We all start our motherhood journey somewhere. Whether it be a place, an age or state of mind that we associate motherhood starting with, there’s a specific starting point for each of us that when we think of it, it brings us right back to those first core memories of how we became a mom.
Mine? Well i started my journey on a small island called Mercer. It’s smack dab in the middle of the largest lake in Washington and privy to all of the states busiest cities- 5 minutes west of Seattle and 5 min east of Bellevue, otherwise known as the Eastside. Its thought of as a small bit of northwest paradise, a convenient hideaway from the busling noise of city life with gorgeous views of the city skylines and offers a relaxing lake front life style only the wealthy can afford. Not me though- my husband and I came across an amazing deal somehow on a 100 year old brick apartment at the northern tip, one of the oldest buildings somehow still left.
I became pregnant and gave birth to my eldest, Blakely, while living there at 27. My husband and I were fresh into our careers and making just enough money to get by. It was the kind of money you take because the experience felt most valuable, type money.
We loved our lives on Mercer. We were in the thick of it with endless opportunities surrounding us, literally. The world felt as though it were at our fingertips with friends, family, restaurants, experiences, all to our left and all to our right. Anything we wanted was quite easy for us to quickly pick up and go after.
Until parenthood that is. That’s when the reality of a new life comes in and you’re met with a whirlwind of new needs and new experiences. The ease of spontaneity escapes you and those first few months the world as you new it floats away.
The beginning of motherhood for many mothers can feel like an island and mine was certainly no different. Some days I embraced my island life, both literally and figuratively, loving being in my own little world with my new little family- rid of the worries of the busy world surrounding me. And other times I yearned to escape it, feeling the loneliness and isolation that island life can bring- knowing so much of what you once and perhaps still do value and crave is so close but feels so far.
So, for me, my journey started on Mercer, on that small beautiful island surrounded by what was once everything to me, and where my forever everything truly began….
I didn’t know it at the time but Mercer Island was a perfect analogy to what I would soon experience to be the foreshadowing of my journey through motherhood and is what sparks my love to share it with all of you.
It’s from this place, from my island, that I will share my ups, my downs, and my laughs in between.
I can’t wait to get to know you all a bit better, and in the hopes and efforts to make our islands feel a little bit closer, let me introduce myself. It’s nice to meet you,
I am Erica, Mom from Mercer.
Introduce yourself below and let us know who you are and where your motherhood journey began! Don’t forget to subscribe to the Newsletter to join the journey.
