The day I truly felt like I became a Mother wasn’t when my furbaby chose me as his human. It wasn’t when I fell pregnant. It wasn’t when I found out my baby was a boy and it wasn’t when I felt him kick for the first time. It wasn’t even when he was born. It wasn’t when I held him for the first time or even nursed him. The day I truly felt like I became a Mother, was when I finally felt bonded to him.
The bond we create with the other humans we choose to love is the strongest love there is. It doesn’t always happen as organically as we’re told it’s supposed to, and it doesn’t always mean blood. But when it does happen, it’s some kind of wonderful. I bonded to my own Mother in different ways as I grew into the Mother I am today. I learned, I failed, I learned again. She didn’t know her own Mother. Being adopted, she was chosen by a woman who wanted so badly to be a Mother that she went out and chose a child to love. The moment she made that decision, she became a Mother.
I was lucky growing up, in that I had a tribe of women help to Mother me when my parents divorced. My Aunts, my older Cousins, and especially my Grandmother. They were all Mothers to me in one way or another, and they helped make me the woman I am today. I still look to them for guidance as I raise my Son in this crazy world we’ve now found ourselves in, and right now, there are parents all around the world trying to desperately keep their children sane, happy, and healthy.
So, to this, I say, Mothers, Grandmothers, Sisters, Aunts, Cousins, Happy Mother’s Day. Thanks for doing what you do, even if it’s yelling our full names out in public when we’re almost 40 years old. We love you. This is for you.
Water Babe | CJ Eklund
When I fell pregnant with my son, I would often go for a surf. In between the swells, I would talk with him about how much I loved the water and the ocean. I spent a lot of time in and around water and I hoped that he would love it as much as me. He didn’t disappoint. From the moment he was born he has loved water. In any form. Puddles. Rain. Bath-time. The beach. The shower. The sink. The first thing he does when he’s outside is head straight for the tap. Stopping him is next to impossible. He’s my water babe.
Katie Mollon
My relationship with my going-on-four-year-old daughter is like a mirror. My best and worst traits are reflected back at me through her raw emotions. One of the influences I've had on her is an interest in photography. She insisted that I let her use some of my beloved film. We compromised in this project: a film swap in which she began with a disposable camera, and I shot over top with my favorite SLR. I love how this image captures her confidence: not yet swayed by opinions of others.
Darren Rose
Our son was born on Easter Sunday, which in the UK, was about 5 weeks in to the COVID-19 lockdown. Amongst the many challenges having a baby during the times has presented, not being able to introduce him to friends and family has been the most difficult. Facetime and Zoom calls have helped bridge the gap but my Mum, who lives alone and doesn’t really get on with technology, has not yet had the chance to see her Grandson. Nor has our newly born son had the chance to be cuddled and held close by his Granny.
To help fill the void, I’ve been taking lots of pictures and sending prints to my Mum. She’s been putting them up at home, and put one next to a picture of my Dad, so that he can meet his Grandson too.
Although he can’t make sense of what I’m holding up in front of him, having pictures of my Mum to show him and talk to him about her feels like the best I can do at the moment. As I’ve looking to document the impact of the lockdown on daily life, it’s the images of my Mum and family and friends taken before lockdown that are providing us with comfort and many fond memories. Pictures are important. Never stop taking them.
Louise, 2017 | Amy Jasek
My one, my only, my girl - but not mine to possess or keep. When she’s not flying high on the swings, she stands firmly on her own two feet, and for this I am thankful every day!
Connect
CJ Eklund is a fine art photographer in Europe, Australia and Africa, currently working on a number of limited edition collections and working on a photo project that focuses on empathy between humans and animals in East Africa. You can see more of her work here or follow @cjeklund on Instagram.
Film photographer Katie Mollon is based in Michigan. See more of her work & connect with her on Instagram.
Film photographer Darren Rose is based in the UK. Connect with him and see more of his work on his Instagram and on his website.
Amy Jasek is based in Texas. See more of her work on her Instagram and on her website.