WITHOUT using labels, who are you?
I am a life-long learner. I love to travel, take photos, and eat delicious food. I care about what the experience of something feels like, and I try to find ways to make the experience better the next time/for the next person. I'm curious about a lot of things, which sometimes makes it difficult to decide which passion to pursue (I want to pursue them all). I am a constant work in progress.
https://www.annafeasts.com and @annafeasts on IG is my passion project that combines 3 things I really enjoy: travel, photography, and food. It's a creative outlet that allows me to sharpen my story-telling skills, both visual and written.
Describe your kid.
He's curious, happy, and super smiley. I adore his smile -- it takes up his entire face, and it's infectious! He is determined, sweet, and a great problem solver. He's a quick learner. Very musically inclined -- loves to make noise, listen to music, and dance to the beat. He's chatty and sometimes, he "sings along" to the song that's playing. He is so joyful to be around.
Describe your household.
It's me, my husband, our baby boy, and our kitty girl. Our cat is the gentlest, goodest girl, but she's still not too sweet on our little boy -- and he's almost a year old! He adores her though, and I hope one day they'll be the best of friends. Our family is small but full of love for one another.
What do you adore about being a mother?
Honestly, one of the best parts so far has been hearing my kiddo laugh! It is such a joyous sound, and to know I'm able to make him laugh makes my heart burst with happiness (so cheesy, I know!) I also really enjoy watching him learn. It is endlessly fascinating to watch him figure things out, connect the dots, and immediately put into practice what he learns. A good reminder to my adult self to do the same.
What do you despise about being a mother?
I don't know if I necessarily despise this, but I find it challenging that I don't truly ever get a day off from motherhood. Even with a lot of support in place, it can be difficult to turn off that part of my brain. It's something I am working on, because I realize how important it is to take a break every so often and take time just for me.
What's something you want to do differently than the generations of mothers before you?
I would like to not let my anxiety negatively affect my parenting. I remember my mom was constantly worried about me and my brother when we were little. She didn't trust us and exerted a lot of control over our behavior and choices, which didn't lead to the best relationship with her. I'm very conscious of how much I allow my worry to affect my actions toward my kiddo. I try to practice letting him figure things out on his own (within reason, of course), as well as observe and ask leading questions instead of immediately correcting. I want to earn his trust and respect, and I want him to feel comfortable confiding in me, especially as he gets older.
What is something you’re proud of so far in your motherhood journey?
I'm pretty proud of how present I've been with my kiddo, and of being able to savor the little moments. I've made a conscious effort to step back and soak in whatever small delight is taking place in that moment -- a sleepy snuggle, a silly smile, a sweet little squeeze of my hand. It's easy (at least for me) to get caught up in the general overwhelm of parenting, and I'm grateful I've found a way to recognize and be truly present for the heartwarming moments.
What do you think is the most common thread of motherhood?
The duality of it. How you can adore and be frustrated with your kids at the same time. How you may want a break from parenting and miss them when you're away from them. How you want them to play independently and also want to play with them. I vaguely remember folks mentioning this while I was pregnant, but I found this difficult to truly grasp until I became a parent myself. This duality tends to feed into the "mom guilt," which is another common thread. I've yet to meet a mom who has never felt mom guilt. Silver lining: It can be nice to connect with other moms about how exhausting it can be and to try to figure out together how to better handle it.
What energizes you?
Going for a walk with a good audiobook or podcast. I don't think I've ever felt worse after a walk. And I love the audio medium for consuming content. It's a great way for me to learn something new or process some lingering thoughts.
When do you and how do you feel totally relaxed?
Probably just sitting on my couch, crocheting a blanket, haha! Crochet is a hobby I picked up as a way to not be on my phone so much but still keep my hands busy, especially when I'm watching TV. I find the repetitive nature of crochet incredibly therapeutic, which probably helps my brain actually relax. Also, being in nature, whether it's hiking, picnicking, or enjoying an adult beverage on a patio on a nice day.
How did you feel about being pregnant? What do you remember most about pregnancy?
I remember being surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I was expecting to be miserable the entire time. Morning sickness early on, feeling huge and uncomfortable toward the end -- that's mostly what I'd heard about pregnancy before becoming pregnant. And the first trimester was certainly unpleasant, but after that, I felt good all the way through birth. I remember feeling in awe that my body was growing a human being. I felt (and still feel) extremely grateful for that.
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