Living a life in balance between family and career is a rare gift to your children. And writing is that rare career at this unusual moment on this terrific platform that I believe adds tot he role of mother.
However you define your blog, I know this: it's valuable and a gift to your readers.
I worship at the altar of mothers. My favorite women, whom I love more than anything, are mothers, and I had zero interest in reading about mothering. I thought nothing could bore me more. I’m proud to say I was so damn wrong. The way you write about mothering and your boys is so damn entertaining and cracks open a part of life that I never would have glanced twice at. For that, I am so grateful to you. Your ability to birth these new considerations within me and grow them to enormous proportions is the stuff of literary legend. ❤️🔥⚡️💥
Isabel, LOOOVE this. You nail it! Also, I love Madeline Donahue’s paintings. A good friend of ours, Nina Johnson, represents her! https://ninajohnson.com/
A while ago, I heard the NPR music critic Anne Powers talking about Joni Mitchel’s album, ‘Blue' (which was about giving a child up for adoption) and I had to pause the show and write down what she said in my journal: “Critics didn’t get it… people didn’t get it at the time… It’s a testimony to the need for women to tell their stories that aren’t officially in the history books or master narrative. Because unless we tell those stories they are not audible they are not legible. And even sometimes when we do they are not so you have to tell them more than once.”
Women's narratives have been discredited forever. But I do believe this is changing!
I really love what you said at the end: "I’m the writer I want to be because I’ve been tenderized and shot through with white hot love. And I’m the mom I want to be because I make meaning of the slow motion days that race into years. What’s the goal if not to be in awe of what’s in front of you?”
I don’t think there is a topic under the sun that is not worthy of writing about as long as the writer brings that exact take to it: tenderized, in awe, and trying to make meaning for the readers.
Isabel, you. are. a. writer. Life, at its core no matter what your "calling" is an all alone journey. Humans need to learn to deal with this fact & embrace it. The older one gets the more "alone" it becomes... even when surrounded by loved ones & others. We are conditioned to view being alone as a negative experience; when in fact, we should learn to embrace it and use it to love our inner most being. These are only my opinions & observations... Hope this finds you & yours healthy & as happy as can be💞 the old school teacher
Bravo. This reminds me of other clear sighted and moving writing about motherhood that I've read, especially by Lawrence, and Tolstoy's diary about his childhood. Thanks Isabel.
Your essays never fail to spark meaningful reflections within me, Isabel, no matter the topic. And, as I already told you, motherhood suits you in a very unique way. This one was especially lovely. xo
You're a fabulous writer, Isabel!
I wish motherhood, and parenthood generally, was treated with more respect in our society.
Isabel,
Living a life in balance between family and career is a rare gift to your children. And writing is that rare career at this unusual moment on this terrific platform that I believe adds tot he role of mother.
However you define your blog, I know this: it's valuable and a gift to your readers.
I worship at the altar of mothers. My favorite women, whom I love more than anything, are mothers, and I had zero interest in reading about mothering. I thought nothing could bore me more. I’m proud to say I was so damn wrong. The way you write about mothering and your boys is so damn entertaining and cracks open a part of life that I never would have glanced twice at. For that, I am so grateful to you. Your ability to birth these new considerations within me and grow them to enormous proportions is the stuff of literary legend. ❤️🔥⚡️💥
Isabel, LOOOVE this. You nail it! Also, I love Madeline Donahue’s paintings. A good friend of ours, Nina Johnson, represents her! https://ninajohnson.com/
I love that you have baby Bruce. My 6 year old grandson is Bruce. I love the name !
A while ago, I heard the NPR music critic Anne Powers talking about Joni Mitchel’s album, ‘Blue' (which was about giving a child up for adoption) and I had to pause the show and write down what she said in my journal: “Critics didn’t get it… people didn’t get it at the time… It’s a testimony to the need for women to tell their stories that aren’t officially in the history books or master narrative. Because unless we tell those stories they are not audible they are not legible. And even sometimes when we do they are not so you have to tell them more than once.”
Women's narratives have been discredited forever. But I do believe this is changing!
I really love what you said at the end: "I’m the writer I want to be because I’ve been tenderized and shot through with white hot love. And I’m the mom I want to be because I make meaning of the slow motion days that race into years. What’s the goal if not to be in awe of what’s in front of you?”
I don’t think there is a topic under the sun that is not worthy of writing about as long as the writer brings that exact take to it: tenderized, in awe, and trying to make meaning for the readers.
Wow… just wow..
Isabel, you. are. a. writer. Life, at its core no matter what your "calling" is an all alone journey. Humans need to learn to deal with this fact & embrace it. The older one gets the more "alone" it becomes... even when surrounded by loved ones & others. We are conditioned to view being alone as a negative experience; when in fact, we should learn to embrace it and use it to love our inner most being. These are only my opinions & observations... Hope this finds you & yours healthy & as happy as can be💞 the old school teacher
Bravo. This reminds me of other clear sighted and moving writing about motherhood that I've read, especially by Lawrence, and Tolstoy's diary about his childhood. Thanks Isabel.
I can relate to the feeling you describe as a mom— never alone but often lonely.
Your essays never fail to spark meaningful reflections within me, Isabel, no matter the topic. And, as I already told you, motherhood suits you in a very unique way. This one was especially lovely. xo