February 3, 2023
I’m so excited and honored to share these beautiful Light & Love portraits of Amanda and her daughter, Nora. It was a joy to meet them both! I’m beyond grateful to Amanda for sharing openly about motherhood and all that goes with it. Thank you Amanda for allowing us into your heart.
Tell us about your motherhood journey
My motherhood journey has been hard, it’s been lonely, isolating, and filled with so much fear. When I imagined myself being a mom I never imagined that my partner would have an incurable cancer and that I would feel so unsupported during such a difficult time in our lives.
Motherhood in itself is hard, suddenly you’re responsible for this tiny being and you’re thrown right in. First you go through pregnancy, then birth, then your little one is here and it’s go time, you now have this tiny person that depends on you to fulfill all of their needs and it’s on you whether you feel great or you have the flu. Being a mother you’re always on the clock and even when you get a few hours to yourself you still think of your little one and the never-ending list of to-do’s.
I have a husband who is going through chemotherapy, multiple surgeries, endless doctor appointments, and a diagnosis that hangs over my head every single day. Somedays it feels like my life is a ticking time bomb. Some days are harder than others but I thank the universe every single day for my little one, if I didn’t have her I have no idea how I would be surviving this chapter of my life, she truly is such a bright light in such a dark time and raising her is such a privilege and an honor.
Tell us about a moment when you were in awe of yourself as a mom and in awe of your child
My degree is in Early Childhood Education and since graduating college I’ve earned certificates in Social Emotional Learning, as well as, conscious discipline. I knew that when the time came for me to be a mother, I really wanted my child to be able to identify feelings and emotions and to feel comfortable talking about them so she would have an easier time managing them and to be more empathetic toward others. I’ve been talking to Nora about feelings and emotions since she was born and it’s been an extraordinary journey seeing her slowly understand and show more compassion towards me and others.
One day I was having a particularly hard day and I was pretty upset. Nora walked up to me and said “Mommy, it’s okay. Breathe.” She started taking deep breaths and encouraged me to join her. She patted my head, got my cup of water, and gave me a hug.
Her kindness and compassion made me cry even more! I instantly felt so much pride and joy and awe, I couldn’t believe that at only 21 months she was capable of so much empathy and compassion. Motherhood is hard. You don’t always know if you’re doing things correctly. There’s no manual or life coach giving you pointers but moments like this are the ones that remind you that your hard work has made a difference.
What is something you are hoping to learn in the next year?
In the next year, I’m hoping to learn to give myself more grace and patience and to advocate for myself when I need support.
Be the first to comment