Motherhood: The Crucible of Love

When Dominique Snedeker left her Air Force career destined instead for marriage and family, she had no idea that transitioning from a professional to stay-at-home mom would be so difficult. A life-long dream, raising babies all day, every-day, was a challenge, but admitting this felt like she'd let herself, her children, her grandmothers, the world-her own ideals down. To process this disillusionment, she turned to writing. Those midnight and stolen-moment typing's birthed this collection of poetry, an ode perhaps, to motherhood.Motherhood: The Crucible of Love explores the post-partum journey of self-rediscovery, the existential crisis every parent faces when suddenly life is no longer theirs. But parenting arouses instinctual love, a love that overwhelms, a love powerful enough to refine. Walk through this catharsis of honesty to find yourself remade in the furnace, in the heat, in the crucible we call love.Becoming a mother-the breakingBecoming the woman-a remakingStanding at the mirrorHair askew and tank stretched and spottedWith who knows whatI see nothing but blurry linesAnd eyes I do not know.The shock startles me and I wonder: Where is the mother in the woman?Where is the woman in the mother?The question surprises me and IBump my head as I stareInto unknown eyes, exploringA woman I've forgottenOr tradedFor those sleepers floppedLike puppies in bed.The woman before the breakingMust have been me.I can't remember nowWhat solitude and papercutsFeel like. But the paci on the sinkWarms my heart-Little Eyes and fingers and toesFlood my body with warmthAnd a gummy smile withOne, two, what eight? little teethMakes my chest tight.The mother is here.And somewhere, So is the woman.