We have many interesting articles in our magazine this season, including another wonderful photo series of a mama giving birth with henna on her belly! What is it like to add a 2nd child? Stephanie shares her birth story along with Monet's amazing photos of her experience.
One of the joys of the work I do is watching families grow through time, like Katy's. We met to celebrate her first pregnancy and later, her 2nd. Read her story about how they bought a house in Longmont and had a family in a neighborhood where neighbors come out and talk to each other, have parties together, form meal trains for new mamas, and babysit each others kids. These important connections show up differently in each mama's life and I love to hear about all the variations on how women find support in their journey.
We also have a moving story from Julie, who also gave birth to her 2nd child recently and had to practice allowing herself to slow down - rejecting the cultural idea that women should be Super Moms and do it all. She found support in other ways, like listening to Janet Landsbury's podcast, online exercise communities and her deck of mothering affirmation cards by Renegade Mothering.
2018 marks 10 years since I began my art project honoring pregnancy with henna, and it's wonderful to connect with women that I painted so many years ago. I recently began calling models back and inviting them to include their children. It was wonderful to talk to Kathrina again and see her two daughters - the youngest one was in her belly when I adorned her with a turtle for her pregnancy. Seeing the Mother-Daughter bond is such a joy.
Local mama, doula and Ayurvedic Educator Radha wrote about self care, and how we can tune into whether a food/activity is beneficial to us.
and more...