Happy Mother’s Day from a Portland Family Photographer

Happy Mother’s Day!

When was it that you knew you wanted to be a mother? Was it when you were little? Was it once you hit your thirties and started seeing everyone else with babies? Was it something that you and your partner decided on together?

I’m not a mother yet. But I know someday I’d like to be. I’ve known for a very long time that I wanted to have children, basically since childhood when I discovered dolls and treated them like I was indeed their mother. And as we settle in to our life as a married couple, that future doesn’t feel as distant as it once did. 

So, at the beginning of this year I read a book that my husband first heard about on NPR and bought for me for Christmas. This book resonated with me on so many levels and now I can’t stop recommending it to others; mainly women who are expecting or who are thinking about trying to get pregnant. But, my husband is excited to read it too. And honestly, I think it would be great if all men read it as well – just to give them a little perspective. 

It’s called, “Like a Mother: A Feminist Journey Through the Science and Culture of Pregnancy” by Angela Garbes. Have you read it yet? If not, go out and buy it right now! 

Garbes warmly invites you to join in on her journey for truth throughout her first pregnancy. There is so much misinformation out in the world and she was looking for answers that were fact-based and relevant to today.

I’ve spoken with many new moms as they navigate the crazy societal expectations that seemed to be placed on them throughout their pregnancy and honestly, it sounds so overwhelming. ‘Do this, but don’t do that’ – seems to come from every single pregnancy book that is out there.

And I’m so thankful Garbes shared her journey of trying to demystify all of it, by speaking to actual scientists. It was fascinating to me and I’m now I’m on the hunt for more books like this one.

So, wherever you are on your journey to motherhood/parenthood. I just wanted to say, you are doing a fantastic job. You are enough. You are worth it. You are doing amazing work. You are raising the next generation. Thank you. <3

I’m so thankful I’ve had the great pleasure of working with so many wonderful Mama’s over the last couple of years. And I look forward to meeting many more.

Here are a few of my favorite images of some of the awesome mom’s I’ve had the opportunity to photograph!

Happy Mother’s Day! I hope you are getting to do whatever makes your heart happy today, whatever that looks like for you!