THE WEEKLY EDIT:
Watching: The Many Lives of Martha Stewart
This new, four-part CNN series, takes you through the phases of Martha Stewart’s career and ultimately, empire, landing her a spot as one of the United States’ first “self-made female billionaires.” The first two episodes, which premiered on Sunday, detail her journey from a stockbroker to caterer to cookbook author, TV star, and household name. I loved it! The second two episodes air on February 4 and get into her time in prison along with her shrewdly planned comeback.
Reading: Feeling drained? Here’s how to rediscover your childlike wonder
We can all use a little childlike wonder, right? Hence why I appreciated this article particularly as one of my goals as a mom this year is to be more childlike with my girls. I feel like I'm constantly in parenting mode, you know? I want to liberate myself from that when the right chances present themselves. Some good pointers on how to do that in this read.
Following: Formaje
The cutest little cheese shop in Madrid with a beautiful IG account - Formaje simply sparks joy in the feed.
Wearing: Artipoppe carrier
Every mom needs a great carrier and Artipoppe is the best IMO - chic, beautifully made, and easiest to get on. I carried both girls hundreds, maybe even thousands, of miles in one and now it's Jack's turn. I’ve been wearing him endlessly around the house, while making dinner, running errands, and for nice long walks. Jack is as happy as can be fastened to my chest, as am I!
Curious about in beauty: Fara Homidi
Her bright blue packaging, bold red lip, and viral lip liners have me curious! Has anyone tried? Please lmk what you love?!
Ordered: Lunya Seamless Modal Bare Bralette
A minimalist bralette that looks breastfeeding-friendly? Signed, sealed, delivered! Btw, you can use code GERIHIRSCH for 15% off Lunya.
ALRIGHT, LET’S GET INTO IT:
Jailers & Joy
Jailers and joy. It’s one of those “two things can be true at once.” You can love something but dislike parts of it. Something can be bad but also good - you may have a love and a hate relationship.
I first happened upon the term “jailers and joy” last summer when Elise Loehnen used it in the context of women who love their kids but don’t love the role of a mother (video here). She went on to say that children can be both their mothers “jailers and joy.” Something I think many women can relate to at one point or another.
Her context aside, the phrase jailers and joy, has stuck with me. It struck a chord. So I thought we’d "faire vibrer la corde sensible" - literal translation of "vibrate the emotional chord” which is the French idiom attributed to the origins of ‘‘strike a chord” - and discuss it here.
I’ve identified with something being both my ‘jailer and joy’ many times throughout my life but never quite knew how to fully and concisely articulate the dichotomy. Perhaps not having the language is why I appreciate the accuracy of the three simple words now. Navigating a complicated mix of starkly contrasting emotions can make your head spin but if you can open the aperture and recognize the chasm as something that is both joyously good AND suffocatingly bad - and appreciate that they’re not mutually exclusive - the lens through which you can access may be much clearer.
Prior to having the term, I generally looked through the prism of pros and cons. Writing lists and balancing the two on a fulcrum - hoping for an obvious heavier weight to help inform my choice. A perfectly good way to analyze many scenarios - and something I still tend to do often - but sometimes the words pros and cons are simply too ambiguous. A succinct, illustrative, and yes, slightly dramatic, phrase such as ‘jailer and joy’ sums up the complexity of emotions in a way that pros and cons never quite could. Going back to Elise’s example, if I said there are ‘pros and cons’ to being a mom that may mean all sorts of things but ‘jailer and joy’ - that says something entirely specific.
When you read the phrase, what comes up for you? What brings you joy but is also your jailer?
For me, some include
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