Outside Mom Inside Mom

Mother’s Day is this Sunday, and Outside Mom, Inside Mom by Jane Park (illustrated by Lenny Wen) is the perfect book to read or share.

It’s a beautifully told story about a child and their mother—how they each navigate the difference between the self they show the world and the one they feel at home. It’s sweet, honest, and moving in quiet, powerful ways.

My class and I read it together, and so many students immediately saw their own mothers in the character. The muted “outside mom,” holding so much in public, and the warm, vibrant “inside mom” who comes alive at home. We talked about how love can show up in unspoken ways, and how exhausting it can be to hold parts of yourself back to fit in.

This book opened up meaningful conversations, and reminded us all how much care and strength mothers carry—often without saying a word.

Wishing a gentle, joyful Mother’s Day to all the moms who love so deeply, even when it’s quiet.