“I have wanted to do the maternal journal sessions for a while and really love the concept of the project. It was a real silver lining of lockdown that I had chance to engage through zoom. I found the journaling directives really helpful at this time of quite high stress. I was able to express and articulate some of the powerful emotions I was feeling. I got a great deal from having a regular time slot to connect with other mothers and have his safe, held online space.  
I have a diaristic element to my art making anyway and it was great to explore this further in an unpressured way. 
I am an artist and an art psychotherapist so it was really nice to consider the different strands of my work in relation to the project. I have continued journaling regularly and would like very much like to set up my own maternal journal course at some stage. I am very thankful for this experience and would recommend it to others. ”

“Maternal Journal has been a lifeline for me both before and during lockdown. A carved out, precious space in the week to do something, creative, fun, interesting or thoughtful. I’ve enjoyed meeting new people, playing with art materials I’ve not used in years and taking time to think, feel and talk about the amazing and ongoing process of becoming and being a mother.”

“I recently started lying in bed at night and trying to remember the whole day, from start to finish. At first your mind doesn’t want to but once you start there is a whole day there. This shift from no recollection to seeing significant events is the same magic that you get from journaling: it’s when your own narrative surprises you.  In group sessions the various exercises and participants mix together to create a huge range of responses. Our group managed to support each other while flaunting our variety. Some of the exercises are familiar and others daunting. For me, I was comfortable with the automatic drawing and puzzled to discover that I can write haikus on demand. Motherhood and creativity seem to be obvious companions: the birth of an idea and all that. But I’ve felt that motherhood is a threat to my creative self: that motherhood is about conforming to various rules of behaviour and creativity is an escape from having to be a mother. Maternal Journal has helped me incorporate my experience of motherhood into my creative self. ”

“I started attending the Maternal journal workshops run by Lizzy in the Baby room in Exeter just after the birth of my second child. After lockdown we continued to meet on Zoom and I can honestly say it’s been one of the best things I have ever been a part of. Having the space and time to express myself creatively has helped massively with my mental health in many ways. Not only have I been able to tune back into my artwork and do something for myself alongside caring for my children but there is a welcoming, calm space with other like minded mothers. There is a mutual respect within the groups I have attended - we all give time to listen and express ourselves. I have also made friends with other mums in my local area - for the first time without going to baby groups. Lockdown has felt lonely and challenging with small children, and my journaling and the meetings have been something I really look forward to doing. 
As an art teacher, I have always kept sketchbooks and journals but never really channeled it alongside my mothering needs. Since becoming part of Maternal Journal I have journaled every day, sometimes with my 6 year old daughter but mostly alone- it is my time in the day just for me, to process thoughts and feelings. I only wish I had discovered it much sooner! ”

“I loved Maternal Journal as it pushed me outside of my comfort zone but in a way that was supportive and fun. I would never have otherwise tried to write poetry and now I have a lovely way to express my feelings and capture a moment, as well as creating a permanent record. I gravitated more towards the written word but also enjoyed the art sessions. The sketch I did below, although only rough, I think does have a flow about it that makes me think of the intensity of the physical and emotional feelings during labour. The poem is my most recent poem, which I wrote following the sessions and using one of the maternal journal guides. I think my poetry really improved over the sessions and I have a much greater sense of what works and what doesn’t. I also have the confidence now to put pen to paper and write, which is a gift that this course has given me.”