Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran: A Mother’s Day Reflection on Strength & Love

Artists who share their personal struggles—their fears, shame, and triumphs—offer incredible insight and wisdom. Shakira’s 2025 Las Mujeres Ya no Lloran tour reminds us of the profound impact this remarkable singer, dancer, mother, and leader has had on so many women. Her songs didn't just teach us about love; they instilled an early understanding of the struggles women face and the strength required to navigate them.

Shakira's 1998 song "Si Te Vas" is a powerful testament to the idea that love should not equate to deceit. It describes the pain of loss and the "gray skies" that follow a breakup, yet it empowers us to stand firm and find the strength to continue enjoying our lives.

This truth, while seemingly obvious, was vital for so many of us to hear. We grew up witnessing fractured marriages, and women left shouldering the emotional fallout of infidelity. We watched men—uncles, grandfathers, even fathers—simply walk away, abandoning intelligent, compassionate, and powerful women.

The devastating fallout was clear: these women had to navigate a world that constantly sought to minimize their brilliance, devalue their worth, and underpay their labor. Yet they were still expected to maintain stability—raising children, practicing self-care, and often supporting the entire family’s wellbeing —all while struggling to find their footing and establish a secure income.

What is most empowering is watching Shakira stay true to her values, even as she gracefully ages and mothers two boys. She embodied the principles of her earlier years, standing in her power when her partner disrespected her and her family. Through her most challenging times, Shakira chose to use her gift, her art, to create music that has inspired millions of girls and women worldwide. She reminds us that we can hurt and grieve, but we also have the inner strength to overcome challenges, even if the pain never fully fades.

As a child psychiatrist and mother of two boys, I am particularly excited to see how Shakira incorporated her children into her artistic grief process—acknowledging their central role in the experience. Their song "Acróstico" demonstrates her accountability for "her part" in the marital decay. In it, she lets her children know they can talk to her and she will listen, centering forgiveness and love.

Perdonar es de sabios…que solo te salga amor de esos labios. (To forgive is wise…may only love leave your lips.)

"Acróstico" also offers a powerful lesson many of us need to embrace:

Se nos rompió solo un plato, no toda la vajilla

Y aunque no sé poner la otra mejilla

Aprender a perdonar es de sabios

Que solo te salga amor de esos labios

Si las cosas se dañan, no se botan

Se reparan

Los problemas se afrontan y se encaran

(We only broke one plate, not the entire dinner set. And although I don't know how to turn the other cheek, learning to forgive is wise; may only love leave your lips. If things are damaged, they are not thrown away. They are repaired. Problems are faced and confronted.)

She teaches her children, and us, that love is worth it, even when hurt is a very likely possibility:

A pesar de que duelan las heridas

Se ha de entregar entero el corazón

Aunque le hagan daño sin razón

(Despite the wounds hurting, the heart must be given completely, even if they hurt it for no reason.)

As Mother’s Day approaches, Shakira’s journey invites us to hold motherhood with even greater reverence. Beyond the stage and global acclaim, Shakira shows us what it means to be a mother with courage, accountability, and love in the midst of pain. She reminds us that motherhood is not about perfection, but about presence—the willingness to stay, to listen, to repair, and to keep choosing love even when life fractures our expectations. This month, we celebrate all mothers: those who are healing while raising children, those who carry entire families through uncertainty, and those who are quietly rewriting generational stories with tenderness and strength. Your love is transformative, your labor sacred, and your impact—like Shakira’s—echoes far beyond what the world can see. 

Whether you are navigating a breakup, frustrated by patriarchal systems, or grieving the loss of a friendship, a job, or a dream, Shakira’s latest songs have your back. Listen, move, cry, sing. Welcome it all.