It’s almost Mother’s Day and on the radio this morning, they were recommending a handbag as the perfect Mother’s Day gift. Since I don’t need another handbag, I’ve put together a wish list of 10 gifts I would truly love for Mother’s Day.

On Mother’s Day,

1.    I’m asking for the gift of self-compassion, wholeness and courage to lead by example and to raise our children to become loving grown-ups who feel interconnected with the world. 

2.    I’m asking those of us who are husbands, fathers, sons, grandfathers: dare to show us all of your lovingkindness and wholeness and be in peace with Mother Earth so that our children learn that, of course, men are caring too.

3.    I’m asking those of us who are teachers: while I appreciate your hard work and your creative Mother’s Day presents, I’d prefer you would add the stories of both courageous and caring women and men of all skin colors, abilities and religions to the school curriculum.

4.    I’m asking those of us who are medical professionals: listen to us and appreciate the wholeness and dignity of our bodies. Honor the miracle of birth by respecting our wishes and by trusting our body’s wisdom so that our children learn to trust their own.

5.    I’m asking those of us who work in security: start addressing the violence in our homes so that our children learn that protecting their mother’s life and their own is as important as protecting their country. 

6.    I’m asking those of us in the media and entertainment industry: stop showing violence for just 24 hours so that our children learn that violence is not the air we breathe. 

7.    I’m asking those of us who are urban planners: design public spaces that are as welcoming and safe for our daughters as they are for our sons so that our children learn that everyone deserves to move freely and without fear.

8.    I’m asking all of us who are developers and architects: ensure sufficient public restrooms to end women’s-toilet-wait-lines so that our children learn that women’s needs are as important as men’s. 

9.    I’m asking those of us who work in the automobile industry: start selling cars that are as safe for our daughters as for our sons so that our children learn that women’s lives are as valuable as men’s.

10.  I’m asking all of us who vote: demand that the priceless unpaid work we do for our families and communities does not lead us into dependency and poverty because we want our children to learn that we cannot live without caring for each other.

These are just a few Mother’s Day gifts I can think of. Of course, the list goes on – and I’d love to hear your wishes too – but I wanted to make a start because I realize that it’s my responsibility to speak up. Because Mother’s Day shouldn’t be about handbags. It should be about what really matters to all of us: the world our children will inherit.