This baby and child-friendly creative workshop is for new mums interested in exploring your identity as a mother.
You will be asked to bring an object to the workshop that makes you feel connected to your sense of motherhood in some way, then we will guide you through a creative activity of writing a letter to your pre-mother self. You will also learn 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 your baby's needs often makes it more difficult to reflect on and care for ourselves. To address this, we will use your objects to ground your self-identity at the centre of the experience, and by sharing connections and challenges, a joint experience of matrescence will emerge.
To continue this sense of communal connection beyond the workshop, will make 3D scans of your objects using Polycam, a free app which you will learn how to use. You will be able to view all the objects on your phones after the event, and you will leave with follow-on activities to encourage your creative explorations at home.
To prepare for this workshop, please:
- Choose an object that feels connected to your experience of motherhood. It can be any size from a thimble to a backpack, although small details like writing may not scan clearly.
- Download the Polycam app to your phone from https://poly.cam/get-the-app. This is a free app we will use to scan out objects.
Email lauren.hayhurst@plymouth.ac.uk for further information.
