Sketchbook of Artist Ashley Stuart

Reflecting Motherhood in a Resume

7/1/2021

Ashley Stuart mothering her two daughters.

Days after Lorelei was born. More details below.

My finger hovered over the ‘return’ button, ready to send the email where I explain to my awesome boss at my awesome job that I was leaving. My daughter Emerson was 10 months old, trying desperately to walk but falling instead, clinging while wanting independence … you might know the stage. I hovered and hesitated because I had already given so much of myself to creating, birthing, and caring for this little human. How could I possibly give up this, too?

As hard as it was and as many feelings as I felt, I did. And I’m glad. Now, once again, it’s time to update my resume. My girls have grown to school-age leaving me more time to myself. Now, nearly one year has passed since opening my online art shop, my life-long dream. But a small worry is nagging me: How do I explain my absence of a “steady work history" after leaving my career to care for my daughters?

I researched but most of the articles I found were largely unhelpful for my experience and situation. They were directed more so to those laid-off, or changing careers, or quitting and traveling, or similar. None about motherhood. This position is not often referred to as a "job" so upon reflection why did it sound like one? What exactly did I do doing those years? Turns out, I did a lot. Too much at times while always thinking it was too little. I never had a lack of steady work; I was tasked with increased responsibility and I adapted in kind. I am a boss girl to the max.

Following birth, my duties shifted to caring for incisions, injections, and scarring; meal planning for various stages of ability; ensuring correctly sized clothes, shoes, toys, and accessories, including but not limited to car seats, strollers, and carriers; and cleansing bodies, garments and accessories of all bodily functions not caught by highly researched safeguarding measures."

All duties were performed in fast-paced or painfully slow, often high-stress and/or low-sleep, environments."

The picture above was taken by my husband mere days after Lorelei was born. When this was taken, I was dealing with postpartum hormones, mastitis and trouble breastfeeding, falling out hair, my husband recovering from an infection in his legs, exhaustion, a second cesarean wound, grief for not being able to have a vaginal birth, a family sick with the flu (yes, even little Lorelei), and an understandably clinging toddler. In the month following this photo, I lost my grandfather, had an infection where the cannula was in my hand, had a huge health scare with both daughters, and decided to make an international move. This picture represents so much for me and it is the most beautiful picture I have of my mothering. With all that was happening, look how much love is there.

My resume has now been updated, the creation and the raising of these little humans now humorously reflected in my work history.

2021 Commission are Open

"Bourgeois uses the spider, both predator (a sinister threat) and protector (an industrious repairer), to symbolise the mother figure." ​Tate, The Art of Louise Bourgeois, accessed July 8, 2020, https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/louise-bourgeois-2351/art-louise-bourgeois.

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"Bourgeois uses the spider, both predator (a sinister threat) and protector (an industrious repairer), to symbolise the mother figure."
Tate, The Art of Louise Bourgeois, accessed July 8, 2020, https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/louise-bourgeois-2351/art-louise-bourgeois.