It’s International Women’s Day so it’s a great time to celebrate the women in your life and reflect a bit on how far we’ve come and how far there is to go. When it comes to postpartum support for women things are changing. There is so much more awareness of postpartum mood disorders today than there was even six short years ago when my son was born. Organizations are cropping up all over with the purpose of addressing postpartum health. Stigma is slowly lifting. But there is still so much work to do, and because public funding is always in short supply much of that work will have to be done at the grassroots level. Some of the greatest work of our lives might be done at the playground. While our kids are busy testing their boundaries on the monkey bars women have an opportunity to test their own strength, build their own resilience, and develop their own nascent communities alongside other women, other mothers. We are each other’s greatest hope for futures that are bright, connected, and joyful. The village is more necessary than ever and so much harder to find. The battle against isolation is ongoing. Know that you’re not alone. And today, as on all days, reach out to the women nearest to you. You may just find your greatest champion or your greatest friend.
Today we’re sharing more messages of encouragement from Katherine, Shealagh, Avital, and Lesley from the We’re In This Together Project!
I participated in the “We’re In This Together” project because I recently joined the Pacific Post Partum Support Society as a volunteer. What the PPPSS does to support people and families is important.
The messages that people are sending out through the photos here and other campaigns through The Good Mother Project are important.
A few weeks ago, a friend turned to me and said “no one has ever told me that I am enough”. I was shocked and sad. I have been so fortunate to have heard and understood this message throughout my life. I want everyone to know that they are enough.
You are enough.
Through my postpartum journeys, I felt guilty wanting more help, since I had more help available to me than others. But, there is no such thing as too much support.
The Pacific Post Partum Support Society can be a huge help in getting the support to make things better. And it does get better.
Katherine M. Reinhardt
To read Lesley’s story follow this link: http://goodmotherproject.com/2016/01/learning-to-breathe/
We’re In This Together is a photography series, coordinated in partnership with the Pacific Post Partum Support Society and the Good Mother Project, that offers messages of encouragement, hope, support and love to new parents.
For more information on how you can share your message, please visit: http://goodmotherproject.com/were-in-this-together
