Lessons from Motherhood
No amount of books, anecdotes, podcasts, or documentaries truly prepared me for childbirth or motherhood. I had the birth I had, not the one I wanted. With the maternity rates for Black women in America, I am lucky I made it out alive.
I am constantly in awe of the gifts that motherhood has given to me, and the things it has taken away too. I thought i’d share some of the lessons I have learned over the past four years:
Community is so important because caregiving can be isolating. Reach out.
Being a steward of the earth is important. Maybe you don’t give a heckin heck about animals, or have no interest in growing plants . But you can recycle, and buy ethically raised and organically grown foods and meat if your life allows you to. You can teach your kids where their food comes from and how to be ethical consumers because you owe it to them to teach them how to survive on this planet and not trash it.
I have to be gentle and kind to myself.
My body is magnificent. Even though sometimes I am dehydrated and sleep deprived, it continues to show up for me and my grabby toddler each day with minimal complaints.
I owe it to myself and my kid to follow my own dreams.
Constantly assess what is in front of me and find creative solutions.
Mistakes will be made
Your children are watching you. Your facial expressions, how you grieve, how you laugh, the way you brush your teeth. Everything you do informs how they will be. So take care of you, and watch how you speak to them.
You will probably lose friends. Certain friendships are seasonal, and when you enter a new season in your life its ok if they don’t want to join you. Even if it sucks.
Your kid will probably lose it in the grocery store.
If someone is acting like they have their shit together, they are lying.
Peace,
Farai
