Saturday 26 February 2011

Only Love Can Break Your Heart

When I first started up this blog I was intending to write about my adventures as an entrepreneur. You know like, hey - I got this new account, or the cookie machine broke etc... but I've been on this extended mat leave and I must say that the adventures I'm having now seem to be far juicier than a new scone recipe.
So here goes. I'm going to be honest about some things...
In my earlier posts I wrote about the anxiety and insomnia I'd been experiencing. Well, it didn't really let up. In fact, it started to get worse, and I went into some very challenging and scary places with the sleep deprivation. I understand why it is used as a form of torture. This all lead me to finally reach out and get some help. I was hoping it would pass, or thought it was normal, or was just completely out of my mind that I wasn't thinking straight.
So here's the diagnosis: postpartum anxiety/depression. On the assessment checklist, one of the questions is "are you a perfectionist?" That one really struck me. I had some extremely high expectations for what I thought new motherhood would be like, and how I'd be feeling in it. Instead, it seems the opposite has occurred. It's been heartbreaking.
Since I am still a baker, I am going to tell you the recipe for what I experienced:
1) High expectations of motherhood
2) Expectations of an easy baby who just sleeps and smiles and eats (ha ha)
3) Extremely high expectations of myself
4) Wham-bam cocktail of hormones
5) Idea that I could return to work and just be my normal old self
6) Total life change in the blink of an eye
7) Being really hard on myself for all the above things

Motherhood is a tricky one. It is showing me the complete range of human emotion, and my own capacity to hold these emotions without falling apart. On the one hand, being a mom is earth-shattering, and on the other hand, is the most normal and common practice in life. So what's wrong with me? Why am I not strolling around with a goofy grin on my face, drinking a latte?
And why has that become an icon for what motherhood is? And why are women generally secretive about their dark sides?

At this point, I've had many conversations about these postpartum symptoms. I've seen two naturopaths, two GP's, two doctors of Chinese medicine, and one Reiki master. I've also had many conversations with women who experienced similar symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Here's what I know to be true: in the midst of the biggest change in my life - emotionally, spiritually, physiologically, mentally - I cracked open. Nothing was as it was. Everything felt unknown, and that made me shake in my boots. In this cracking open, there is a lot of debris, there is a lot to let go of, and there is A LOT to feel.
And why did I crack? To make space for love. A new love for my new self, and a new, huge, crazy love for a human being named Cedar. I have never felt so vulnerable and unsure. This is the craziest adventure of my life so far. I have no misconceptions now of what motherhood is - it takes you to the edges and far reaches of yourself so that you can hold a space for another human being to thrive and feel safe in. It is a giveaway. An act of pure service. And let's be honest, for some of us this is not so much our natural way... It's a serious learning curve.

The doctor of chinese medicine I am seeing put it so beautifully, 'You've lost your spirit. And your spirit is looking for a way to come back in. You are homesick. Home isn't where you live, it's where you belong.'
Last night I lay in bed and had the overwhelming desire to get home.




9 comments:

Unknown said...

you just made my heart swell. xo

Selena said...

oh my girl so beautifully and honestly written. darkness has it's beauty and can be healing.

'everything has a crack in it, that's how the light gets in' L. Cohen

and BTW what the eff IS up with the almighty image of the blissed out mama drinking latte's? i mean, sure there are moments of that, but there are also the moments you speak of. for some, those moments are huge gaps in time - for which shame and guilt is felt at not living up to the image. when we speak these truths? *gasp* the horror! good thing we don't run in those circles. PPD is real, nothing to be ashamed of and seeking support is a sign of STRENGTH not weakness.

love you mama. cedar is one lucky little boy. so is the big one.

xoxox

claudia said...

take it to the tree, love, take it to the tree!

Theresa Lemieux said...

Thank you for honesty. It's been years since those times, and yet I used to wonder - was it just me? Beautifully stated.

Baker Babe said...

Yeah, I'm not even a latte drinker. What about the cortado? Now THAT'S what a real mama drinks. Better yet - black espresso.
Thanks for reading, Ladies.
xo

shasha Shaun Navazesh said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
shasha Shaun Navazesh said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
shasha Shaun Navazesh said...

I love you Emma Joon
“I love you dada “ she says
my memories floodgate collapsed
all the love rushed through
time stood still
from dusk to dawn
between each breath
I find my self lost
with arms around self
hearts pulsate together
passion mingled with love
perception cleansed to infinity
my heart swelled spirit humbled
and heavenly light blessed
“I love you dada “
how could I have survived this wicked world
I love my daughters.

Feb 26 /11 Toronto House on the hill
DADA Shasha Shaun N.

Moon and Sparrow Sandy said...

Oh ladykins. So well written and said. It IS crazy. I've realized though that, like with labour, it helps to just go along in the experience. Feel whatever you're feeling and keep going forward with it all.

xoox