Motherhood has taken me
to the place of pain where my stomach felt like it was being ripped out
to the point where my knees meet the floor as gravity pulls
to the very ends of my physical strength and endurance
to a place where inhibitions were shed
to a state of mind where happiness and sadness collide
to a plane of joy where my heart expanded, and contracted, just like my insides.
Motherhood has taken me
to the edges of sanity
to a screaming voice that cannot be mine
to the middle of a crying storm
to a peace of mind
to a heart beating for two now
to feelings so alien yet familiar.
Motherhood has taken me
to gentle sighs
to tiny limbs and big eyes
to giggles and laughter so true
to cheering on of little steps
to hands that clasp fingers so naturally
to a warm body next to mine in a space that was never there before.
Motherhood has taken me
to arms and legs going forth
to talking voices and questioning minds
to hearts in hands as a part of us grow further away
to hearts in throats as pain is more than just a scrape on the outside
to open arms as salve to soothe the hurts.
Motherhood has taken me
to highs so high and lows so low
to thoughts so deep and so shallow
to others who are the same, but different
to come to a love undefinable
to moments of great wisdom and silliness
to the point of no return.
Where has motherhood or parenting taken you?
Latest posts by Alison (see all)
- Words - May 22, 2013
- The Other Side - May 20, 2013
- Things I’m Afraid to Tell You: Volume II - May 15, 2013
Hi, I'm Alison. I write. I mother. I make wishes. I keep memories. Founder of Little Love Media, social media consultancy. I get by on copious amounts of chocolate, cupcakes, coffee, blogging & social media.
I love your poetry. And your way of mothering.
Thank you, Stasha. xo
Seriously, this is so, so, incredibly beautiful Alison. The words themselves weave in and out and around, just as in this Life of Motherhood, where we stand in the center of it all.
Thank You.
Your kind words made my day, Kim!
Love this Alison. Your words are beautiful. I’m absolutely amazed at where motherhood has brought me – the highs and the lows.
Christine recently wrote…TBD
Isn’t it a wild ride? Thanks Christine!
Where happiness and sadness collide – a screaming voice that is not mine – highs so high and lows so low–yes yes and yes to all of this! So lovely and all so true! Beautiful! xo
ilene recently wrote…Bring on the Noise
Thank you, Ilene!
Such gorgeous writing, Alison!
This? This is poetry.
Mirjam recently wrote…Collecting happiness
Thank you so much, Mirjam.
Beautiful. That is all.
Susi recently wrote…The Knot In My Stomach
Thank you very much, Susi.
beautiful. motherhood has taken me to the center of the earth and back. to another galaxy and back. deep into dreams and back. in other words, everywhere
sarah recently wrote…artists in love. sometimes it’s about.
You say it so much more beautifully than I ever could!
How lovely. Motherhood has taken me on the same journey, but it looks prettier in poetry.
Karen Dawkins recently wrote…Irish Photos: Ireland’s Countryside
One can take more liberties when calling it ‘poetry’
I have been told that motherhood is to live with your heart outside of your body for the rest of your life. I could not agree more. Motherhood is also never being totally alone again… Even your own thoughts are part of someone else now. It’s the best and worst thing; I wouldn’t trade it for anything. No one tells you how much you will grow as a person when you become a mother either. I’m proud of the accomplishments I’ve made and hopeful my challenges will be conquer-able.
Julia’s Math recently wrote…Six On Sunday, Version 35
Heart walking outside body – yes, definitely. The never being alone – yes to that too. Especially to the bathroom.
Beautiful beautiful. oxoxoxo
tracy recently wrote…The Facts Of Life
Thank you, thank you. xoxoxo
Love the last line. It’s all so true, especially the part about the screaming.
Hah! It’s pretty therapeutic, the screaming
Motherhood has taken me to heights I never imagined, to lows I never expected. It’s taken me to depths of love so deep my breath has caught, to levels of happiness so high I felt…high. All of the nuances and parallels between are just as amazing and telling and worthy. It is an experience unlike any other in the world for its ability to make us move swifter than we ever imagined, to make us resolute in a decision, and to make us realize that people so much smaller could wield so much power over us. And crazy. It’s taken me from general crazy to outright, certifiable CRAZY. And I wouldn’t change a thing.
Arnebya recently wrote…What Do You Remember From Kindergarten?
OMG, the power-wielding thing is SO TRUE!
Alison, this is so beautifully written! The honesty in your words is touching. I think we can all relate to both the highs and the lows!
Sara recently wrote…The secret to finding high value & even FREE product coupons
Thanks so much, Sara!
Yes to all of these! You are such a great writer…I enjoy watching you grow in motherhood and in your writing
Natalie recently wrote…The Luck of the Irish
You’re so sweet, Natalie, thank you so much.
Alison, this is beautifully said. I can honestly say that motherhood has definitely taken me to some places you’ve mentioned in this beautiful poem.
Olga recently wrote…Their Future is Our Design
Thank you, Olga.
You summed motherhood up perfectly and poetically.
Simply beautiful, Alison.
xo
Runnermom-jen recently wrote…Weeds…and a photo dump
Thank you, lovely Jen.
I love this, Alison.The wisdom and the silliness, the open arms, the love undefinable, coupled with the highs and lows, the crying storms and growing further away – I was nodding, It is so true – and so beautifully said,
Kim recently wrote…How Awesome Is He?
Glad you loved it, Kim. Thank you.
So beautiful and poetic. I always steal that line from The Simpsons to describe motherhood in my life: “the terrifying lows, the dizzying highs, the creamy middles”…I want it all. I have it all.
Tamara recently wrote…Behind the Lens.
That’s a beautiful quote, Tamara.
This is beautiful, Alison. So well-written. Motherhood has taken me on a wild rollercoaster ride.
AnnMarie recently wrote…Five Things I Love About Raising a Teen
Thank you, my friend. It is certainly a crazy ride!
Nowhere yet!
Blond Duck recently wrote…The thing about love
Your words, and your heart, are so very beautiful.
Tracie recently wrote…Twirling Rainbow Before The Rain
Thank you, lovely.
Motherhood has taken me out to sea and I often didn’t know if I would make it back to shore.
Motherhood has made me miss the confident, bubbly and always positive girl of my youth, who seems to be taking a breather while this quieter and more reserved mother me takes her place.
Motherhood has filled my heart with purpose, with love, with a pain I never knew you could exist. The pain of watching your children experience their own pain is the worst kind of pain I have faced.
There will never be a me that doesn’t define myself as a mother as one of my two three adjectives.
Motherhood is the grace I try to capture every day.
LOVE YOU, ALISON.
Kiran recently wrote…Last Mornings
Oh hon, that was beautiful. Truly beautiful.
Love you too. xoxo
Ohhh…weepy. (Also, motherhood has taken me to weepy places.)
Perhaps I’ve been viewing your site on a reader for a while, but…it’s super purty in an actual browser!
keely recently wrote…The Evolution Of A Day’s Outfit.
Oh yes, weepy. Lately, I’ve been weepy (don’t ask).
Also, thank you. I’m glad you clicked through to see my new blog dress
Beautiful Alison.
Motherhood has taken me to the place where I feel so unbelievably lost while also knowing I am exactly where I am supposed to be. (Also, I just typed “bed” instead of “be” which probably gives you a good hint as to where motherhood has NOT taken me.)
Laura recently wrote…#LoveSobeys Refresh Your Flavours
Oh hon, bed? What bed?
Gorgeous, truly. I love this poetry and reading your heart. I think this is my favorite piece from you so far.
Julia recently wrote…Blended Pieces on Moonfrye
Aw, thank you Julia, that’s lovely of you to say.
I love your use of language here. Each of those snippets is a whole picture in itself. Lovely, and all so true, but this is my favourite: “to a warm body next to mine in a space that was never there before.” Love it.
Robin recently wrote…How to Make a Mobile LEGO Tray
I live that reality every night
Thank you, so much. xo
So beautifully put. “To hands that clasp fingers so naturally” just made me completely melt. I’d say that motherhood has taken me to the limits of my patience, yet shown me love beyond what I could have ever imagined.
Leslie recently wrote…{30 Things} My Relationship with My Spouse
Oh yes, limits of patience. Mine has been stretched thin!
Gorgeous! Motherhood has taken me to places I never thought I would go.
Barbara recently wrote…Photo Love…
Thank you, Barbara.
To all those places and beyond.
This is so beautifull!
Tinne from Tantrums and Tomatoes recently wrote…A holiday in Lille, France. Summarized in tweets
Thank you, Tinne!
What a beautiful piece, and so true! Love the way you put feelings into words and allow us readers to feel it with you, through our own memories, while reading yours. (Hope that made sense!) It was beautiful and moving.
Jennifer recently wrote…How to Print on Burlap
It totally made sense.
Thank you, Jennifer.
Yes, yes, yes. Just yes.
another jennifer recently wrote…Sharing Skillshare Blog Posts and Looking for Feedback
I can’t remember if I commented on this because I read it yesterday but I just wanted to say that you are an amazing mom. I think all of us are so blessed to be parents. It’s a wonderful ride xoxo
Kimberly recently wrote…Mind In Rebellion
No more amazing than you, my love. I hope you’re okay. I think about you all the time. xo
This was just perfect.
Lady Jennie recently wrote…Life in the Trenches – Chapter 11
Thank you, my dearest friend. xo
Aww, yes the voice that can’t be mine. Lovely Alison.
Poppy recently wrote…Shamrock Run Portland
Thank you, Poppy. xo
I adore how you wrote this. And it really is amazing to think of all the places it has taken us… beautiful, my friend.
Elaine A. recently wrote…It’s All Good
Thank you, sweet Elaine!
Motherhood is full of surprises.
Jessica recently wrote…Essence of Now: Family
It most certainly is.
I love this post. Nothing in life prepares you for being a mother until you’re a mother. The most profound thing I have learned from being a mother is now knowing how much my mother loved me, and still does. Stopping by from SITS. Have a great day!
Adrienn recently wrote…The evolution of a mom.
It is amazing the things we learn and realize as soon as those little people pop out, isn’t it?
Beautiful! Captures the full realm of what motherhood really is.
Thank you Leah.
There are some days when I am BOTH kinds of crazy. Motherhood has taken my memory, my patience, sometimes my sense of self, and definitely my selfishness.
Greta recently wrote…The Very Best Snuggles #iPPP
Oh yes, I’ve been both kinds of crazy at the same time too
Two words: Love this! (That’s all!)
Jessica recently wrote…Unexpectedly Pregnant
Thank you Jessica!
Boy, you’re just getting all deep down and poetic-y. Have you been sipping a lot of tea and wearing blazers with leather elbow patches?
Beautiful stuff.
Tammy recently wrote…Arguing for Good is Easier when the Dem’s aren’t being Bad
Did you peek through my window?
Thank you, Tammy.
Beautifully written. Love this!
Kimberly recently wrote…Essence of Now: Spring Has Sprung
You have taken me, Alison Lee….back into my “young mother days.”
thank you!
Love Xxx
My Inner Chick recently wrote…When Spring Comes Alive
That makes me happy, Kim. xoxo
So beautiful, motherhood definitely takes me through all the extremes of emotions and experiences. It’s a wonderful ride.
Julia recently wrote…An Open Letter
Thank you, Julia.
breathtakingly accurate description of motherhood.
Robbie recently wrote…How Could I?
Thank you, Robbie.
These words are so perfect.
Tricia recently wrote…Stella and Dot online trunk party
it has taken me right to hell and right to paradise.
at the exact same time.
motherhood is completely logical and the ultimate paradox.
at the exact same time.
I love your writing, my friend.
Katie recently wrote…The Mommy Survival Kit
Your comment is beautiful, Katie! And thank you, the feeling is mutual. xo
Motherhood is hell, isn’t it? And it has taken me there and back. Sometimes daily. It’s magical and frustrating and all encompassing.
Tonya recently wrote…Dear Pinterest
All encompassing it absolutely is.