Another birthday in my house. My sweet baby's birthday. All moms understand this bittersweet joyful, tearful, heart-warming day when you realize more than any other day how fast life and childhood goes by. You spend the day reminiscing the past year and also the down-to-the-minute details of what took place, exactly one year ago, as your gave birth to your sweet baby.
For those who know me well, you know I also have a strong hidden passion for birth, mother empowerment and education. I dabbled in teaching birth education for a year, although I discovered I lack the necessary teaching personality and speaking skills. I do continue to assist with the occasional birth as a birth doula. Being there for the birth of a family's baby is the most exhilarating feeling in the world. There are not many times in your life where you feel completely in tune with mother nature, in the raw, just you, God, your family and the universe. I wish I could relive those feelings everyday. Those first moments, first days after your baby is born is accompanied by the most powerful rush of love.
Throughout the past few years, since the birth of my daughter, I have always felt conflicted on why on one hand I dreamed of being a midwife or even going to medical school to becoming an OB, and seemingly, on the opposite hand, I have a continuing desire to create a living from my art. My art gives me the opportunity to be with my children more, and that is something I am so, SO grateful and fortunate for. I would be a fool to ignore such a blessing. I finally realized this week, after years of unwrapping and discovering my passions, I realized my biggest desire was...
. . . to empower women.
I realize now I could not do that alone by simply speaking words from a book or showing a woman how to do a belly lift, or open her sacrum, or teaching her the anatomy of her body (as fascinating as it is.) As every doula and birth educator will tell you, you cannot teach a women with only words to feel strong, empowered, educated, to be confident enough to advocate for her family's needs, to question others intentions, others authority, and to weed through all the b.s. When it comes down to it, in the moment of her baby's birth, it is up to the woman to find it in herself, to find her power as a woman, raw and unfiltered, to speak for herself, to feel for herself. We need to live as examples of these traits, all of us, for each other. We all learn and live by example.
I want that for every woman, and every mom as she goes through the day-to-day tasks as a motherhood well after those first few precious days postpartum. Well after her child's first birthday, I hope every women is still in touch with her deep-rooted spirit. Now that I have realized what my intentions are in my work, I hope I can share this desire in my art. Not by just sharing affirming words and pictures but by example. I am a strong woman, a flawed but authentic mother, and I work hard so we can live simply, free of b.s. in my life that would keep my from being my true self. I took many chances and faced fears of leaving a comfortable and "safe" job to make it on my own. For those moms who's hearts are nagging at them to change their work/life balance, to cut out the things or people who hold you down, don't be scared anymore. Speak up for yourself. Advocate for your family and your heart.
Be confident to speak those feelings deep in your stomach. You are strong, stay true to those feelings deep in your heart. You know what your heart wants, do what it takes to makes those things happen. When you near the end of your life, I hope everyone can look back and feel you accomplished everything your heart desired, that you did not miss out on memories. You only leave this earth with your soul, and those loved ones who are a part of your heart. Thank the Lord we leave all the drama, b.s., and designer handbags behind.
Life get's tougher as we get older, doesn't it? The last couple months have tore me down to my bare soul...and for that I am thankful.
Happy Mother's Day to all of you Strong Mommas! <3
{unedited}
by meg <3
