power to the mother — Abi Smissen

Power to the Mother is a series of interviews on the transformative, diverse and empowering experience of motherhood.

Over the past couple of weeks I have had the pleasure of speaking to Leata-Mae D’Avoine, a birth worker, doula, and mother to one about her experiences of motherhood. I’ve loved following Leata-Mae for a while, she has an incredibly open and honest approach to sharing her motherhood, and is a huge advocate for birthing women’s rights. Read on to find out more about her path to becoming a doula, her mindful approach to the simple things in life, and some important words on being a birthing mother of colour in the UK…

Power to the Mother: Sarah Starrs

Power to the Mother is a series of interviews on the transformative and empowering experience of motherhood.

This month, I’m interviewing Sarah Starrs blogger, virtual assistant and mother to one. Sarah always writes beautifully about mothering while also keeping in tune with her magic practices, and being entirely and generously herself. Here we talk about having the birth you didn’t plan for, the relentlessness of parenting and the beauty you can find within it too. Thank…

Power to the Mother: Huma Qureshi

Power to the Mother is a series of interviews on the transformative and empowering experience of motherhood.

We welcome Power to the Mother into 2019 with an interview with Huma Qureshi, author, writer at Our Story Time, journalist, and mother to three. I love reading Huma’s weekly long reads, they speak of simple living and motherhood in the most beautiful ways. Her ability to get to the heart of divisive issues in the most simple and generous ways in nothing short of wonderful. Speaking here about the creativity within pregnancy and motherhood, and raising children with honesty and truth at heart, I hope you enjoy the beauty in Huma’s answers as much as I did.

Power to the MotherAbi Smissen10 January 2019power to the mother, birth experiences, birth, mindful parents, gentle parentingComment

Power to the Mother: Ashleigh Moir

For the last Power of the Mother interviews of 2018, I’m sharing with you a conversation with Ashleigh Moir. I first met Ashleigh through one of Eloise’s courses, and since then have had a kind of fascination with her. There’s something about her assured presence that seems hard won, and from her outdoor-living philosophy to her amazing support of women, her attitude is always inspiring and I feel lucky to have found her. Here we talk about unexpected motherhood, finding support and - of course - getting all that glorious fresh air.

Power to the Mother: Ruth Poundwhite

Power to the Mother is a series of interviews on the transformative and empowering experience of motherhood.

On Power to the Mother today, I’ve been very excited to speak to Ruth Poundwhite, mother of one and creative business owner. I love Ruth’s podcast, Creatively Human, and really connect with the stories she tells as well as those of her interviewees. Ruth’s son Rowan is quite literally about to turn one, so this felt like a very special time for her to share her experiences with me. Here we talk about motherhood not being quite as expected, the drive to make changes post-baby, and learning to love yourself. I hope you enjoy Ruth’s answers as much as I did!

Power to the MotherAbi Smissen30 November 2018power to the mother, mental health, fourth trimesterComment

Power to the Mother: My birth story.

This is a story that is mine. It is one that I get to choose how to tell. The language is mine, the narrative I craft is mine, and the emotions that run deep and earnestly throughout are all mine too. It is a story that I have held back on sharing because I was scared of marring the face of birth positivity, something that I feel is so important. I was worried that by sharing an experience that is at the very crux and core of me I would be letting the side down. I do not let it define me, but it is inherently woven into the tapestry of our lives. To ignore it is to ignore the yearning I have to share with you, it is to ignore the important message I feel exists in its past and present. It is to ignore the all-encompassing empowerment it gave me now and at the time.

Power to the Mother, BirthAbi Smissen21 November 2018birth experiences, power to the mother, birthComment

Power to the Mother: Beth Henson

Power to the Mother is a series of interviews on the transformative and empowering experience of motherhood.

Today on Power to the Mother I welcome Beth, mother of two and blogger at Someday Slower. Beth writes about minimalism and motherhood in such an approachable way that I find completely inspiring. Speaking to Beth I felt a real connection in our experiences, she speaks with such honesty. Here we speak about the ways minimalism changed her life, difficult births, and of finding yourself in motherhood.

Power to the MotherAbi Smissen13 November 2018power to the mother, motherhood, birth experiences, birth trauma, fourth trimesterComment

Power to the Mother: Eloise Rickman

Power to the Mother is a series of interviews on the transformative and empowering experience of motherhood.

For the first of our Power to the Mother series, I interview Eloise Rickman, of Frida Be Mighty. Eloise has been hugely influential on my journey as a mother, particularly in the ways we choose to educate and parent our daughter, and I just love her courses. She has such a refreshing, kind and inclusive voice, so I was really looking forward to getting to know more about her experiences of birth and new motherhood. Here she is on having the birth you might not have planned for, training as a doula and hypnobirth teacher, friendships, and being present. I hope you enjoy her answers as much as I did.

Power to the MotherAbi Smissen2 November 2018fourth trimester, mindful parents, power to the mother, birth experiencesComment