Well girls, it’s been a month of change, again. And you’ve taken it in your stride admirably. Which doesn’t mean it’s not been hard, I see you both, and I hear you both, and I totally get that it has, but I’m proud of how you work through hard things. We’ve always talked about identifying feelings and taking ownership of them in order to get through them but never have you needed those inner resources more than during this last year or so. The changes and uncertainty and lack of feeling rooted that has been part of our life would have been hard for adults to deal with, let alone adolescents with all the natural changes that come during this time of your lives. The unpredictability of the whole covid situation would have been hard to deal with, without all the other changes and decisions that we’ve had to make.

I always want to be a good example to you – a Mama who shows you what is possible – who not only believes in you, but believes in herself. With all the craziness of last year I’ve had lots of doubts about how we move forwards, a few wobbles and days where I just felt stuck in a time warp (though that’s the covid effect for everyone I’m sure!!). But I hope that in sharing when I’m having a harder times I’m an example too – that you realise that it’s not all great, but damnit there’s still a lot of good to be found. That on tough days moving your body and getting fresh air help. That headspace is good. That good healthy food rules over junk, but a chocolate bar really can be just what you need some days too 😉 That sitting with feelings, and then talking them through is far healthier than burying them. That a bath can soothe more than just aching muscles. That we can find so much joy and contentment in nature. That it’s OK to have a sad day, and to admit it out loud.

I don’t say these things because they happen often – more that because they’re infrequent we sometimes forget how to deal with those unexpected hard days and they come at us sideways. I say these things so you know it’s OK to feel all the feels when one of those days hits you. Because you know you have resources within you, and around you to identify, and move through these days. And then we work our way back to the days where we sail though, feeling the sun on our faces, even when it’s behind a cloud! And every single day, but especially on the tough days of crazy changes I’m here to hold your hand – never forget that my sweeties,

I love you my girlie whirlies, Mama, xx

Artifact motherhood is a collaboration of artists/mothers from around the world. Sharing stories of the joys and struggles of our journey. Our hopes and dreams for our children. With little nuggets of wisdom here and there. These are more than photographs with dates written on the back. These are the artifacts we are leaving behind for children and the generations to come.

Please follow to our next beautiful Mama artist Jess Cheetham HERE

February 2021 | Fujairah | United Arab Emirates