When we enter life, we are handed an unwritten set of rules by which we should guide our life as women. It’s society’s view of how we should behave, of how we should dress, of how we should build our relationships, our place in the household, our choice of partners. Not only does it have guidelines, it also has milestones. Its keepers can easily frown, shame, outcast. Yet, with every single day, barriers are broken, patterns are dismantled and voices grow stronger.  Gina shaped her own narrative. She decided time is too precious to waste without…

Writing Anne’s interview reminded me of a miniseries I had just finished watching – Mrs America – an illustration of the movement to ratify the ERA (Equal Rights Amendment)*. As women, we have come such a long way, but there are still many battles to be fought. Many steps to be taken to ensure equality.  Women still fight for equal rights, equal pay and put in the same amount of hours as men, the same dedication, the same ferocity. Sometimes even more, since there is always this need to prove themselves, to overcome prejudice in the…

They say a photo is worth a thousand words. However, we see so many photos scrolling down our social media feed, with most of them hiding a thousand feelings. Stories buried deep down inside, words that we prefer to keep to ourselves. This is what we show to the world, a mere moment of happiness, but what about the complexity of all our other moments? Why don’t they deserve a story, intertwined with our vulnerability as human beings? When do we pause to tell the truth? Mothers face the hardest struggles and yet they quietly soldier…

Life said NO, but Anna said YES. Her story is about not giving up, whether it was struggling to have a child, going through a near death experience or finding a surrogate. What struck me the most is that she talked with confidence, strenght and serenity, like everything was no big deal.  ⧭ “We started trying for a baby right after we got married. But we couldn’t, we couldn’t, we couldn’t. We tried for 5 years. I think it was because of my endometriosis, but it was never confirmed. Other than that, the doctors said everything…

Raquel is a rich woman. This is what I felt when I saw the photo she sent me after our interview. And there weren’t any cars, houses, boats, designer clothes or jewelries in there. It was just a photo of her kids. Raquel’s story is about embracing the unexpected and taking things one day at a time. She is a true example that not all heroes wear capes. That they are sometimes in the kitchen making dinner for a big family or making every effort to support a child with special needs.  ⧭ “I have four…

Who am I? Said the mother looking at herself in the mirror.  Valery’s story comes as a wrecking ball, smashing those walls of guilt mothers tend to surround themselves with. When trying to weave career, motherhood and femininity into one person, being selfish from time to time suddenly feels liberating.  ⧭ “It’s hard. There is not much glamour until your children grow up. I had very good friends who gave me the reality check while I was still pregnant. They prepared me for what was to come. They didn’t sugarcoat it. And I adopted the same…

It started raining the moment I parked my car near Jess’s place. It was a light rain, enough to encourage you to go on a walk while watching the drops slide down your umbrella. I had a feeling she had news to share. I was not wrong, but I was not in the least prepared for what was to come.  Jess’s story is emotionally powerful. It’s intimate and heartbreaking. It’s about spiraling in the dark and rising from the ashes. But, above all, her confession is a selfless act to share and help other women.  ⧭…

Be a mother. But not too early in life or not too late. Have a career. But stay at home to take care of your children. Be as fit as that social media influencer was after she gave birth. But don’t forget to cook dinner. Breastfeed as much as you can. But look sexy when you go out. Raluca’s story is about the constant pressure society puts on mothers. To do it all. To have it all. To be perfect from the very beginning and not stop to catch their breath. Her story shows that the…

Catalina’s journey is one in a million. Wait, scratch that. One in 10 million. No, not even close. Unfortunately, there is no data to explain what happened to her daughter, no research, no documented cases. No answers. This is a story about strength and resilience in the face of despair. About moving mountains one day at a time.  Catalina’s emotional roller coaster started from her pregnancy, when at the first ultrasound the doctor could not hear her daughter’s heartbeat. Another ultrasound revealed a problem with her heart, that could be solved after birth. The last part…

A few days ago, someone was telling me that whenever she goes to visit her mom friend, she feels that freakin’ Martha Stewart lives there. Everything is impeccably clean and this only reminds her of the pile of clothes on her bedroom floor. However, behind every squeaky clean house, behind every healthy-bio-organic-freshly cooked batch of cupcakes, there’s a tired mom whose kid just smeared the frosting all over the carpet.  The best thing you can do is take a photo of that work of art and send it to your friends. This will certainly make them…