Elevate Everyday Heroines

We were missing featured stories in glossy media about everyday heroines that work (pay or not) and are in their childbearing and rearing years. In a way, women that transition from womanhood to parenthood weave in and out of education and business. They often take on multiple roles, and develop a knack for multiplicity in their non-dominant journeys. Really, none of these working moms is the same.

We think they make wonderful entrepreneurs and innovators, too. They are designing everyday solutions, crafting experiences for themselves, their offspring and partners. And they are successful - regardless of business suits, 6 figure incomes and Fortune 500 company affiliation - if we just look closer and rethink success a bit.

Text + Photos = Stories

—The stories out there impact us, no doubt.

Is it not untypical to have a grand vision, and then shake hands with reality. This goes for working as a parent and parenting as a worker - and also for innovating services.

We knew that inventing a text & story experience would take time, shape and require trial and error. That's why we reached out to Amsterdam working moms to share and show about their experience. Below our favorite excerpts from their experiences with Elevate Everyday Heroines. And here quotes and raw photos from our Instagram channel.

Natalie

"There are lots of modern families these days, right?"

“People told me ‘You should focus on one thing, otherwise you are not going anywhere’. But I did the conservatory, I studied at university. I wanted to do it all.”

“I knew exactly what I wanted from the first time she was there. But I also wanted to have some financial security. So that’s what I did first. I had to. I was okay and felt strong enough.”

“I think working is super good and only the planning part is pretty tough as a single mom.”

“I am not as positive as I express myself. I really do know that’s what me and my kid need to stay positive, keep positive. What I try to avoid is to be a bit gray about the future. "

“And you don’t want to feel like your kid is a burden. Then it feels that way. You don’t want to feel like that.”

Joszi

“I have no clue on how to combine it all. I am just hopping from role to role to role.”

“My day starts with breastfeeding, then I am 100% mother. Other times, I switch to work where I have a kind of responsibility to work 24/7. If they call me, I really have to switch.”

“I have no clue on how to combine it all. I am just hopping from role to role to role.”

“I actually find it very painful that I don’t find many role models in the media. The mothers that I see, I find too perfect or they are working full time five days.”

I feel judged on what I feel insecure about. Am I doing it right, spending enough time with her? If I only see moms who either work or stay home, I won’t feel good in either role. I miss a role model.

“On Sundays we try to do nothing, so we welcome the boredom. We feel that is the best time with Hazel, when we don’t have a plan - just let her be, be around, and observe."

Avital

"I gravitated towards people that were honest about the difficulties of juggling it all."

“I don’t want to sacrifice it all.”

“Because motherhood wasn't just the moment when I held my baby for the first time. The real transition happened when my son was 3 months old. That’s when reality hit and it rocked my world.”

“My relationship with women and mothers changed. When I saw another woman with a baby, I didn’t have to say anything. There was a connection, an acknowledgment that we are in this together.”

“The whole system - the corporate world - needs to be revisited, re-looked at and challenged. That’s why I love women-led companies.”

“It is always plug and play!”

Belle

"I always knew I wanted to be a young mother."

“The balance between what is good for me and what is good for my child. Being a working mom has really enriched my life. Yet the negative thing is that I don’t feel that it is happening right yet.”

“I find women who are successful and remain to be very feminine and caring very inspiring.”

“Is what I am doing legitimate? Maybe I opted more for my own career as in more than what people think a child needs...”

“If I could change anything about being a working mom, it would be money!”

“At the opening for our exposition on ‘Sexual Pleasure’, there were a lot of people that I know professionally, and also my daughter who was sleeping in the corner. That felt nice!”

Your Story - Our Service Packages

The first text & photo experience

40-min interview
2-hr photo shoot
selected prints of quotes and photos
collaboration on content
virtual text & photo album

The full text & photo story experience

50-min interview
3-hr photo shoot
personal photo-story book
collaboration on content
virtual text & photo album
delivery in person

For booking or questions: info@pixelstorystudio.com

About

The project is a joint project between systemic design researcher Julika Lomas and photographer María G. de Azcárate, both working (unpaid and paid) moms. While Julika interviews and crafts the verbal and feely story, Maria documents the beauty in the raw every day-to-day.

In the end, they have an interview with pictures to share - a text plus prints either digitally or as a book. Think of it as a precious proof of your daily deeds. Maybe it makes a wonderful gift and gesture to show gratitude?