is difficult to express in words. The bond between a child and mother are so strong that nobody can break it.

Mother- A Special Person of Our Life

When a child born; it is the mother who easily understands the feelings or requirements of her child. She spends every second around her child for fulfilling his all needs. Since childhood our mother keeps telling us what is wrong and what is right in manner to build us as a good human being and also encourage us to do good things in life. She loves and cares us without any personal greed.

Mother always understood our problems even if we are not sharing with her. She boosts the confidence in us to overcome the problem. She always stands with us during happiness or sadness. Mothers work round the clock without any complaints to keep us happy. She always first thinks about her family members without fulfilling her own desires.

Best Creation of God

We should always thankful to God for giving unique qualities to Mothers such as caring, helping nature, sacrificing, forgiving, and always putting others before themselves. A mother changes house into home and create environment of home to live happily. She is the first teacher for her child and she not only teaches about academic but also behaviour lessons.

Mother manages the home without any leave or break throughout her life. She wakeup early in the morning and does all the jobs at home till midnight without any complaints. If she is ill then also she doesn’t complain and do all jobs. She never asked for any favour for doing jobs. She always remain happy and create the atmosphere of home lively so that when someone come from office or shop feel relaxed at home.

Being a mother it is become a responsibility to shape and maintain her child’s character. If someone does wrong blame totally comes to his mother. To make her child as gentle person, a mother does all best things that she can do. Mother’s love is like blessing of your worship. Never hurt her she is the one who spends sleepless night when you were ill.

Essay on Power of Mother’s Love – Essay 4 (500 Words)

Mother, the ultimate human creation by god is not only an ordinary woman but a super woman in herself. She cares for her child throughout her life without any expectations but just have one hope that her child gets all the happiness and his dreams come true.

Mother’s Love: Nice and Warm

Fragrance of a mother can easily be recognized by her new born child. Since the birth a child is being observed by his mother. For providing child all comforts she does all needful. All mothers are pure by heart and want all best things in their child’s life whether it is any toy, clothing, education and the values.

Definition of mother is something like sweet and innocent, caring and loving, nice and warm. Everyone who has mother is the luckiest person in world as he or she knows what mother’s love and its importance. A mother is that special gift which a person gets directly by god. It is only the relation which can’t be replaced by any other relation. Sometime a mother becomes strict to her child only for their better future which shows the hidden love behind her anger. This is another sweetness of mother’s love.

Every Day is a Mother’s Day

Though a day has been set for celebrating mother’s day but we need to celebrate it any time any day as her efforts are priceless which helps us in being a successful and gentle person in life. No one in whole word is our true well-wisher except our parents and the mother is connected with us through the heart. She teaches us those moral values which always help us in the journey of life.

Motherhood is the best part of life a lady can have. It is a full time job without any salary but it worth’s a lot for a child. Mother’s love is something that can feel, mothers love is like blessing by god, mothers love is everything. People who escape from love of their mothers are really very unfortunate.

Without Mother Life is Empty

As we know both parents are important in life but the role of mother is all time superior. She wakes up early in the morning and till midnight she keeps fulfilling all family members’ requirements including other house hold works. Mother’s love for us is unlimited, unconditional and unforgettable for a child which gives him power to face each tough situation which comes in life. Mother’s love is so sweet that desire only her child’s happiness no matter what her age and what her child’s age.

We as a child always take our mother for granted but without her our life becomes worthless. She is the one who always keeps her eyes on us that we don’t get involved in any bad habit or troubled by anyone. First teacher is mother for any child and if he keeps learning life’s lessons under her guidance nothing can stop him in achieving the heights of success.

Essay on a Mother’s Love – She Influenced My Life – Essay 5 (600 Words)

Mother’s love is sweet, innocent, loving, caring and sometime with full of worries. This simple word ‘MAA’ has so much power in itself that can remove all pains if a child gets hurt. Mother’s love denotes that power which helps a child to overcome all difficulties or tough situations. I have influenced by my mother in various ways as she plays various role in my life like a friend, a companion, a mentor and a teacher. Let’s describe little bit:

Mother as a Best Friend

After birth a child finds his mom as first friend who plays with him along with extra care and nourishment. She interacts with her child as a friend and keeps watching all her child’s activities. A mother never feels tired while playing with her child and always fulfills all his demands without thinking of her. A mother is like an angel for her child.

Mother as a Mentor

Without any expectation a mother keep on working for the betterment of her child. She plays all roles including mom like a mentor, a teacher, a friend, a caretaker. She loves her child more than any other thing in this world but sometime she becomes little strict towards her child for making him capable to fight with different circumstances comes in life. His life is full of challenges and we need to face them on every stage. Mother gives us that power with which we become able to accept them and get success.

Mother as a Caretaker

A Mother always want best for her child and never compromise in anything related to her child. Parents protect their child from any difficult situation and provide him all comfort that they can afford. Mothers love is not only about pampering her child but also about letting her child know the moral and cultural values. A person’s character shows his or her upbringing level that completely depends on the lessons learnt by their mom. A good upbringing makes the better future of a person and a mother does excellent job to give best future for her child.

Mother is a female parent and role of a mother is much superior then father. She converts a house into home; she works as a superwoman because to keep managing house hold works and to fulfil all family members’ requirement on time is not easy task at all. If we talk on working ladies than we can’t even imagine how she would manages all things together. I am proud of my mother who has nurtures me along with doing job and also managing home properly.

Mother as a Mother

Mother’s love is pure and divine. Mother’s love is something that never dies even it grows day by day. This relation of mother and child is full of emotions. It needs no expectations and no demands. She gives us birth after bearing unlimited pain and nurtures us with care and love throughout the life. Generally after growing up we ignore all her sacrifices and efforts. It is very unfortunate that some selfish people leave their mother in old age homes when they become old and week. They forget how much efforts their parents have put for making them established and successful.

Mother is a precious gift by God which we need to keep with love and care. People who have their mother are very fortunate. She does her job of motherhood with pure heart and complete devotion. It is very common to say that ‘mom you don’t understand’ but in reality mother knows each and every thing about her child. The level of parent is equal to God and thus respect your mother god will always with you.

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Through My Mother’s Eyes: Traveling via Train in Southern Colorado

Side by side photos of Shreveport's J.D. Jones train trip that his mother took and years later they took.

“I took my love, I took it down, I climbed a mountain and I turned around.”

Just like Stevie Nicks did in 1973, my mother, too, embarked upon a journey to Colorado 50 years ago. While she wasn’t traveling to Aspen, she did ride a steam train from Durango to Silverton. Three years ago I lost my mother and have since made sure to honor her memory as often as I can. I laugh more. I listen to our music. I travel to her places.

Earlier this month I rode the same train she did, the same train she took me on when I was just two years old nearly 36 years ago.

The train takes you on a 3.5 hour journey each way through the San Juan Mountains, transporting you to a time of yesteryear. Afterall, these trains have been running since 1882. With there being no cell service or Wi-Fi available on the trek, you are truly disconnected. Creeping through the outlier towns of Durango, in about an hour's time you’re deep within the wilderness viewing the true beauty of Colorado.

My traveling partner and I opted for the first-class Alamosa Parlor Car, which includes an onboard attendant, access to alcoholic drinks, unlimited non-alcoholic beverages, a morning pastry, and souvenirs for your journey. We also had our own restrooms, and since we were the caboose car, we had access to the outdoor observation platform.

As we wove alongside the Animas River, I couldn’t help but imagine my own mother peering out the glass paned window in wonder. She was just shy of 30 and had already seen more of the continental U.S. than most. Her love of travel and exploring “our own backyard” always meant something special to me, as she continually urged me to take road trips and go on adventures.

Once we made it to Silverton, we enjoyed a nearly 2-hour layover spent shopping and munching on a burger and salad at the 1971 established restaurant, The Pickle Barrel . I’m not sure if my mother ate here or not, but it definitely seemed like a place she’d enjoy.

This specific vacation did not just take me on a train ride, but a spectacular road trip around New Mexico and into southern Colorado. I started in Carlsbad Caverns (which is not, in fact, in Carlsbad, NM) after driving 10 hours from Shreveport. Then I made my way north for a stay at the Anaya Trinity Ranch just outside of Roswell, which provided us with not only a place to sleep, but access to see goats, horses, and all the beautiful sunsets.

After leaving Roswell, we headed to Albuquerque for a few days to see the Sandia Mountains, walk the foothills and just unwind. Afterwards we traveled north to Santa Fe for lunch with an old friend and a trip to the Georgia O’Keefe Museum . Next was onwards to Trinidad, Colo., where just outside of Taos we got a flat tire (if you don’t get a flat, is it really a road trip?). The trip through southern Colorado took us to Mesa Verde National Park where we were able to climb 8,400 feet in elevation to see some of the most breathtaking views.

Once we spent our time in Colorado (and went about another 1000 feet in elevation to Silverton), it was back through New Mexico on our way home. One of our final destinations was an overnight stay in Jemez Springs, a small village northwest of Albuquerque and a part of the Jemez Valley. We opted for something a little more close to nature and rented a tent on the mountainside.

While my trip may be over, my love of the southwest will never fade, just like the love I have for my mother. I can only hope to continue to walk in her footsteps, for traveling will always be in my blood.

The Spinoff

Society about 10 hours ago

My mother’s violent death: grappling with grief and the unexpected path to healing.

Today, one year ago, Chris Mirams lost his mother in an instant. Her sudden, wrenching death sent him into a spiral of unrelenting grief. From this darkness came an unexpected saving grace – Māoritanga and whanaungatanga.

This story was originally published on Emily Writes Weekly .

M y 91-year-old mother, a determined, resourceful and independent woman, was hit by a van and killed while riding her mobility scooter around the neighbourhood she had lived in for 23 years. It was May 29 last year and a normal day at work for me until I received a call from a police officer with the devastating news. Then, in a matter-of-fact way, he asked if I could come and identify her at the scene.

When I got there, 40 or so minutes later, the busy thoroughfare road was closed, media hovered and an ambulance waited to take her body to the morgue.

It was three hours after the accident and she lay alone in the middle of the road covered by a blue tarp. Her mangled scooter, having been lifted off her, was on the curb nearby. The autopsy would later reveal the bone shattering impact the more than two-tonne van had on her 46kg body.

When I lifted the tarp, I was met with the fixed gaze of her wide-open eyes, sunken cheeks, and unfamiliar pale skin. Blood had flowed from her right ear and formed a small pool amongst the gravel and tar-seal under her head. A theatre nurse on her way to work was one of the first on the scene and tried resuscitating her. As she did that, another driver stopped and he held my mother’s hand and prayed aloud.

Everything that happened from receiving the phone call to this moment was hard to absorb.

The only coherent thought was running on repeat, how violent and unfair her end was.

As I knelt beside her, all I could think about was everything she had sacrificed and overcome so she could make my life better than hers. Torn from her roots and raised in an orphanage, then a 30-year-old Māori widow with a toddler in 1960s New Zealand, working 18-hour days to give me the golden ticket of education. Proud as punch as I progressed my career.

After a few minutes, I kissed her forehead and pulled the tarp back over her face.

This was the easy part.

D eath is the only certainty in life yet many of us are unprepared for how to cope when a loved one passes. Last year, more than 900 New Zealanders were lost to violent and unexpected death in road accidents and suicide, leaving thousands of survivors like me grappling with grief without a compass.

As an only child, I felt truly alone for the first time in my life and grief bit hard.

My inner voice was an avalanche of what ifs and if onlys, I was riddled with guilt for imagined things I could have done better for her. For weeks, fog clouded my brain. I could walk into a room, get into a car or open the fridge and forget why I had done that. Sleep was elusive, mood swings were severe and trying to wrangle the array of emotions was an endless, exhausting game of whack-a-mole.

Amidst the emotional turmoil, there are so many decisions to make in such a condensed timeframe – organising the cremation, a service, closing all sorts of accounts, sorting through belongings and dealing with a probate system that’s a shambles. Then, for sudden deaths, there are other bureaucratic processes to endure.

The police investigation is thorough but is never going to be fast enough. The callous coroner’s court will suck the marrow out of your bones if you let it. Seeking an update after two and a half months, my liaison told me in a stern matron’s voice, “I’ve got 250 files and I can’t send emails to every one of the families”.

I haven’t heard a word from them for more than six months.

I thought that getting all this sorted quickly was the path to peace and closure, but I discovered differently.

The commonly accepted five stages of grief did not fit my experience, nor did counselling or the stoic Kiwi attitude that stems from our English ancestry.

What I did learn is that grief is messy and unpredictable and that help can be found in the most unexpected places.

Through reading and research – in particular neurologist Lisa Schulman’s book Before and After Loss – I discovered grief rewires our brains and alters our perception of threats. Even though we may not consciously see the loss of a loved one as a threat, our brains perceive it that way and trigger the fight or flight response. This flood of stress hormones leaves us at the mercy of our emotions. From there, you’re in the lap of the gods.

O ne evening, four months to the day after mum’s passing, my wife Juliet and I were sitting in our lounge tired and deflated. She turned to me and said “we have to do something different; we can’t go on like this. Your mother has a curse on you and I can feel it in her house, and parts of ours as well. You need help, spiritual help.”

After a few moments to take that onboard, I asked, “Do you mean with the iwi?”

“Yes, I think that’s what you need to do.”

To do that came with complications. My mother was from Ngāti Pāoa but felt betrayed by her heritage and passed down her ambivalence to me. She grew up on iwi land on the Hauraki Plains with her seven siblings.

Her Irish father built the family home and developed a lifestyle block so they could be reasonably self-sufficient. They rode a horse or walked to school, fed the animals and worked the gardens as part of their chores, cousins were all around. Life was simple and happy.

But after her mother’s death while giving birth to the last child, life nose-dived and she carried the impact of it for the rest of her life.

There was no desire for half caste kids and a non-Māori head of family to be on the land and the children ended up in an orphanage on Auckland’s North Shore. Making the wound deeper, the land was lost to others in the extended family. For mum, all this led to a lifelong distrust and disconnection from her roots and culture.

A day after the conversation with my wife and not knowing what to expect, I sent a short email to a generic address for Ngāti Pāoa. I outlined my situation, asked for help and gave my mobile number as an alternative contact. A few hours later I missed a call but got the follow up text to contact Hau Rawiri, a former treaty negotiator for Ngāti Pāoa.

The next morning we had a long conversation. I explained mum’s life experience, our subsequent lack of cultural connection and my desperation to find peace. Hau was incredibly compassionate, calm and understanding, reassuring me there was no issue with any of the back-story. Rather, the focus was on helping heal us as a whānau and helping my mother’s spirit understand it was time to pass to the other side. There was also, he was adamant, an urgency to doing so given the length of time since her death and the impact he could feel that it was having on us.

“So, are you and your whānau available tomorrow morning?” he asked. “We will do blessings at your mother’s house, the accident site and your house.” So, at 9am on that Sunday morning with my wife, son, one of my daughters and my mother’s ashes, we met with Hau and his wife Maea outside mum’s house.

From subsequent reading, I’ve learnt that when a person dies Māori believe their wairua or spirit remains until they are laid to rest. That starts from the moment of death.

Traditionally, the body is never left alone by whānau until the burial or cremation and caring for the body can be seen as the last act of love.

Karakia and prayers have an integral role in acknowledging the spiritual elements of life and strengthening the relationship between the living, ancestral and spiritual worlds.

The tangihanga is similar in concept to the European funeral service but far different in how it is performed, full of emotion, storytelling, song and prayer. Processes such as autopsies are abhorrent to Māori, as the respected East Coast GP Paratene Ngāti wrote in his essay ‘Death, dying and grief: a Māori perspective’.

‘The physical coldness and isolation of the hospital mortuary is contrary to Māori views that deceased must be kept constantly warm and comfortable by the presence of kinfolk, in order to calm the soul and assist it on its journey to the spirit world.”

For my mother, everything that had happened since her death was contrary to this. It must have been so confusing and disorienting for her spirit. As we stood outside her house with Hau and Maea, I felt a sense of hope for the first time. The irony was not lost on me. My mother was going full circle, back to her roots via the culture she lost and which I had never found.

In Māoridom, the roles and responsibilities of men and women are quite defined in this type of ceremony. Women have the first say and Maea started with a Karanga, a call to summon ancestors of Ngāti Pāoa, Ngā atua Māori, the Māori gods, and mum’s extended family to come for her and clear a spiritual path so she can cross to the other side. It was mystical and moving.

Then, Hau followed with the waerea, ancient incantations to clear bad energy and omens. This began outside the house before he led us inside and through each room in a precise and measured way, touching the walls as he recited the rituals in a calm but firm tone.

We finished in the lounge that looks out onto the street where mum used to sit and watch the comings and goings in a big La-Z-Boy chair. Then, we shared some kai, a lemon cake my wife had made, and talked through what we had done. We then did versions of this at the site where she was killed and our house, across town.

At the site, as I tightly held the white pine box with her ashes, I told mum that she had succeeded in her goal of giving me, and by extension our children, a life better than hers. That her sacrifice was a gift I am forever grateful for. I also told her it was time to go, that my father, her parents and brothers and sisters were waiting and wanting to see her again and that we would be okay for her to move on.

It was a very emotional and draining day, yet spiritually uplifting. Afterwards, as we all sat in our lounge reflecting on the last few hours, there was a sense of peace not just in my head and my heart, but as a presence amongst us.

The difference emotionally and mentally between the start and end of the day was remarkable and I am pleased to say it has continued. I went from existing to living, her house felt like a home again and I can drive past the accident site and acknowledge it without feeling sad, angry or alone.

The experience has changed my perspective on what the spiritual approach of Māoridom can offer us. From my experience, when death comes calling, this is a door worth opening. There are other aspects of life I’m sure it can benefit, which I will explore in time.

“You don’t have to be Māori, that’s important,” Hau explained to me a few months later. “It is what we do but how can the process help others to find closure, that’s the real art. It’s about raising the consciousness of people about their connections back to their heritage, even if they’re not Māori.

“Everyone dies and everyone will deal with it differently, this is another perspective and way to help people get through all of that.”

A week earlier, I had decided to keep a small urn of mum’s ashes as a comfort.

Hau gently suggested it might be good to put all her ashes together again so she could be whole, and so I did. Early on, I had decided to reunite her with my father, the love of her life who died suddenly at the age of 32. He had served with J Force in Japan and is buried in the armed services section of the Karori Cemetery in Wellington.

Hau thought it would be good to do that sooner rather than later. It would be the final act in mum and I letting go of each other.

Just over a week later, on a rainy Saturday morning, with the cemetery to myself, I put her ashes into the pre-dug hole, covered it with dirt and said goodbye. The circle complete for everyone.

Don't "fall in love" with your travel destination

I’ve been to wales 30 times in 40 years. i’d rather have my tongue pierced than say i "fell in love" with it, by pamela petro.

I cringe when I read that so-and-so fell in love with someplace.

Come on , I think, you can do better than that.

“I fell in love with _____!” (Fill in the location of your choice — everyone does.) It’s the most over-used sentence in travel writing . I’ve been to Wales 30 times in 40 years, yet I’d rather have my tongue pierced than say I fell in love with it. Editors and publicists often try to push me into the love corner, but I snap and growl, as cornered creatures do.

I know I sound grouchy. But only because I want to get this right.

I love a woman — my partner of 36 years. I love a dog — my Welsh Corgi of three years. My parents are dead, but I still love them. I also love ice cream and seasons 1 and 3 of "Ted Lasso ." And I’m OK with all that. Love is an elastic verb.

When I was 23 and an American graduate student in Wales, the rolling pastures of Ceredigion at dusk, sweet-smelling of dung and the day’s photosynthesis, quiet with sheep and centuries of secrets, teetering on the edge of darkness, silence, and poverty, brought me to my knees with an aching need to do more than testify to their existence. More than take a photo or write a description. I needed to know the Welsh countryside in time as well as space. I strained against the edges of mortality to grasp the whole of it in a way off limits to humans. I felt compelled to imagine, to resurrect all those who’d stood alongside the darkening fields before me, tending animals, dreaming of home, praying to gods whose names were unknown to me.

Up until I was 20, when I studied in Paris, I thought I’d find my place in France. It turns out I found Marguerite instead.

Is this love? Is love wanting to scream in frustration because even though all you did was watch the sun set over a line of receding hills, it felt like the planet was offering you a gift you didn’t have the age or wisdom to be able to accept?

I don’t know, but it’s where I draw the line. To say I fell in love with Wales collapses the relationship of person and place into something sentimental and two-dimensional, in a way that saying I fell in love with my partner, Marguerite, does not. Maybe that’s because when we apply love to people we understand that the verb “love” turns and twists like a multidimensional kaleidoscope — we’ve all seen the colors and patterns change, been dazzled, furious, confused, contented. And we know what “I love mint chocolate chip” means, too. We understand that “love” contracts in that sentence to convey something like flavor lust + icy mouth feel = ten minutes of happiness. And nothing more.

Love of place is just as complex as love of people, but we’re not used to excavating all that the word can mean when we say, “I fell in love with Wales.” There’s a whole lot more going on than a hearty appreciation of sheep, interlaced, rolling hills and Iron Age forts.

Up until I was 20, when I studied in Paris, I thought I’d find my place in France. It turns out I found Marguerite instead. France — a place I deeply admire — embraces centrality. Paris is the center of France and France is (arguably) the center of the universe. I didn’t articulate any of this at the time, but a previously unknown, murky appendage in my brainstem lifted its head and howled disagreement.

When I arrived in Wales three years later, it changed its tune. Wales is central to … well, nothing. As I wrote in my 2023 book, " The Long Field – Wales and the Presence of Absence, a Memoir ," the very name “Wales” is a Saxon word meaning “Home of the Foreigners.” The name Wales calls itself, in Welsh, is Cymru (KUM-ree), which means “Home of Fellow Countrymen.” The difference between the two is the difference between “Us” and “Them.’ To the world at large, after Wales became the first colony of the future English empire in 1282, it was defined as a negative: This is the place where we are not . It became the home of “Them.”

Ever since, the view from its minority rung on the UK geopolitical hierarchy has been alternative. A strong socialist bent in politics, nonconformist in religion, working class. The Welsh language has been a marker of difference, too. Far more so than other Celtic strongholds in the British Isles — Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, Cornwall — Wales has hung on to its tongue, about which shifting opinions have formed over the years. It’s preserved our identity; no, it’s held us back. Whichever you believe, Welsh remains stubbornly spoken in shops, on TV and radio, in kitchens and government conference rooms throughout the country.

The landscape’s clarity sliced through my memories of over-built New Jersey, slicing down to the mental bedrock beneath — a primary place of understanding where memory and concept conjoin.

As a young woman lurking on the edges of Welsh sheep pastures, I sensed Wales’ marginality before I understood it. While there was a grandeur to the geography, the towns’ and farmhouses’ lack of studied prettiness—a hallmark in England—testified to Wales’ exclusion from generic British prosperity. It was far from London; it was hard to get to; it was different. And you know what? That felt familiar. I was a middle-class kid from New Jersey, but like a poultice, this ancient, colonized country drew out an answering difference from my bones.

I grew up as part of an American anti-establishment generation against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, Watergate, and the feminist movement. All of that led me to shy away from the center and naturally embrace the edge. Not to mention my hunch, shoved into the depths of my psyche, that I might be gay.

Marguerite and I had already met in Paris, but it was Wales’ nearly two-millennia-old embrace of its alternative path in the UK — the place where people speak “that funny language with no vowels” ( not true: “w” and “y” are vowels in Welsh, so it actually has more vowels than English), where there are more sheep than people, where Americans don’t visit—that suggested to me that an alternative path might not be so bad. More than that: it helped me realize I’d already been on one, all my life.

When I went home to New Jersey after grad school friends demanded a sentence about my experience. “School was OK, but I loved Wales,” would’ve sufficed. Yet every time I gave in and said something along those lines, I felt like I was betraying the extraordinary experience the Welsh call cynefin. (I was relieved that my family never used the “L” word; they just called my connection to Wales, “Pam’s Welsh thing,” as in, “Is Pam over her Welsh thing yet?”)

When I was researching "The Long Field," Gillian Clarke, the former National Poet of Wales, introduced me to the word cynefin . (Pronounce it Kun-EV-in. In Welsh a single f is pronounced as a v — it takes two f s to make the noise in “fight” — and the emphasis is always on the penultimate syllable. Even speaking English the Welsh stress the second-to-last sound. I love the soft way they skid into “seven,” pronouncing it SEV-un, dragging out the “ev” and swallowing the “un.” When they say that I hear the tide receding.)

Gillian wrote in an email, “Cynefin is the word used for the way a sheep passes on to her lamb, generation after generation, the knowledge of the mountain, the exact part of the mountain that is hers.” I understood why that would matter to the lamb, but not to me. Then Gillian continued: “Or it can mean that sudden sense you have that you belong to this particular place though you may never have set foot in it before.”

Ah ha! I understood. Cynefin is a way of describing the threshold where the interior imagination meets the outside world — the place where love resides.

It wasn’t just marginality that coaxed cynefin from me in West Wales. It was the landscape, too. I’d grown up in suburban New Jersey, where the geography of the planet is hidden beneath a barnacled crust of 20th-century houses, highways, and shopping malls. As a child I felt there was nothing to hold me in place — no anchor in space or time to keep me from floating away. And then I went to rural Wales and found a world with few trees and a distant horizon. A place where you could climb a hill and understand instantly how the earth had been made, where the glacier had passed and how rivers sculpted out valleys. The landscape’s clarity sliced through my memories of over-built New Jersey, slicing down to the mental bedrock beneath — a primary place of understanding where memory and concept conjoin. And that place looked like Wales. I’d always seen it in my mind’s eye, and now here it was beneath my feet. I remember writing in my book, "I felt I’d found the key to a map I’d carried in my head since I was a little girl but had never before been able to read. And until I could read that map, I’d had no perspective on my species’ place on the planet," and shivering with the understanding I’d never written truer words.

Surely this is love—but I didn’t fall into it. Falling is just too easy. Although cynefin may be sudden, it requires preparation. There has to be longing first, and a fiercely imagined “geography of the soul,” as novelist Josephine Hart calls it, before there can be cynefin. And only once you’ve felt it comes the real effort. I had to work for decades to earn the right to love Wales. I had to learn its language—well…let’s say I had to try to learn it — and its myths and history, to read its poets and novelists, to listen to its hymns and folk songs and bands, descend into its mines and walk its paths. Let its rain soak my hair and creep inside my bones. If anything, my love for Wales has been more of a climb than a fall. I suspect it’ll take a lifetime to reach the summit.

personal stories about travel

Please tell me about your delayed flight
"Of course he’s coming": My single-lone mom and kid travels taught me the joys of not playing it safe
I trained my cat to travel with me — and now he's my perfect companion away from home

Pamela Petro is the author of " The Long Field — Wales and the Presence of Absence, a Memoir " (Arcade Books, 2023).

When Prison and Mental Illness Amount to a Death Sentence

The downward spiral of one inmate, Markus Johnson, shows the larger failures of the nation’s prisons to care for the mentally ill.

Supported by

By Glenn Thrush

Photographs by Carlos Javier Ortiz

Glenn Thrush spent more than a year reporting this article, interviewing close to 50 people and reviewing court-obtained body-camera footage and more than 1,500 pages of documents.

Published May 5, 2024 Updated May 7, 2024

Markus Johnson slumped naked against the wall of his cell, skin flecked with pepper spray, his face a mask of puzzlement, exhaustion and resignation. Four men in black tactical gear pinned him, his face to the concrete, to cuff his hands behind his back.

He did not resist. He couldn’t. He was so gravely dehydrated he would be dead by their next shift change.

Listen to this article with reporter commentary

“I didn’t do anything,” Mr. Johnson moaned as they pressed a shield between his shoulders.

It was 1:19 p.m. on Sept. 6, 2019, in the Danville Correctional Center, a medium-security prison a few hours south of Chicago. Mr. Johnson, 21 and serving a short sentence for gun possession, was in the throes of a mental collapse that had gone largely untreated, but hardly unwatched.

He had entered in good health, with hopes of using the time to gain work skills. But for the previous three weeks, Mr. Johnson, who suffered from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, had refused to eat or take his medication. Most dangerous of all, he had stealthily stopped drinking water, hastening the physical collapse that often accompanies full-scale mental crises.

Mr. Johnson’s horrific downward spiral, which has not been previously reported, represents the larger failures of the nation’s prisons to care for the mentally ill. Many seriously ill people receive no treatment . For those who do, the outcome is often determined by the vigilance and commitment of individual supervisors and frontline staff, which vary greatly from system to system, prison to prison, and even shift to shift.

The country’s jails and prisons have become its largest provider of inpatient mental health treatment, with 10 times as many seriously mentally ill people now held behind bars as in hospitals. Estimating the population of incarcerated people with major psychological problems is difficult, but the number is likely 200,000 to 300,000, experts say.

Many of these institutions remain ill-equipped to handle such a task, and the burden often falls on prison staff and health care personnel who struggle with the dual roles of jailer and caregiver in a high-stress, dangerous, often dehumanizing environment.

In 2021, Joshua McLemore , a 29-year-old with schizophrenia held for weeks in an isolation cell in Jackson County, Ind., died of organ failure resulting from a “refusal to eat or drink,” according to an autopsy. In April, New York City agreed to pay $28 million to settle a lawsuit filed by the family of Nicholas Feliciano, a young man with a history of mental illness who suffered severe brain damage after attempting to hang himself on Rikers Island — as correctional officers stood by.

Mr. Johnson’s mother has filed a wrongful-death suit against the state and Wexford Health Sources, a for-profit health care contractor in Illinois prisons. The New York Times reviewed more than 1,500 pages of reports, along with depositions taken from those involved. Together, they reveal a cascade of missteps, missed opportunities, potential breaches of protocol and, at times, lapses in common sense.

A woman wearing a jeans jacket sitting at a table showing photos of a young boy on her cellphone.

Prison officials and Wexford staff took few steps to intervene even after it became clear that Mr. Johnson, who had been hospitalized repeatedly for similar episodes and recovered, had refused to take medication. Most notably, they did not transfer him to a state prison facility that provides more intensive mental health treatment than is available at regular prisons, records show.

The quality of medical care was also questionable, said Mr. Johnson’s lawyers, Sarah Grady and Howard Kaplan, a married legal team in Chicago. Mr. Johnson lost 50 to 60 pounds during three weeks in solitary confinement, but officials did not initiate interventions like intravenous feedings or transfer him to a non-prison hospital.

And they did not take the most basic step — dialing 911 — until it was too late.

There have been many attempts to improve the quality of mental health treatment in jails and prisons by putting care on par with punishment — including a major effort in Chicago . But improvements have proved difficult to enact and harder to sustain, hampered by funding and staffing shortages.

Lawyers representing the state corrections department, Wexford and staff members who worked at Danville declined to comment on Mr. Johnson’s death, citing the unresolved litigation. In their interviews with state police investigators, and in depositions, employees defended their professionalism and adherence to procedure, while citing problems with high staff turnover, difficult work conditions, limited resources and shortcomings of co-workers.

But some expressed a sense of resignation about the fate of Mr. Johnson and others like him.

Prisoners have “much better chances in a hospital, but that’s not their situation,” said a senior member of Wexford’s health care team in a deposition.

“I didn’t put them in prison,” he added. “They are in there for a reason.”

Markus Mison Johnson was born on March 1, 1998, to a mother who believed she was not capable of caring for him.

Days after his birth, he was taken in by Lisa Barker Johnson, a foster mother in her 30s who lived in Zion, Ill., a working-class city halfway between Chicago and Milwaukee. Markus eventually became one of four children she adopted from different families.

The Johnson house is a lively split level, with nieces, nephews, grandchildren and neighbors’ children, family keepsakes, video screens and juice boxes. Ms. Johnson sits at its center on a kitchen chair, chin resting on her hand as children wander over to share their thoughts, or to tug on her T-shirt to ask her to be their bathroom buddy.

From the start, her bond with Markus was particularly powerful, in part because the two looked so much alike, with distinctive dimpled smiles. Many neighbors assumed he was her biological son. The middle name she chose for him was intended to convey that message.

“Mison is short for ‘my son,’” she said standing over his modest footstone grave last summer.

He was happy at home. School was different. His grades were good, but he was intensely shy and was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in elementary school.

That was around the time the bullying began. His sisters were fierce defenders, but they could only do so much. He did the best he could, developing a quick, taunting tongue.

These experiences filled him with a powerful yearning to fit in.

It was not to be.

When he was around 15, he called 911 in a panic, telling the dispatcher he saw two men standing near the small park next to his house threatening to abduct children playing there. The officers who responded found nothing out of the ordinary, and rang the Johnsons’ doorbell.

He later told his mother he had heard a voice telling him to “protect the kids.”

He was hospitalized for the first time at 16, and given medications that stabilized him for stretches of time. But the crises would strike every six months or so, often triggered by his decision to stop taking his medication.

His family became adept at reading signs he was “getting sick.” He would put on his tan Timberlands and a heavy winter coat, no matter the season, and perch on the edge of his bed as if bracing for battle. Sometimes, he would cook his own food, paranoid that someone might poison him.

He graduated six months early, on the dean’s list, but was rudderless, and hanging out with younger boys, often paying their way.

His mother pointed out the perils of buying friendship.

“I don’t care,” he said. “At least I’ll be popular for a minute.”

Zion’s inviting green grid of Bible-named streets belies the reality that it is a rough, unforgiving place to grow up. Family members say Markus wanted desperately to prove he was tough, and emulated his younger, reckless group of friends.

Like many of them, he obtained a pistol. He used it to hold up a convenience store clerk for $425 in January 2017, according to police records. He cut a plea deal for two years of probation, and never explained to his family what had made him do it.

But he kept getting into violent confrontations. In late July 2018, he was arrested in a neighbor’s garage with a handgun he later admitted was his. He was still on probation for the robbery, and his public defender negotiated a plea deal that would send him to state prison until January 2020.

An inpatient mental health system

Around 40 percent of the about 1.8 million people in local, state and federal jails and prison suffer from at least one mental illness, and many of these people have concurrent issues with substance abuse, according to recent Justice Department estimates.

Psychological problems, often exacerbated by drug use, often lead to significant medical problems resulting from a lack of hygiene or access to good health care.

“When you suffer depression in the outside world, it’s hard to concentrate, you have reduced energy, your sleep is disrupted, you have a very gloomy outlook, so you stop taking care of yourself,” said Robert L. Trestman , a Virginia Tech medical school professor who has worked on state prison mental health reforms.

The paradox is that prison is often the only place where sick people have access to even minimal care.

But the harsh work environment, remote location of many prisons, and low pay have led to severe shortages of corrections staff and the unwillingness of doctors, nurses and counselors to work with the incarcerated mentally ill.

In the early 2000s, prisoners’ rights lawyers filed a class-action lawsuit against Illinois claiming “deliberate indifference” to the plight of about 5,000 mentally ill prisoners locked in segregated units and denied treatment and medication.

In 2014, the parties reached a settlement that included minimum staffing mandates, revamped screening protocols, restrictions on the use of solitary confinement and the allocation of about $100 million to double capacity in the system’s specialized mental health units.

Yet within six months of the deal, Pablo Stewart, an independent monitor chosen to oversee its enforcement, declared the system to be in a state of emergency.

Over the years, some significant improvements have been made. But Dr. Stewart’s final report , drafted in 2022, gave the system failing marks for its medication and staffing policies and reliance on solitary confinement “crisis watch” cells.

Ms. Grady, one of Mr. Johnson’s lawyers, cited an additional problem: a lack of coordination between corrections staff and Wexford’s professionals, beyond dutifully filling out dozens of mandated status reports.

“Markus Johnson was basically documented to death,” she said.

‘I’m just trying to keep my head up’

Mr. Johnson was not exactly looking forward to prison. But he saw it as an opportunity to learn a trade so he could start a family when he got out.

On Dec. 18, 2018, he arrived at a processing center in Joliet, where he sat for an intake interview. He was coherent and cooperative, well-groomed and maintained eye contact. He was taking his medication, not suicidal and had a hearty appetite. He was listed as 5 feet 6 inches tall and 256 pounds.

Mr. Johnson described his mood as “go with the flow.”

A few days later, after arriving in Danville, he offered a less settled assessment during a telehealth visit with a Wexford psychiatrist, Dr. Nitin Thapar. Mr. Johnson admitted to being plagued by feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness and “constant uncontrollable worrying” that affected his sleep.

He told Dr. Thapar he had heard voices in the past — but not now — telling him he was a failure, and warning that people were out to get him.

At the time he was incarcerated, the basic options for mentally ill people in Illinois prisons included placement in the general population or transfer to a special residential treatment program at the Dixon Correctional Center, west of Chicago. Mr. Johnson seemed out of immediate danger, so he was assigned to a standard two-man cell in the prison’s general population, with regular mental health counseling and medication.

Things started off well enough. “I’m just trying to keep my head up,” he wrote to his mother. “Every day I learn to be stronger & stronger.”

But his daily phone calls back home hinted at friction with other inmates. And there was not much for him to do after being turned down for a janitorial training program.

Then, in the spring of 2019, his grandmother died, sending him into a deep hole.

Dr. Thapar prescribed a new drug used to treat major depressive disorders. Its most common side effect is weight gain. Mr. Johnson stopped taking it.

On July 4, he told Dr. Thapar matter-of-factly during a telehealth check-in that he was no longer taking any of his medications. “I’ve been feeling normal, I guess,” he said. “I feel like I don’t need the medication anymore.”

Dr. Thapar said he thought that was a mistake, but accepted the decision and removed Mr. Johnson from his regular mental health caseload — instructing him to “reach out” if he needed help, records show.

The pace of calls back home slackened. Mr. Johnson spent more time in bed, and became more surly. At a group-therapy session, he sat stone silent, after showing up late.

By early August, he was telling guards he had stopped eating.

At some point, no one knows when, he had intermittently stopped drinking fluids.

‘I’m having a breakdown’

Then came the crash.

On Aug. 12, Mr. Johnson got into a fight with his older cellmate.

He was taken to a one-man disciplinary cell. A few hours later, Wexford’s on-site mental health counselor, Melanie Easton, was shocked by his disoriented condition. Mr. Johnson stared blankly, then burst into tears when asked if he had “suffered a loss in the previous six months.”

He was so unresponsive to her questions she could not finish the evaluation.

Ms. Easton ordered that he be moved to a 9-foot by 8-foot crisis cell — solitary confinement with enhanced monitoring. At this moment, a supervisor could have ticked the box for “residential treatment” on a form to transfer him to Dixon. That did not happen, according to records and depositions.

Around this time, he asked to be placed back on his medication but nothing seems to have come of it, records show.

By mid-August, he said he was visualizing “people that were not there,” according to case notes. At first, he was acting more aggressively, once flicking water at a guard through a hole in his cell door. But his energy ebbed, and he gradually migrated downward — from standing to bunk to floor.

“I’m having a breakdown,” he confided to a Wexford employee.

At the time, inmates in Illinois were required to declare an official hunger strike before prison officials would initiate protocols, including blood testing or forced feedings. But when a guard asked Mr. Johnson why he would not eat, he said he was “fasting,” as opposed to starving himself, and no action seems to have been taken.

‘Tell me this is OK!’

Lt. Matthew Morrison, one of the few people at Danville to take a personal interest in Mr. Johnson, reported seeing a white rind around his mouth in early September. He told other staff members the cell gave off “a death smell,” according to a deposition.

On Sept. 5, they moved Mr. Johnson to one of six cells adjacent to the prison’s small, bare-bones infirmary. Prison officials finally placed him on the official hunger strike protocol without his consent.

Mr. Morrison, in his deposition, said he was troubled by the inaction of the Wexford staff, and the lack of urgency exhibited by the medical director, Dr. Justin Young.

On Sept. 5, Mr. Morrison approached Dr. Young to express his concerns, and the doctor agreed to order blood and urine tests. But Dr. Young lived in Chicago, and was on site at the prison about four times a week, according to Mr. Kaplan. Friday, Sept. 6, 2019, was not one of those days.

Mr. Morrison arrived at work that morning, expecting to find Mr. Johnson’s testing underway. A Wexford nurse told him Dr. Young believed the tests could wait.

Mr. Morrison, stunned, asked her to call Dr. Young.

“He’s good till Monday,” Dr. Young responded, according to Mr. Morrison.

“Come on, come on, look at this guy! You tell me this is OK!” the officer responded.

Eventually, Justin Duprey, a licensed nurse practitioner and the most senior Wexford employee on duty that day, authorized the test himself.

Mr. Morrison, thinking he had averted a disaster, entered the cell and implored Mr. Johnson into taking the tests. He refused.

So prison officials obtained approval to remove him forcibly from his cell.

‘Oh, my God’

What happened next is documented in video taken from cameras held by officers on the extraction team and obtained by The Times through a court order.

Mr. Johnson is scarcely recognizable as the neatly groomed 21-year-old captured in a cellphone picture a few months earlier. His skin is ashen, eyes fixed on the middle distance. He might be 40. Or 60.

At first, he places his hands forward through the hole in his cell door to be cuffed. This is against procedure, the officers shout. His hands must be in back.

He will not, or cannot, comply. He wanders to the rear of his cell and falls hard. Two blasts of pepper spray barely elicit a reaction. The leader of the tactical team later said he found it unusual and unnerving.

The next video is in the medical unit. A shield is pressed to his chest. He is in agony, begging for them to stop, as two nurses attempt to insert a catheter.

Then they move him, half-conscious and limp, onto a wheelchair for the blood draw.

For the next 20 minutes, the Wexford nurse performing the procedure, Angelica Wachtor, jabs hands and arms to find a vessel that will hold shape. She winces with each puncture, tries to comfort him, and grows increasingly rattled.

“Oh, my God,” she mutters, and asks why help is not on the way.

She did not request assistance or discuss calling 911, records indicate.

“Can you please stop — it’s burning real bad,” Mr. Johnson said.

Soon after, a member of the tactical team reminds Ms. Wachtor to take Mr. Johnson’s vitals before taking him back to his cell. She would later tell Dr. Young she had been unable to able to obtain his blood pressure.

“You good?” one of the team members asks as they are preparing to leave.

“Yeah, I’ll have to be,” she replies in the recording.

Officers lifted him back onto his bunk, leaving him unconscious and naked except for a covering draped over his groin. His expressionless face is visible through the window on the cell door as it closes.

‘Cardiac arrest.’

Mr. Duprey, the nurse practitioner, had been sitting inside his office after corrections staff ordered him to shelter for his own protection, he said. When he emerged, he found Ms. Wachtor sobbing, and after a delay, he was let into the cell. Finding no pulse, Mr. Duprey asked a prison employee to call 911 so Mr. Johnson could be taken to a local emergency room.

The Wexford staff initiated CPR. It did not work.

At 3:38 p.m., the paramedics declared Markus Mison Johnson dead.

Afterward, a senior official at Danville called the Johnson family to say he had died of “cardiac arrest.”

Lisa Johnson pressed for more information, but none was initially forthcoming. She would soon receive a box hastily crammed with his possessions: uneaten snacks, notebooks, an inspirational memoir by a man who had served 20 years at Leavenworth.

Later, Shiping Bao, the coroner who examined his body, determined Mr. Johnson had died of severe dehydration. He told the state police it “was one of the driest bodies he had ever seen.”

For a long time, Ms. Johnson blamed herself. She says that her biggest mistake was assuming that the state, with all its resources, would provide a level of care comparable to what she had been able to provide her son.

She had stopped accepting foster care children while she was raising Markus and his siblings. But as the months dragged on, she decided her once-boisterous house had become oppressively still, and let local agencies know she was available again.

“It is good to have children around,” she said. “It was too quiet around here.”

Read by Glenn Thrush

Audio produced by Jack D’Isidoro .

Glenn Thrush covers the Department of Justice. He joined The Times in 2017 after working for Politico, Newsday, Bloomberg News, The New York Daily News, The Birmingham Post-Herald and City Limits. More about Glenn Thrush

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