As someone who is going to be giving birth to my first child in 7-8 weeks (give or take), it is such a gift to read your experience of the early years of motherhood. Thank you for sharing <3
This is just so utterly beautiful my love. I could speak to so many things within it… the thing that landed like a jolt for me was when you spoke about being ‘just a mum’ and how choosing to be around in the pre school years is a choice, but not an easy option by any stretch. Gosh that landed. The pictures of the babes just made me melt. I’m feeling particularly tender tonight after a challenging bedtime and not responding in a way I would have liked ahead of a weekend of solo parenting… and I am just so grateful for the way you make Mothering feel like art, and therefore allow me to see myself as part of that artistry. Thank you. Xxx
Lyndsay - it's been a while! I've been following your posts from afar and just had to comment on this one as it resonated so much with me, also as a mum of 2 little ones. It pains me that mothers who choose to 'stay at home' (I think we also need a better phrase for that) should feel like they're not doing enough. It just seems ludicrous to me that they should be made to feel this way given how utterly all consuming and demanding it is. I have many (daily) thoughts on how to redress this imbalance and all we can do is follow and support people who re writing about it and making a difference (like yourself). Lots of love xx
I could absolutely relate to what you’ve written here Lyndsay. Motherhood is full of so many transitions, some we are ready for, some we are not. And then we are trying to figure everything out and also be ourselves and a mother. It is beautiful and messy and so many feelings in between ❤️
So beautiful! I think maybe because motherhood is not where I'm at yet that I find it hard to put into words what your writing evokes in me. It makes me both excited for the future and also feel sadness for those moms (like some of my colleagues in the US) who are not able to tend to the shifts and needed new rhythm but have to bounce back in order to work again so soon.
On another note, when I stepped out of the plane being back in Germany a few days ago, I had to think of you. How being in italy felt like I opened the window to spring and now back where it's colder again I do enjoy the coziness cuddled up in layers of woollen blankets. I think this is how you wrote about spring in your past post and maybe this is also fitting for this phase of motherhood you're in now, not quite winter anymore but also not full spring quite yet? xx
This is really beautiful, and I resonate with a lot of it, particularly around the push-pull of longing to be with my son (& acutely aware of how fast these precious years of his childhood will pass) and a craving to have more time for my own pursuits.
And even though you don’t currently have a label in the formal world of work (oh, how people love to pigeonhole us!), don’t forget that showing up here each week with all these words is huge! And, no doubt, sowing the seeds of what’s to come. Xx
A really wonderful piece. Thank you. Most particularly "also existing in my fullest expression when I am with them" this reverberated with my experience and was a constant comfort to me when I charged myself with the 'not enoughness' of being 'just a Mum'
As someone who is going to be giving birth to my first child in 7-8 weeks (give or take), it is such a gift to read your experience of the early years of motherhood. Thank you for sharing <3
This is just so utterly beautiful my love. I could speak to so many things within it… the thing that landed like a jolt for me was when you spoke about being ‘just a mum’ and how choosing to be around in the pre school years is a choice, but not an easy option by any stretch. Gosh that landed. The pictures of the babes just made me melt. I’m feeling particularly tender tonight after a challenging bedtime and not responding in a way I would have liked ahead of a weekend of solo parenting… and I am just so grateful for the way you make Mothering feel like art, and therefore allow me to see myself as part of that artistry. Thank you. Xxx
Resonating with so much of this, such a beautiful reflection x
Lyndsay - it's been a while! I've been following your posts from afar and just had to comment on this one as it resonated so much with me, also as a mum of 2 little ones. It pains me that mothers who choose to 'stay at home' (I think we also need a better phrase for that) should feel like they're not doing enough. It just seems ludicrous to me that they should be made to feel this way given how utterly all consuming and demanding it is. I have many (daily) thoughts on how to redress this imbalance and all we can do is follow and support people who re writing about it and making a difference (like yourself). Lots of love xx
I feel all these emotions alongside you Lyndsay. You've beautifully put into words these universal, primal longings we have to be with our children 💛
I could absolutely relate to what you’ve written here Lyndsay. Motherhood is full of so many transitions, some we are ready for, some we are not. And then we are trying to figure everything out and also be ourselves and a mother. It is beautiful and messy and so many feelings in between ❤️
adding to my other comment, the little ones are ADORABLE! and I love seeing a photo of you in your post, too! :)
So beautiful! I think maybe because motherhood is not where I'm at yet that I find it hard to put into words what your writing evokes in me. It makes me both excited for the future and also feel sadness for those moms (like some of my colleagues in the US) who are not able to tend to the shifts and needed new rhythm but have to bounce back in order to work again so soon.
On another note, when I stepped out of the plane being back in Germany a few days ago, I had to think of you. How being in italy felt like I opened the window to spring and now back where it's colder again I do enjoy the coziness cuddled up in layers of woollen blankets. I think this is how you wrote about spring in your past post and maybe this is also fitting for this phase of motherhood you're in now, not quite winter anymore but also not full spring quite yet? xx
This is really beautiful, and I resonate with a lot of it, particularly around the push-pull of longing to be with my son (& acutely aware of how fast these precious years of his childhood will pass) and a craving to have more time for my own pursuits.
And even though you don’t currently have a label in the formal world of work (oh, how people love to pigeonhole us!), don’t forget that showing up here each week with all these words is huge! And, no doubt, sowing the seeds of what’s to come. Xx
A really wonderful piece. Thank you. Most particularly "also existing in my fullest expression when I am with them" this reverberated with my experience and was a constant comfort to me when I charged myself with the 'not enoughness' of being 'just a Mum'