On Mother’s Day, I was treated to a wonderful dinner at Le Fat with two of my three daughters, but I also received a handful of texts from women in the community. Not massive group texts, but personal notes. These women are my friends and neighbors, but in many ways they’ve come to think of me as their other mother.

I’ve noticed the same thing with the new men in my life: Kara’s fiancé, Micah, Garnie’s boyfriend, Matt, and her buddy from college, Michael, have all started calling me Mama Marie.

Since Steve and I basically birthed this community, it makes sense that people would think of us as the parents. And it’s not a role I take lightly. To me, the mother is the one who holds the heart. Who nourishes others on multiple levels. Who creates a space where souls can flourish and everyone can walk their own path.

Because I didn’t birth these children, I can meet them where they are as adults and vice versa. I don’t have a hand in all their pies, but they can come to me with whatever is on their minds and hearts—things they might not feel comfortable sharing with a parent.

As my own girls grow and change, it’s been so lovely taking on this other mother role for the men in their lives and the grown children in this community. As a woman who was raised by strong women, it feels right to walk around with all these young chicks behind me, taking them under my wing when they need a little love.