Feeling lost and overwhelmed after having her fifth child, connecting and finding solidarity with other mums provided Jessica Story with comfort, leaving her feeling less alone. As a mum to five boys, a poet and portrait photographer, she wanted all mothers to feel seen, heard and validated in whatever they were going through, and it was this realisation that led her to write and publish her beautiful book, ‘Watercolour Paper’, a real and raw collection of poems and portraits on the grief and love of motherhood. Through her words and photography, she has built a sense of community that allows other mothers to heal. Here she talks to The Natural Parent Magazine about the passion behind her work, the challenges she has overcome, and her hopes and dreams for the future.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
Love and community inspired me! The desire to connect and help other mums to feel understood, seen and not alone. And I have always wanted to write a book!
A few years after having my fifth child, I realised that I was feeling lost and living each day in ‘survival mode,’ struggling to find direction and missing who I was before having children. Through some help from my cousin, an art therapist, I began processing my journey and connecting with other mums who were either feeling overwhelmed and lost, or who were looking back at when their children were babies and starting to process the enormity of those years. The more women I talked to, the more I began to realise that we were not alone. Basically, every mum had felt this to some degree!
Finding this solidarity with other mothers, on a deep and honest level, gave me so much comfort and I wanted to share that comfort with as many mums as I could. I wanted everyone to have that sense of “you feel this too!? I’m not the only one!?” and I wanted every mother to feel heard, seen and validated in whatever she was going through.
This lead me to self publish a book of poems and portraits on the grief and love of motherhood. It is real, raw and vulnerable.
The launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
Being a storyteller, I wanted to share my stories in a way that mothers would understand on a soul-level. Art has the power to connect with your emotions on a deep level, sometimes making sense only to your soul, and brings a solidarity with comfort and healing.
I began writing poems to express different things that I had felt or experienced and then I paired these with editorial portraits that I had been taking. I worked with local professional models, creatives and with local mums who volunteered to model for my project. It really started to gain traction, and I felt a strong community growing around me. Mums (and dads) really caught the vision and felt part of the message. They began to share their stories with me and want to be involved. I have made so many new friends and am so thankful for their support.
Once I had written all the poems and edited all the photoshoots, I connected with an amazing local graphic designer to piece the book together. I also worked with a wonderful family-owned business to print it in Australia. I chose to self-publish because I wanted full creative control and to be able to print in small batches with a personal touch of love.
The innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
The biggest breakthrough has been finding and growing a community. I started this body of work with just an idea in my head and now I have the support and love of so many wonderful and creative women and men. My main focus is on loving people and connecting with mums who are processing experiences that they might have previously felt isolated or alone in. When people tell me what my book has meant to them it always makes me cry. This is why I choose to tell my stories.
Another big breakthrough was gaining the support of local independent bookshops who are now stocking Watercolour Paper in their stores. They have been so encouraging and really gotten behind me.
Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
Now that all my five boys are in school, I am beginning to settle into a routine of “family” outside of school hours and “work” within school hours. Even though my “work” is exactly what I had always dreamed of, so it doesn’t really feel like work! But for many years, this was a struggle, especially when we were homeschooling. Nowadays, I always make sure that I put on my face cream in the morning, even if we’re running late for school, and I make sure that I take myself out for a coffee or visit an art gallery to get some “me time”. I’m in a new season and it’s been a game changer for my mental health.
