Seasons of Motherhood | Unquarantine Yourself

It is hard to believe that an entire year has passed since this photograph was made

and when I came into your room that morning, it was the first clue that I had of you having an idea, of how huge this time would be in your life.

The massive changes in your transition from tween to teen were inevitable in normal times. Transitioning when you’re locked down in a pandemic, having limited physical miles to explore and run to, is immense. Yet you’ve done this throughout with gusto, grace and the right amount of smart-mouthed attitude.

In a year of missed school days, when your right of passage has been to learn from all but rebel from most. You’ve closed your bedroom door a little more tightly, with a passing comment of “I don’t need your help, I can do it.” I dreaded to think about what those days might look like before they arrived, but since they have, you’ve continued to make me proud, even through my most frustrated days.

Lately we’ve began having conversations that start with “when we’re allowed to…” which feels exciting. But all the way through this time, with tempers fraying in moments and doors slamming with defiant tears the other side, there’s those sweet, sweet moments that start with “I’m happy / sad / angry and I don’t know why, I just needed to tell you.”

There’s no rule book handed to mothers when they become mothers. There’s no rule book handed to teenagers when they become a teenager.

I could not be more proud of this force of nature, the one I call my greatest wonder, my greatest gift.

This is Artifact Motherhood; a collaboration of artists from around the world who have come together to share our stories of the joys and struggles of our journey. Through our writings and visual records, we want to create memories that are more than photographs with dates written on the back. These are the artifacts we are leaving behind for our children and for generations to come.

This entry is the third in a series called “Seasons of Motherhood” and is meant to be one picture and one caption that represents our current journey/season of motherhood.

Please visit the next artist in our blog circle, the talented Devin Pixton and continue through all the artists until you get back to me.