Stitchings on Yarn Paper

Let’s talk about my stitchings on yarn paper.

Motherhood is often framed as endless giving. It praises strength, sacrifice, and doing it all. But the lived reality is different. And we rarely talk about that.

Reclining

For example, look at the song “Sweet Mother” by Nico Mbarga which inspired my series titled The Good Mother. Although the song is a tribute from a son to his mother, notably, the word “love” is never used. Instead, the most repeated word in the lyrics is “suffering” and perhaps “sweet” is a close second.

Introspective

Why is a mother’s suffering what earns her praise and honor? The expectation to be a “superwoman” asks mothers to carry too much in silence. It leaves little room for softness, care, or self-preservation. Gentleness toward oneself matters just as much as care for others.

Unwinding

For most of my life, I heard this song from a child’s perspective. Like the songwriter, I saw my mother’s suffering and revered her for it. I never questioned why it had to be that way. That changed when I became a mother myself. I was no longer thinking as a child, but as a woman raising children. From this place, I rejected the idea that a good mother is one who suffers.

Day Dreaming

A suffering mother is not a badge of honor.

Praying

Mothers need rest. Not as a reward, but as a necessity. Rest is not failure or weakness. It is part of staying whole. Mothers also need the freedom to be human. Not superhuman. They need to express tiredness. Mothers need to ask for help. They need to move at a slower pace. Motherhood does not erase personal needs, emotions, or limits.

Resting

For much of my life as a mother, I believed suffering was honorable. Over time, I saw how harmful that belief is. As I questioned it, I also noticed how deeply culture reinforces it. Music, books, films, and other media often present the ideal mother as one who suffers.

Contemplative

No more.

Relaxing

This set of yarn paper drawings speaks to that truth. Motherhood is not about doing everything. It is about being present while remaining human.