Five years ago, I had a simple idea: bring mothers together for one day to rest, laugh, eat, and exhale. I didnāt have a grand plan or a sponsor. What I had was a deep need for connection and a belief that we are stronger when we support one another. That idea became MomsGiving.
Since then, what started as a gathering of friends has blossomed into an annual celebration that now draws women from across Indianapolisāmothers, grandmothers, godmothers, aunties, and mentorsāeach bringing their own story, their own strength, and their own love. Itās become more than a dinner. Itās a reminder that community is a form of self-care, and that when women come together, we create spaces where healing and joy can coexist.
Motherhood has always been a complex blend of love and labor. We nurture not only our own children but our neighborsā children, our churchās youth, and entire generations who look to us for guidance. We carry so muchāoften without pause.
MomsGiving was born from the realization that even the strongest among us need rest. We deserve spaces where we can be seen, celebrated, and surrounded by women who understand the unspoken weight we carry. Each year, I watch the stress melt off faces as laughter fills the room, as strangers become sisters, and as mothers remember that they are more than the titles they hold.

Thatās the legacy I hope to buildāone rooted in presence. Because when mothers thrive, communities thrive.
As we celebrate our fifth year, I canāt help but think about legacy. For me, legacy isnāt just about what we leave behindāitās about what we nurture right now. Itās in the way we pour into our children, the way we support each other through loss and triumph, and the way we model joy, resilience, and faith.
Motherhood is a legacy of power. Itās the sound of laughter in the kitchen, the aromas of Sunday dinner, the rhythm of prayers whispered over sleeping children, and the courage to keep showing up when the world underestimates us. Itās generational strength that deserves to be honored and uplifted.
MomsGiving is my love letter to that legacy. Every hug, every smile, every shared story reminds me that community isnāt a luxuryāitās a lifeline.
As we prepare to celebrate this milestone year, Iām reminded that this movement belongs to every woman who has ever felt unseen or unappreciated. It belongs to the mother who works countless hours, the grandmother raising her grandbabies, and the friend who steps in when someone else canāt.
All Things MOMMIE was built on the belief that no mother should feel alone. Over the next five years, my vision is to expand that impactāto connect even more women with the resources, mentorship, and sisterhood they need to flourish.
Because when we pour into mothers, we pour into the future. And thatās how we honor our ancestors, empower our present, and build our legacy.
About the Author:
Erien Dickens is the founder of All Things MOMMIE, an Indianapolis-based organization dedicated to connecting and empowering mothers through community, wellness, and sisterhood. The fifth annual MomsGiving will be held this November.
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