Be the friend your friend needs this Mother's Day.

Mother’s Day - or any day that celebrates a person or a role in someone’s life - can be one of joy or of sorrow, or both. The announcement of the day is everywhere and if you’re trying to get away from it, it can be difficult to do so.

Below are a few things you can do to support your friend around this Mother’s Day:

1) Send a text message telling a story you loved about the mother they are missing, something small you have done to remember their mother that day, or sending a note the receiver doesn’t need to respond to. For example, “I loved the time your mom helped us come up with a Oscar Party-themed dinner. I had so much fun creating and learning from her. Thinking of her and you today.” Another example, “My kids have made a stone garden and we painted a stone with a dance shoe on it to remember Karyn today. May she be dancing while looking down on us today.”

2) Be the friend the person who is grieving can count on. No one can ever replace Mom, but you can be a trusted friend the griever can turn to for advice or help.

3) Avoid complaining about your mother or mother-in-law. We all do vent about life events, but avoid that on Mother’s Day. If you have a strained relationship with anyone in your family, you still have the hope of making things better. Your grieving friend is not that fortunate. Save any complaints for another time or audience.

Be the comforter your friend needs. It can make a light in your friend’s day they didn’t know they needed.