With this in mind, our very special Mother’s Day gift to you is this beautiful short film, Mother Each Other, presented by MOTHER and created by the talented Vanessa Mona Hellmann, a San Francisco-based director/photographer and new mother herself (baby girl Frida is 8-months-old and was present during our day-long shoot!).

In this emotional video (seen below and on Vimeo), you’ll hear the raw, unfiltered stories of 8 women—Eirinie Carson, Felicia Gangloff-Bailey, Kalkidan Gebreyohannes, Elena Fong, Meryl Pataky, Ari Serrano-Embree, Elana Serrano, and Ola Serrano. Each of them opens up candidly about a variety of pressing topics, including loss and longing, multi-generational trauma and bonds, postpartum depression, the not-so-glowing side of pregnancy, joy and healing, and more.

If you’re able to carve out some time for yourself this weekend—or this month—we encourage you to grab a box of tissues (seriously, you’ll need them), turn on this video, and hopefully feel seen in the various ways motherhood shows up in all of our lives.

Additional thanks to Drum and Lace for a fitting soundtrack, Renso Landa for sound mixing, and Jen Loman for production assistance.

The post The Beauty & Complexity Of Motherhood, Captured In Video appeared first on MOTHER.

“Inspired by the #MeToo movement, this video explores the advice and guidance mothers are giving to their daughters on overcoming the obstacles they might face as women,” says Coit. “My goal was to make a video that, despite each mother’s unique background, felt as if only one mother was narrating the entire time. In a time when our country feels quite divided, the love we have for family should be the thing that reminds us how small our differences really are.”

Coit, who has worked with the likes of clients ranging from A-list celebs to corporate powerhouses, takes a step back from his day job to spotlight moms of all backgrounds and experiences in this brief, but powerful piece, and just in time for Mother’s Day. In the 1:52 video, the mothers speak on everything from shaking off the mean girls to pride in heritage to hints of #blackgirlmagic. It is a beautiful work of art that reminds human beings of all backgrounds, experiences, and roles that the relationship a mother has with her daughter is an irreplaceable bond unlike any other, and the lessons a mother teaches her daughter are those that stay with her forever. Enjoy!

The post Watch This: To My Daughter…A Mother’s Guidance & Advice appeared first on MOTHER.

Video by Vanessa Mona Hellmann

If you couldn’t get enough of textile designer Dana Haim and her baby boy Orion (and their beautiful, super-personal home) in our Mother Stories profile, you’re in luck. We’ve brought Dana’s story to life in this video clip, in which she discusses the excitement of a new baby, tips for a first-time mother, and the importance on nourishing oneself (alongside one’s family). Press play for some instant inspiration!

This post is brought to you by Mother + Plum Organics®.

The post Press Play: Dana Haim On Nourishing Herself & Her Son appeared first on MOTHER.

Video by Vanessa Mona Hellmann

While the path to motherhood is swift for some, for others it is wrought with frustration and pain. Such is the case for Natalie Bowen Brookshire, a San Francisco-based floral designer (and Mother collaborator) who started trying to conceive six years ago, only to encounter a series of heartbreaking miscarriages and failed IUIs and IVF. Luckily, there is a bright, shining rainbow at the end of her story. Within under a year of deciding to adopt, Natalie and her husband became proud parents to a little girl named Friday, who is now 1. Here, she shares her story with us, along with some advice for women going through a similar journey.

Want to learn more? Stay tuned for Natalie’s full Mother Stories profile later this week. In the meantime, check out our other features on mothers who adopted—Myka Haddad, Maria Confer, Nicky Cronk, and Kristen Philipkoski—as well as our piece on Helping a Friend Through Infertility.

The post Press Play: Natalie Brookshire On Adoption appeared first on MOTHER.

Video by Vanessa Mona Hellmann

It’s been over a year since we last caught up with accessories designer extraordinaire Clare Vivier. For our most recent visit to her Echo Park home, we decided to bring our video camera along to shoot this special Mother video, showcasing Vivier’s thoughts about being a girly girl who’s raising boys (including 14-year-old Oscar, who makes a cameo) and how motherhood has informed her creativity. Enjoy!

For more on Clare V. be sure to check out our Mother Stories profile, her website, as well as her lively Instagram feed. And for more Mother videos, press play on our pieces on Laura Miller, Sharareh Lotfi, and TyLynn Nguyen.

The post Press Play: Clare VIvier On Raising Boys & More appeared first on MOTHER.

It’s been two weeks since Mother rang in its third year with a big bash in Sonoma, but please indulge us as we look back one more time in this little video clip of our big day. In it, you can get a better look at the utterly magical Scribe Winery, as well as the incredibly stylish mamas (and babies) that filled our Sonoma soirée.

For more anniversary madness, check out 50+ party pics right here.

The post In Motion: Mother’s 3rd Anniversary Party appeared first on MOTHER.

Video by Vanessa Mona Hellmann

As many of you saw via Instagram, Mother is officially three years old! And, naturally, we’re looking to ring in our new year by adding a few bells and whistles to our website, including introducing more video content in the coming months. First up is a behind-the-scenes look at our Mother Story with San Francisco-based bag designer Sharareh Lotfi. In it, the mother of 3 1/2-year-old Ayla answers one of our signature Q’s: What excites you most about motherhood? Her answer is sure to resonate with many.

The post Behind The Scenes: Sharareh Lotfi appeared first on MOTHER.

Juggling the care of children and the maintenance of one’s career (not to mention romantic and platonic relationships) is a feat in itself. Add staying fit into the mix, and we salute any mama able to do all of the above. Of course, genius products like the Bugaboo Runner, a new jogging stroller designed specifically for active parents, are something like saviors for multitasking moms like Pop Physique owner Jennifer Williams. Here, the busy mother of four—Theadora, 15, Liam, 12, Domino, 4, and Louis, 2—takes the Runner (which comes as an all-in-one package or can connect with existing Bugaboo seats) on a trek through the beautiful L.A. hills.

Check our our video with Jen above and the short Q&A below, where she discusses post-baby bods, staying active while raising a brood, her fave running spots in L.A., and more!

What’s a typical day like for you, working and spending time with your kids in the city?
“I’m up super early to check in on the New York City studio that is two-months-old. I always cook a proper breakfast for the kids (french toast on the griddle from my grandmother’s recipe) and we sit in the dining room and eat together—even if it’s quick. Next, I am off to one of our locations in LA to take a morning class and then to our headquarters downtown for more meetings, teacher trainings, and photoshoots. We get home between 4:30- 5 p.m. to see our kids and have dinner with them. It’s usually bath time and bed time before we know it, and then depending on the day, more work in bed or Downton Abbey if I am lucky!”

Being a mom and career woman, how do you find time to stay in shape?
“I have to organize my days around my workout. Otherwise, it doesn’t happen. We try to make something active daily, whether it’s a walk with the kids and the stroller, a family hike on the weekend or a Pop Physique class.”

Any advice for other moms on staying active?
“Take your baby/kids outside! Work them into your workout. Or sneak in a fitness class super early in the morning before everyone is awake.”

What are your favorite running spots in LA?
“Fryman Canyon is beautiful and much less of a scene than Runyon Canyon. On a weekend, running the path on the beach in Venice is a fun jaunt.”

Tell us about Pop Physique and how it began.
“I was a ballet dancer professionally and I wanted a career in which I was able to see my children more often. I wanted a studio in my neighborhood of Silverlake that had good style, good interior design, good music, and a workout that used dance principles to be efficient. I created it for myself as the first client. I get to teach, do teacher training, design spaces, design clothes, and marketing campaigns. It is deeply rewarding.”

How do your kids like the Bugaboo Runner?
“Louis loves to ride in it. I think it is the most comfortable Bugaboo that we have. He chooses it daily for his walk before nap time.”

Do you run together with the kids often?
“We love to hike and run and make it a family outing. We pack snacks and climb up together.”

Any tips for moms on getting back into shape postpartum?
“Start with walking, then as you can, begin jogging and hiking to build endurance. Getting outside is the best for you and your baby. It will completely cheer you both up! If you can add a class for toning and building strength along with stretching you will be feeling good!”

This post is brought to you by Mother x Bugaboo. 

The post How One Mompreneuer Stays Fit appeared first on MOTHER.