Thank you Kate for making me feel seen. I look forward to your beautiful writing in my inbox each week. My girls are 2 and 4 and it’s nice to feel like someone has been there, survived it, and lived to write (eloquently) about it!
“Mothering and nonmothering have been such charged concepts for us, precisely because whichever we did has been turned against us.” The least we can do is not turn motherhood against ourselves.
This particular quote summarizes the absolute disbelief and sadness I felt as a new mother, and successful businesswoman, trying desperately to find a place to have an honest conversation about the right next step for me. Every option I found was so polarized, set in their own beliefs, that I never felt I had a space to discuss the merits of each approach to mothering FOR ME. It's such a personal journey but it does take "a village" so to speak, an honest retelling of experiences. Articles like yours set that stage. Thank you for continuing to write so bravely about this topic.
Such good thoughts, Kate. I resonate with all of what you're saying. One thing I find is that I'm conflicted--I don't want motherhood to be commodified/monetized but I do want it to be valued, and I want my time to be valued, and in our culture I'm not sure how to do that without dollar signs.
I sometimes wonder if commodifying/monetizing motherhood (as well as other forms of unpaid caregiving) is the only way we'll be able to establish a value for it in a capitalist culture, but I hear you: It's complicated. Thanks for reading.
Yes, I was listening to Ezra Klein talk about the VP debate today and the prospect of the government compensating stay-at-home parents in addition to making child care outside of the home more affordable. I'm glad we are talking about it, but I'm also not clear on the solution.
Thank you Kate for making me feel seen. I look forward to your beautiful writing in my inbox each week. My girls are 2 and 4 and it’s nice to feel like someone has been there, survived it, and lived to write (eloquently) about it!
Thanks for your kind comment, Alexis. I love that this feels like a conversation of sorts for you.
“Mothering and nonmothering have been such charged concepts for us, precisely because whichever we did has been turned against us.” The least we can do is not turn motherhood against ourselves.
This particular quote summarizes the absolute disbelief and sadness I felt as a new mother, and successful businesswoman, trying desperately to find a place to have an honest conversation about the right next step for me. Every option I found was so polarized, set in their own beliefs, that I never felt I had a space to discuss the merits of each approach to mothering FOR ME. It's such a personal journey but it does take "a village" so to speak, an honest retelling of experiences. Articles like yours set that stage. Thank you for continuing to write so bravely about this topic.
Wow. Thanks, Kirsten. I really appreciate you adding your perspective.
Love this. I’m reading it with my baby asleep in my arms ❤️
Kiss her fuzzy little head for me!
Yes, Kate, motherhood!
That poem has me without words.
It's a good one.
Such good thoughts, Kate. I resonate with all of what you're saying. One thing I find is that I'm conflicted--I don't want motherhood to be commodified/monetized but I do want it to be valued, and I want my time to be valued, and in our culture I'm not sure how to do that without dollar signs.
I sometimes wonder if commodifying/monetizing motherhood (as well as other forms of unpaid caregiving) is the only way we'll be able to establish a value for it in a capitalist culture, but I hear you: It's complicated. Thanks for reading.
Yes, I was listening to Ezra Klein talk about the VP debate today and the prospect of the government compensating stay-at-home parents in addition to making child care outside of the home more affordable. I'm glad we are talking about it, but I'm also not clear on the solution.
This is so beautiful 🧡 and those stamps!!!!
Those stamps were made for you!