to be a woman
to be a mother
to be a professional
to be educated and ambitious
to be in a relationship
to have children
to be an expatriate
to be who you are
where you are
you find yourself making choices
your life is a pile of puzzle pieces
you think and look and you shuffle the pieces
you try and go to work and it doesn‘t work
there is no work for you in this city
you have children
you have no childcare
you stay at home
you are miserable
you stay at home
you are happy
you go to work and it works
there is no work for your partner in this city
you are an expatriate
you are a mother
you shuffle the pieces
Anne, USA
Actress, voiceover artist, presenter, writer, journalist, director
Legally separated 2 years & in process of divorce
Mother to 8 year old son
To give up my career for motherhood, which to me is a piece of me, would be like cutting my heart out. No. I have to be a mother and include what I do, because what I do is my passion and is a very strong inherent part of who I am. It’s my soul… and I could not give up my soul to bring another life into the world. But I can share my soul with that little one.My son and my work are a priority and they are equal. Actually, Dylan comes first and the career second. But they’re almost head to head.
Raising a child alone in a foreign country, on an artist’s salary, with no family and minimal child support, has been rough. But it’s important for me that my son sees that I have a life, a role outside the home; that I am respected in my field, have wonderful friends, am interacting in society, earning a living, and following my passion, which is what I encourage him to do on a daily basis.
For me, to be a good role model as a mother for my child is to be someone who is reliable, loving, respectful, resourceful, supportive, joyful, optimistic, and balanced. But most of all, someone who takes time to laugh with my son and makes sure he knows how incredibly special he is. The time we spend together is precious to me and I cherish every moment!