STRINGLIGHT STORIES: MOMENTS IN MOTHERHOOD

Nope, I’m not a Mom. But I had a life-altering experience with my own Mother, living as her caregiver in my mid-twenties as she was dying from Parkinson’s Disease - starting in 2017.

In May 2024, Luli Creative House, a local studio and event space collaborated with Agribella Orbis, a non-profit that encourages storytelling for impactful conversation, for a night of authentic vulnerability. Five women openly shared their hearts on stage, talking about the hard and beautiful spaces of motherhood. There was laughter and tears, smiles and rage, and stories varied from parenting silly boys to breaking free from the chains of ancestral traditions.

Here is the video of my story from that evening. It’s vulnerable and raw, as I share moments I’ve never spoken aloud. My intention was to walk others through this season in my life, pointing out details and parallels between caregiving and motherhood. Celebrating and honoring the badass of a woman my Mother was.

The process of writing and speaking these hard and beautiful truths helped heal parts of my heart that had been hurting for years. The power of writing is real, the power of sharing your true voice is real, and doing it alongside other women is an absolute honor.

Caring for a parent is difficult at any age. Losing a parent is difficult at any age. It’s important to me to hear other stories of love and loss and how grief has transformed people’s lives. Your story doesn’t have to be shared publicly and posted on the internet for the world to see, but know that there are always others willing to listen. Write your story, heal your heart.