On Friday night I had the honor of hosting a dinner for six women to gather and share about motherhood, what it has meant to them, the challenges, and the joys.
Setting up this table was so fun, I sourced the cheese cloth fabrics from a local fabric store called Cut and Run, the owner was so encouraging after hearing about what I planned to use them for. I left feeling excited to include this material in the table set up and connected to another women in my community who is running her own business.
The flowers I got from the local flower market called SLO Flower Collective that happens every Thursday morning. A group of all female flower farmers selling their blooms in the most beautiful garden nestled in downtown SLO at the Dallidet Adobe.
Hannah Created a really delicious menu of Salmon piled high with grilled onion, sun-dried tomatoes, dill, capers, and lemon. Wild rice with olives and carrots, grilled asparagus, and a gluten free olive oil cake with strawberry compote on top. To drink she made a mocktail/cocktail of fresh watermelon juice, lime, and tonic, which was super refreshing on that warm night.
As each guest showed up everyone was so naturally comfortable each person warm and inviting! It truly felt as if everyone had been friends already instead of meeting for the first time. It was beautiful to see a table of women from seventy to thirty years of age sharing in this unifying experience of being a mom. The struggles, fears, insecurities, the joys, the love and the feelings of confidence. Some of the themes of motherhood that was shared: People said that becoming a mom made them feel confident in themselves, that being a mom made them feel like a "super hero goddess!" That having a child is like having your heart live outside your chest for the rest of your life. That their children have been vehicles for change and taught them to embrace impermanence. Having a community of mothers makes things easier, to embrace imperfection, and when you do not know what to do think about what makes you happy. I asked the women who have adult children what is it like now having kids who do not need you in the same ways and are off living their own lives. They said "its like having a best friend who you enjoy and love doing things with." Another said "Feeling pure adoration for who they have become and watching them grow." There was so much love around the table and sweet vulnerability. I left feeling inspired by what it takes to be a mom, what people who choose to become a mom face and how they choose to keep on loving even when it is hard. It truly fills my cup to share these dinner events with the amazing people who show up, the conversations had and the beautiful ways we connect.
