Public Project
Motherhood-Changing Realities
We live in a society where much misinformation and lack of knowledge in motherhood greatly divides the reality of it all. Through a number of interviews and virtual connections with mothers, there is a similar story. The search for healing within themselves and breaking of generational cycles others were not given the opportunity to do. To navigate in a world that constantly works against the very things they were meant to do as mothers, trying to fit this idealized expectation to be perfect and whole while placing everything before themselves.
While facing unrealistic expectations of motherhood, each mother also has their own struggle to balance out. Breastfeeding, spoiling, employment, financial security, childcare, food, housing, staying "fit"; the never-ending and unrealistic criticism. Accumulated challenges that leaves many feeling helpless, sitting in silence in the taboo of postpartum depression- which we are now learning is heavily more common than we think.
Up to two plus years after given birth, I, myself, experienced intrusive thoughts calling myself crazy, lazy, ugly, sexually flawed - a failure. Anything that didn't look as perfect like those characterized ideological mothers in movies or the greatly misused phrase "Strong Black Woman". I also fought to be the exact same person I was before becoming a mom, only to feel sad, confused, alone, numb and empty.
Upon a growing connection with a number of mothers, it became apparent a shift was happening across a wide scope. This ongoing series focuses on evaluating the past writings of mothers and diving into deep research while given present day mothers the opportunity to share their stories of how motherhood changed their lives.
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