“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” -Maya Angelou
As many of you know, I am a mother. And motherhood has changed me in ways that I still can’t fully articulate. The process of becoming a mother has tangled up both my body and my soul. I feel far more broken but also far more whole. If it sounds confusing, it is. The love I have for my daughter is strong and dangerous; it has made me feel more alive, but it’s made me feel more frightened in this world. On some days, I want nothing more than to tuck her back inside of me, nestled up warm beneath the steady beat of my heart. And yet, I know that motherhood or parenthood requires you to do just the opposite: to slowly and gradually let your precious one unfold and grow. It is a messy, beautiful thing, I’ve embarked on.
And being a mother has let me love my body in ways that I never thought I could. Being a mother has taught me to reclaim my body for what it is: warmth, strength, sustenance, comfort….the list goes on.
And so, today, instead of a recipe, I’m sharing with you an artist who has captured motherhood in a way that deeply resonates with my own experience. When Ryan and I went to Portland, Phoebe Wahl was kind enough to let us into her beautiful home. There, I photographed her studio and a few of her pieces. You can find more of her work here. Phoebe is a beautiful soul, an old soul, and I have no doubt that her work will take her to places wide and far. I’ll be sharing more of her work and space on cord tomorrow.
what beautiful prints!
Wow! you have such beautiful writing! I love how you describe motherhood! It is so sweet and sincere! Glad that you are finding the beauty of it all!! 🙂
Lovely work! Phoebe’s art is wonderful. And that portrait of her is terrific. Thanks.
These are beautiful
Such a beautiful post, Monet. I really loved reading your beautiful words.
I love this post Monet. You’ve captured exactly how motherhood has changed so many women. So so beautiful.
Such an apt description. I already feel that way about motherhood and it’s only been 3 weeks. 🙂
Beautiful story Monet! Thank you so much for sharing.
I love that print on top. I just found out we are expecting and I cannot wait to see what is to come but completely know it is not even worth thinking about now because it will be so much and so new I have no idea.
These are beautiful. And this post is beautiful too! : ) xx
Thank you for sharing the work of this wonderful artist. Motherhood really is beyond words, isn’t it?
Monet, thank you for sharing the creations of this amazing artist – you certainly have a wonderful way of describing her and her work!
You describe the joy and difficulty of being a mother perfectly… you used the words I couldn’t find. Thank you