This project is for every woman who has given herself to the work of motherhood
Who has lost herself in the process
Who has found herself in the process
And every such contradiction that she has had to navigate along the way.
May she find echoes of herself here. In these beautiful truths of Motherhood
This work was born out of a deep desire to explore the relationship with body image and identity in motherhood. I was in a process of wanting to accept my own mothering body and realised that many women I knew were in a similar position. So the work began with the skin but quickly went so much deeper, until it was tapping right into the veins that run through women’s lives; issues such as infertility, mental health, loneliness, changing identities, mothering children with high medical needs, navigating life changing illness, and all while caring for young children. The work has three main objectives that are interwoven and connected. It begins to normalise and celebrate women’s bodies and all that they go through to grow, birth and nurture the next generation. By seeing realistic images of women’s bodies, we can begin to change our idea of what is normal, and indeed, beautiful and in doing so, we are truly seeing women themselves. It seeks to acknowledge the myriad of contradictions women experience while raising young children, as well as open the door a little on the profound, tender, intimate and often invisible work of motherhood that otherwise goes unseen.
I just always had the sense, from very early on, that he was… temporary, is the best way of putting it. I wasn’t really surprised when the consultant said there was something terrible wrong with him.
I feel like my body let me down in letting him down. The cancer could have been there from birth; I grew him, I birthed him and you can’t help question whether it was something I did or something I could have done differently.
I’ve just been running on empty.
I dont stop to see myself or even think about myself alongside my kids. There are three of them and I just… I got lost. And I’m tired. I’m trying so hard. I don’t feel good enough. I want a break. I can see my exhaustion as well as how lovely the children are. I still struggle with seeing how lovely I am. I am waiting for distance to give me perspective and the ability to give myself grace.
Motherhood is hard.
Seven years ago I was diagnosed with a multitude of illnesses that went unexplained for the majority of my life. Being diagnosed was bittersweet; although I had answers, managing was very difficult, especially being so young. Nothing I had come across had worked for me until Motherhood.
Having Alba has been the most beautiful distraction and therapy I could have ever hoped for. It’s not to say I don’t struggle but Alba gives me strength when I feel weak and low. I know now that however bad I feel or if my body still isn’t working well enough, there’s something inside of me that pushes me through and that’s thanks to Alba.
I’ve always taught my daughter that beauty is not what is on the outside but what we have within- and this had been paramount in my decision to not have breast reconstruction. I’ve been given the opportunity to not only tell her but show her that it’s okay not to conform to societies expectations of that a woman, or mother should be.
With one breast and no ovaries, I’ve never felt like more of a woman. I’ve never felt stronger or more powerful in my skin as I do now.
I am strong.
To think that my body gathers information through our kisses and our touches to tell my breasts exactly what her body needs each day is nothing short of a miraculous to me.
I’ve had a really rocky relationship with my body prior to becoming pregnant. I struggled with eating disorders and self harm as well as mental and physical illness through my teens and only really started to become comfortable with who I was a few years ago. This has improved again smooch since becoming pregnant and having my son.
I’d have utter despaired at this body belonging to me a few years ago. Now I just feel so proud of it and all it can do.
It seems that these conversations and inner processes are actually pretty universal, regardless of body shape and size. These issues run so much deeper. The transition from women to mother is surely one of life’s most monumental and profound. The rhythm of our days and nights change, our relationships change, our primary role in society and the world changes. Life takes on a brand new shape, colour and meaning.
It’s a matter of identity.
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