Episode 01: Redefining Motherhood’s Worth Through Art with Memoirist Sarah Chaves
"I put so much pressure on myself to produce when I was pregnant. Just because there was that end date of Ooh, baby will finally come out into the world but also like this end of a chapter in my life where I would be able to produce as widely or as efficiently before I actually had the baby. So that was probably my biggest challenge during pregnancy."
~ Sarah Chaves
In this episode, Kaitlin is joined by Sarah Chaves. Sarah is a first-generation Portuguese-American author and educator whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Teen Vogue, and more. Her current project is a memoir about the death of her father when she was a teenager.
Sarah is also a mother to one vivacious little boy named Leo, and was three months postpartum at the time of this episode’s recording.
Sarah and Kaitlin’s conversation touches on the transition from pregnancy to motherhood and beyond, as well as issues concerning the lack of financial assistance for new parents in the United States.
This was Kaitlin’s first episode recording for the Postpartum Production podcast; she was only 6 weeks postpartum, and despite the fact that both her and Sarah were undeniably sleep deprived, you will be inspired by the depth and thoughtfulness of their conversation.
Sarah and Kaitlin talk about:
The questions and topics mothers face during postpartum and beyond, as well as those that many creative practitioners also face. Questions around the worth of creative work, the meaning of productivity and the false dichotomy between being a ‘good enough’ mother and ‘good enough’ artist.
The financial impact of being a mother, specifically the challenges of navigating a complete lack of a federal US maternity leave policy, which leaves so many new families in the lurch.
Sarah's memoir and the role her mother played both as a character in her writing & work, as well as the real struggles her mother faced in recognizing her own worth as a caregiver.
And lots more.
Sarah can be found on:
Instagram: @sarita_chaves
Her website: sarahchaves.com
Related resources:
Some further reading on the false dichotomy between motherhood and creativity that Sarah talks about.
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