Ahhh Lisa you speak to my heart here. Every phase is an initiation and it seems to be a constant unravelling. This piece speaks so beautifully to the transformative shift that js felt, thank you so much for writing, and speaking it, so wonderfully. Xxx
Ah Lauren, YES. Initiation is the word. And I so resonate with the repeated unravelling. Reminds me of a poem I can’t quite put my finger on in this moment. If I remember it I’ll come back and share! Thanks for your generous words here, lovely xx
Thank you for this wise and compassionate piece of writing, Lisa. My eldest is at uni and turns 20 this summer and with 2 teens still at home I am finding these years of motherhood to be so wildly interesting in so many respects.
Thank you for your kind words Kellie. Wildly interesting is true here too. My own rebirths to meet the moment and the next and the next are quite something to behold!
Almost 19 years into this mothering gig, I feel deeply everything you write here, Lisa. This IWD alone has sparked unexpected conversations on feminism with my daughter (16). Thank you for this beautiful piece, it'll keep me thinking and journaling for some time.
Thank you Annette, I’m so glad this spoke to you. And I relate. The big conversations of teen years have had me turning back to myself often and asking some deep inner questions. My journal has never seen so much action!
I just loved this post Lisa. I'm with you that I'm so glad matrescence is a term that's out there now, and also that it doesn't just apply to early motherhood. I always say that I'm always learning, after all, all of my 3 kids are so different and what works for one doesn't work for the other. Having compassion for ourselves and knowing that it's OK for motherhood to still feel hard, even after those early years, is so important.
It is important, Jenna. I notice it’s so seductive to imagine I’ve ‘finally’ reached solid ground in my motherhood. And then the shifting sands do their thing again and I’m reminded of the always becoming ♥️
‘Motherhood is not a state of being but a state of becoming, a continuous unfolding’ - Lovely post - on the cusp of our youngest graduating hs & can feel some of my beech leaves are letting go for a new becoming. 🍂
Oh I absolutely hear you. Each time I need to meet my growing sons differently I notice a letting go I can’t name and a new becoming within me. I feel like this period of motherhood is talked about even less than others. Wishing you what you need in this new becoming Victoria 🍂✨
Ah Lisa, I am so happy that I saved your post for my woodland walk today. Your words brought me close to tears on several occasions…! Especially the words about the surface level conversations of mothering when below that you are being taken apart. I also really appreciated your words about the continual becoming, I think I became relatively comfortable in the early mothering phase (well not actually comfortable at all (!) but very much ‘in’ the cocoon), and it’s as my children grow that the internal struggles become more deeply entwined, along with the feeling that I should have things ‘sorted’ by now and that it shouldn’t still be consuming me quite so entirely. Thank you for recognising and voicing that of course, mothering is a continual becoming, rather than a destination point or something to achieve. Your writing and voice were so beautifully soothing and affirming, thank you xx
Ahhh Lisa you speak to my heart here. Every phase is an initiation and it seems to be a constant unravelling. This piece speaks so beautifully to the transformative shift that js felt, thank you so much for writing, and speaking it, so wonderfully. Xxx
Ah Lauren, YES. Initiation is the word. And I so resonate with the repeated unravelling. Reminds me of a poem I can’t quite put my finger on in this moment. If I remember it I’ll come back and share! Thanks for your generous words here, lovely xx
Thank you for this wise and compassionate piece of writing, Lisa. My eldest is at uni and turns 20 this summer and with 2 teens still at home I am finding these years of motherhood to be so wildly interesting in so many respects.
Thank you for your kind words Kellie. Wildly interesting is true here too. My own rebirths to meet the moment and the next and the next are quite something to behold!
Almost 19 years into this mothering gig, I feel deeply everything you write here, Lisa. This IWD alone has sparked unexpected conversations on feminism with my daughter (16). Thank you for this beautiful piece, it'll keep me thinking and journaling for some time.
Thank you Annette, I’m so glad this spoke to you. And I relate. The big conversations of teen years have had me turning back to myself often and asking some deep inner questions. My journal has never seen so much action!
Beautiful 🙏🏻
Thank you dear Mitlé 🙏♥️
I just loved this post Lisa. I'm with you that I'm so glad matrescence is a term that's out there now, and also that it doesn't just apply to early motherhood. I always say that I'm always learning, after all, all of my 3 kids are so different and what works for one doesn't work for the other. Having compassion for ourselves and knowing that it's OK for motherhood to still feel hard, even after those early years, is so important.
It is important, Jenna. I notice it’s so seductive to imagine I’ve ‘finally’ reached solid ground in my motherhood. And then the shifting sands do their thing again and I’m reminded of the always becoming ♥️
Absolutely ❤️, we will be forever learning xx
‘Motherhood is not a state of being but a state of becoming, a continuous unfolding’ - Lovely post - on the cusp of our youngest graduating hs & can feel some of my beech leaves are letting go for a new becoming. 🍂
Oh I absolutely hear you. Each time I need to meet my growing sons differently I notice a letting go I can’t name and a new becoming within me. I feel like this period of motherhood is talked about even less than others. Wishing you what you need in this new becoming Victoria 🍂✨
Ah Lisa, I am so happy that I saved your post for my woodland walk today. Your words brought me close to tears on several occasions…! Especially the words about the surface level conversations of mothering when below that you are being taken apart. I also really appreciated your words about the continual becoming, I think I became relatively comfortable in the early mothering phase (well not actually comfortable at all (!) but very much ‘in’ the cocoon), and it’s as my children grow that the internal struggles become more deeply entwined, along with the feeling that I should have things ‘sorted’ by now and that it shouldn’t still be consuming me quite so entirely. Thank you for recognising and voicing that of course, mothering is a continual becoming, rather than a destination point or something to achieve. Your writing and voice were so beautifully soothing and affirming, thank you xx