A few weeks ago marked the five-year anniversary of my breast amputation. My youngest child, Isaiah, was four when I had that surgery. I did not talk about the anniversary with my kids, or with anyone. I quietly honored it this year on my own.

But the week of the anniversary, as I was tucking Isaiah in, we reflected on his day at school. He shared with me that he took “Mama Bear” as one of his three items to share about himself...