Explaining Complaining

Family Time - Janis Wunderlich

As of this week, Janis Wunderlich is not just my favorite contemporary artist she's also my mommy hero.  She said something so profound, so completely full of insight, that it stopped me in my tracks.  Okay, I was on the couch and the tracks were those of a moose in the ice cream carton, but still I was stunned by the simple statement that really did explain so much.

I was introduced to this artist while watching Who Does She Think She Is?.  She and her husband have five children (teen to preschooler).  She spoke of her overly scheduled life and how she still carves out time to produce her sculptures.  She just has to.  All this was interesting but since I am not an artist I couldn't really relate.  Then Janis began discussing the bizarre, graphic nature of the images she creates.  Here she is this Mormon mom faithfully raising her family and yet her sculptures depict quite disturbing vignettes of motherhood.  (Have I mentioned I just love the raw emotion of these pieces?)  And then she said it.  Ms Wunderlich answered everyone's unspoken "why" with this simple explanation:  She shows the world this side of motherhood because the other, the incredibly sweet part, she keeps just for herself. 

I knew instantly that that was it.  That's why I blog.  That's why I complain to my friends.  That's why I commiserate with strangers in the grocery store.    I  gladly share the challenges of raising two young children on my own.  I share the chaos and the days that I feel I'm being torn into little pieces.  I'm not afraid to let those go.   But I keep most of the unbelievable, the undeserved, the incredibly sweet parts of motherhood locked deep inside me.  I am protective of those moments, fearing that too much handling will lead to their dissipation.
 

 

When all is said and done, Henry and Liam are fine children and it's an honor to be their mother.  I'd tell you more, but they are climbing my legs, screaming for popsicles.

Family Back Massage - 2005