Amaka.

To be mother is to be needed—to be 100 things to 100 people.
To be the thread tying lives together.

To pass down recipes, pass down stories, to carry generations, and carry yourself.

But I often look at my mother and wonder — who were you before you were so needed, and how can I help you remember?

It was my mom’s birthday recently and she had been saying she wanted to do a photoshoot, so I capture her in a photoshoot as I see her while I tell you a bit about who she is to me.

My mom is the reason I am what I am.
She is a creature of detail, a creature of care.

She doesn’t know how to be anything other than herself. Her whole heart is with her all of the time and if you know how to look, you’ll see that she gives it in everything she does. She’s become my adventure buddy and I so look forward to seeing where else we’ll go together. 

On this day, I fully got to appreciate that my mom was just a girl once.

I told her to wear something that made her feel pretty and she brought 3 different outfits. It was a day for her to remember who she is outside of being needed. I love how these turned out and I love how similarly we are starting to look. It’s an extra reminder that this current version of her holds all the versions she has ever been.

Thank you to MONOGRAPHY for providing this space to celebrate my mom; a place for her to nestle back into self. And happy birthday to my twin and a huge inspiration for my life. 

Explore Amaka’s stories @whoisamaka