This baby and child-friendly creative workshop was for new mums interested in exploring their identity as a mother.
Participants were asked to bring an object to the workshop that made them feel connected to their sense of motherhood in some way. They were then guided through a creative activity of writing a letter to their pre-mother self. Mums also learnt about the term 'matrescence', which is a transition (similar to adolescence) that all mothers go through, from pregnancy, through childbirth and into motherhood.
During matrescence, women often feel isolated and can struggle to find a clear sense of self, as the intensity of caring for their baby's needs often makes it more difficult to reflect on and care for ourselves. To address this, we used a mum's objects to ground their self-identity at the centre of the experience so that a joint experience of matrescence emerged through sharing connections.
To continue this sense of communal connection beyond the workshop, mums made 3D scans of their objects using Polycam, a free app they learnt how to use. They could view all the objects on their phones after the event, and left with follow-on activities to encourage their creative explorations at home.
Email lauren.hayhurst@plymouth.ac.uk for further information.