Motherhood & Words

tracy morrison

October 15, 2013 / Kate /

There is a ridiculous amount of love swirling around these days. It feels like Ready for Air is not launching so much as floating out into the world buoyed by the words of dozens of amazing friends and writers who are raising it up. What a gift, people. I’m so grateful.

And the love continues. Today, the tour stop is at Tracy Morrison’s fabulous Sellabit Mum. Tracy is one of those people you want to know. You might even want to swing by her house unannounced or send her things in the mail. (Which could be creepy, but hopefully isn’t. But it might be.) Tracy is funny and irreverent, kind and generous. See, you want to know her.

Tracy wrote this today in her post:

I never expected to bring home a baby that weighed less than five pounds. One born way too soon. In my womb without fluid and sitting breech in a pike position. I never expected to have a baby who was too young to latch well or nurse for a long period of time. I never expected the tube feedings or being up all night and day for a month as I would nurse, tube feed, change a diaper, pump, wash the pump and repeat 8-12 times per day. I never expected a baby born with hip-dysplasia and in a brace for months – so public nursing was impossible as she had to be held in a football position. Cuddling was even harder, as was dressing her in cute clothing, and I just kept thinking “It wasn’t suppose to be like this.”

These are things I’ve never talked about. Because they all felt like failures somehow on my part and didn’t follow the perfect birth story that we all plan to have.

Amen, Tracy. I’ve been there. Which is why I wrote this book. So we don’t feel so alone. So we don’t feel like failures. Thank you for sharing some of your story with us!!

Please check out Tracy’s blog, and add it to your reading list. Thank you, Tracy, for being so fabulous!

* Also, I’m over at mamalode today, going live at 10 a.m. with “Primed,” a short piece I adapted from Ready for Air for their October “VENT” theme.

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Kate

I have been teaching creative writing for almost twenty years. Reading about other women’s lives and experiences has expanded my world. To be able to walk in someone else’s shoes, whether it’s for a moment or an hour or a few days, is an incredible gift, providing me with insight into the human experience. It takes courage to write your truths, especially if it doesn’t seem as though anyone cares, as though anyone is listening. Let me tell you: your stories matter, I’m listening, and I’m here to help you find the heart of those truths, to get them down on the page, to craft them, and to send them out into the world. Together, we will change the world, one story at a time.

12 Comments

  1. tracy@sellabitmum on October 15, 2013 at 9:44 am

    Oh Kate – your book has changed me and how I look at motherhood. You’re amazing. And gorgeous. And I love you. Thank you for allowing me to preview your beautiful words and to share them with everyone. xoxo



    • Kate on October 15, 2013 at 9:48 am

      Oh Tracy! Thank you. People, do you see what I mean? She’s that kind of person!



      • tracy@sellabitmum on October 15, 2013 at 4:25 pm

        HAIR!!!!! OMG!!!



        • Kate on October 15, 2013 at 9:30 pm

          Finally! I’ve been waiting for days! Damn Columbus Day!



        • Kate on October 15, 2013 at 9:38 pm

          I just sent you a long message, which I won’t repeat here. But yes. The mail was too slow. No potions. I’m not a stalker. Drinks soon!



  2. Sue on October 15, 2013 at 1:50 pm

    Let’s all work together to debunk that perfect birth story myth. And why are we looking for perfect in any aspect of life? It’s too tiring.



    • Kate on October 15, 2013 at 3:28 pm

      Exactly, Sue!



  3. Lindsey on October 15, 2013 at 2:12 pm

    Love reading this and can’t wait to share my excitement about your book, Kate, tomorrow! xox



    • Kate on October 15, 2013 at 3:29 pm

      Me too, Lindsey!! xox



  4. Angie Mizzell on October 16, 2013 at 12:44 pm

    I loved Tracy’s review. And her comment here. You ARE amazing and gorgeous. On her post, I commented that I would not visit her unexpectedly, but that I’d stop by her blog often. 🙂



    • Kate on October 16, 2013 at 2:11 pm

      Ha! I love that, Angie! It would be a long trip for you to keep popping by, wouldn’t it?



      • Angie on October 17, 2013 at 6:59 am

        I mean, it’s tempting. But I suppose it would be a lot. 🙂