Sunday 25 May 2014

21: Merope


Portraits - the Motherhood series. 

"I'm forever changed." A powerful description of her motherhood experience. Merope, known to many as Mep, is articulate, thoughtful and composed. Much akin to her mother Geraldine, I sense a quiet resolve and strength. She cherishes being able to stay at home with her kids and is completing an early childhood degree online full time. Mep met her husband Alex at the Loop bar in London twelve years ago. Before long they were dating and have rarely spent a night apart since. After seven years, they welcomed the arrival of their first son, Kai. Mep describes her firstborn as an inquisitive soul who seems wild on the outside but is the most sensitive and thoughtful little man underneath. When Kai was fifteen months old, Mep and Alex were married in a beautiful celebration by the sea here in Sydney. Shortly after on Kai's second birthday, Mep discovered she was pregnant. She prayed to have a girl or twins. She tells me that she was genuinely afraid that she could never love another little boy anywhere near as much as she loved Kai. When Axel was born, that fear melted away and they were all instantly smitten. The boys adore each other which makes Mep crumble each and everyday. 

"I feel extremely blessed to have two beautiful, healthy little men who teach me about myself, love, the world they see and everything in between. They remind me to slow down, enjoy the little things and just be happy 'being' in the moment."

You can view all of my portraits from 2013/14 by clicking on the 52 Portrait Series links in the right sidebar of this page. In case you're wondering about the inspiration for this year's Motherhood portrait series, you can read more about it here.

Belinda x

20: Geraldine



Portraits - the Motherhood series. 

Geraldine tells me she considers it a privilege to have been blessed with three children and now four grandchildren. She is a registered nurse and raised her children while doing full time shift work and night duty. It's a wonder she found any time to sleep in fifteen years! These days Geraldine helps prepare patients for surgery and works in an operating theatre. Her selfless and generous nature is a constant source of inspiration to her family. Her daughter Merope describes her as loving, enthusiastic, empathic and resilient. Although I do have it on good authority that pulling the old sick card to get out of school was more of a challenge in their household than most.

Sadly Geraldine's mother died at just 51 years of age. She was a great source of support in those early nursing days and Geraldine is grateful that her children were able to meet her. Geraldine cherishes the time she spends with her grandchildren. She moves mountains for them and hopes that they will always know how much they are loved and appreciated. 

You can view all of my portraits from 2013/14 by clicking on the Portrait Series links in the right sidebar of this page. In case you're wondering about the inspiration for this year's Motherhood portrait series, you can read more about it here.

Belinda x

Monday 19 May 2014

19: Dorothy


Portraits - the Motherhood series.

According to Irish lore, women proposing marriage on a leap year is considered good luck. Dorothy met her husband John at a wedding. But it was a year later in a Dublin pub that they became a couple. Dorothy jokes that they would still be dating now if she didn't take matters into her own hands. After five years, she bought herself a ring and proposed on February 29. 

Dorothy, John and their lovely daughter Laura (5) arrived in Australia from Ireland four years ago. Dorothy works part time as a Pharmacist and says the best thing about her job is the connection to people in the community. She's generous, very family oriented and cares deeply about people. Dorothy also has a charming sense of humour. She's great fun to be around.

In motherhood, Dorothy has taken many cues from her own mother. She's learned to trust her instincts and not to be intimidated by other parenting styles, instead applying what makes sense for her family. She says the hardest thing to say to your child is no, in order to teach them life long values. Especially since "You would love to buy them the sun, moon and stars" 

You can view all of my portraits from 2013/14 by clicking on the Portrait Series links in the right sidebar of this page.

In case you're wondering about the inspiration for this year's Motherhood portrait series, you can read more about it here.

Belinda x

Tuesday 6 May 2014

18: Ashley


Portraits - the Motherhood series.

Ashley and I were lucky enough to attend the BHB (un)Conference last weekend. I reached out over instagram to see whether any mothers attending would like to participate in my portrait project, and Ashley very graciously obliged. I'm so grateful to her for that, it can be daunting to put yourself out there and she was so kind. It was a weekend illuminated by powerful insights about creativity, business and everything in between. Something that resonated for Ashley in particular was advice from Danielle LaPorte to revoke the word busy and choose to see that our lives are as full as we want them to be. 

Ashley met her husband John at a creative arts camp when they were teenagers. They've now been married for ten years and together have three children, their foster daughter April (12), Molly (7) and Richie (3). An ex-social worker turned writer, Ashley is studying an Associate Degree in Professional Writing and Editing at RMIT and currently writing a fictional story about a a child who has been removed from home. She is passionate about family, motherhood, community and being creative. Her life is certainly full to the brim and happily so. 

"In our experience, even when we have thought life was going to get the better of us we have ridden the wave. Sometimes we cruise to the shore like pro surfers and other times we are dumped. But we still make it back to shore with such fulfilment, having experienced a much broader spectrum of the human experience than if we had've played it safe in the shallows. I've learnt to take risks knowing that the little mistakes along the way make up a much more colourful, vibrant and exciting whole picture. Foster parenting was/is a risk for us. But it is certainly making our family's picture a thing of beauty."

It's a beautiful perspective. Life can get complicated but the rewards add such a richness to life that may otherwise be missing. If you'd like to get to know Ashley better, you can visit her lovely blog here.


You can view all of my portraits from 2013/14 by clicking on the Portrait Series links in the right sidebar of this page.

In case you're wondering about the inspiration for this year's Motherhood portrait series, you can read more about it here.

Belinda x
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