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Chronicling the first few years of motherhood, this book collects a series of essays and art created by the author following an incredible and emotional journey raising twins. As she juggles motherhood, a marriage, life as an artist, and her own emotional struggles, Hynes dedicates each essay to a single topic, exploring her innermost and vulnerable thoughts on a subject and typically including a work or two of abstract art created by her to accompany each selection. As her children grow up and their needs change, she reflects on her own childhood and works hard to provide her children with everything they need and an upbringing that she and they can be proud of.
From the gorgeous beaches of California to her artist’s studio to time spent in front of the television with cartoons on, the author invites readers to follow her perspective on raising children. The openness and honesty with which the author discusses raising children illuminate the joys and fears that come along with prospective parenthood. Her moments of frustration and fear are laid out on the page but are always coupled with the joys and highs of nurturing and influencing innocent, young minds to view the beauty of life. The artwork collected and shared with these essays contains bold imagery and contrasts with the frank nature of the essays by giving the reader an opportunity to interpret a moment of creativity or an emotion expressed visually. From newborn to age four, these essays scatter snapshots of moments both proud and private that a mother carries with her always of the formative years where children must be watched and guided. Powerful in both its words and art, these essays spare no truth about life as a new parent for better or worse.