My little loves,
One of the hardest lessons I learned as a young woman is to never put people, especially those you love, on a pedestal. For years as a child, teenager, and young woman, I held my mother in such high regard that I thought she could do no wrong. She was absolutely perfect in every way. Unfortunately, I was setting up our relationship for failure. When I discovered her brokenness, the glass house I meticulously built around her in my head shattered. It was devastating to find out she had flaws that ran very deep and parallel to my own. Oh how my pride and vanity melded into anger. It took a long time to accept the person, the mother, I discovered in the wreckage. I now realize how unfair it was to put her up on that perch in the first place. This is a lesson I certainly learned the hard way, and one I desperately want you to avoid.
We're neck deep in the winter lull. I am doing my best to push through my lack of energy, motivation, and creativity this time of year bestows. I know you’ve noticed, I have not been my best lately: tired, burnt out and short tempered. It isn’t a graceful combination for any mother, my-self included. Through all of the dull and cold, I look to the four of you for inspiration and light. I am challenged to pick up my camera during the hard moments throughout the day. I am challenged to frame each moment as it comes, searching for the opportunity to unearth the wisdom our everyday toils bring.
None of us are perfect. This statement is easy enough to write. It’s only when I apply this statement in my everyday life that I begin to realize what I am called to be and do. Each one of us has unique gifts that are accompanied with unique flaws. I used to think I was an extremely patient person, until I had four children who would present me with unique challenges. If I am not being intentional in my reactions, it is easy to slip into careless auto pilot. I have been known to add my voice to your temper tantrums, to show the cracks and crevasses of my flaws in the midday light of stressful situations. No matter how many times a day I try to reframe my intentions, to be slow and patient, I too fall short of perfection.
It is a fact that we fail each other on occasion. Forgiveness and giving one another ( and ourselves) grace and mercy is essential. This is something I am really trying to instil in each of you.
Being your mother is one of the most important things I will do in this life. I am called to teach you how to love and forgive others. Even when you have disagreements and or feel deeply wronged. My fervent prayer is that the four of you will always be one, even after I am gone. That your love is also without pedestals and conditions.
Love,
Mom
Welcome to Artifact Motherhood. This is 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. Up next is the amazingly talented Ann Owen click here to follow the link.