What Mothers Really Need. (Spoiler Alert: It’s Not Brunch)
Mothering, Abundance, and the Modern Village We Deserve
Photo credits: Vogue, People Magazine/Amanda Booth, Miss Enocha, Pinterest/Unknown, Destiny Gabriel, Pinterest/Unknown
Hi there,
Before we get into today’s newsletter, I’m thrilled to share this:
As part of The Matriark Salon, Stylist and Entrepreneur Jessie Freschl will be joining me and Susan Sandler (of The Pop Up Season) for a fun gathering on Thursday, May 22. It’s going to be a casual and soulful conversation about entrepreneurship, style and philanthropy. Jessie helps her clients to express their authentic selves through accessible, confidence-building fashion, so we’ll also discuss how we see ourselves, our bodies and how we want to present to the world.
Jessie Freschl is a dynamic entrepreneur and visionary in the fashion industry, shaped by growing up in a family of three generations of female entrepreneurs. In 2011, she founded Freschstyle, a personal styling business known for its transformative, client-focused approach. She has styled executives and public figures, earning features in NY Magazine, The New York Times, and NBC News. In 2019, Jessie launched Shop Repurpose, a nonprofit that transforms luxury resale into a platform for social good by empowering NYC youth through job readiness and mentorship. Her latest project, Turnstyle, is a tech platform connecting curators, businesses, and clients to seamlessly transact, communicate, and connect.
🎟️ Invites go out this Friday to Founding Members and Paid Subscribers first. Once they RSVP, we’ll open remaining seats to our Free Subscribers.
📍 The event is in East Hampton, and address will be provided upon RSVP.
✍️ Seating is VERY limited.
I’m excited for our Salon & Meditation with Zuzanna Von Salm tomorrow, and we’ve got more salons coming up on June 5th and June 16th, so stay tuned for more announcements.
Want to guarantee your spot at our beautiful gatherings? Upgrade to paid subscription and join us!
Now on to our regular programming!
Every time Mother’s Day comes around, I think about printing a T-shirt:
“We’ve raised civilizations, and all we got was a lousy mimosa.”
And every year I dream of something larger than brunch. I want real wellness. Real community. I want a world that nurtures the nurturers, and that truly values mothers as the essential source of health and wellbeing for future generations.
The word I keep coming back to is abundance.
At its best, motherhood, whether of children, dreams, or communities, is an act of endless giving.
But to give abundantly, we must live abundantly.
Not in the surface, but in a deep, life-affirming way that can sustain us over time.
So instead of a regular gift guide, here’s my ultimate Mother’s Day wish list: a collection of fabulous things I wish for myself, and for all of us mothering others and ourselves:
A Modern Village: Friends, family (the one you choose, not just the one you're born into), quality and affordable childcare, and spaces that make raising healthy, vibrant families possible. We used to have these support systems nearby. Women didn’t have to do it alone. We deserve a support system that nurtures everyone involved, including us.
Real Food Access: Fresh, organic, non-GMO, nutrient-rich foods, grown by neighboring farms and local makers. Healthy mothers, healthy children, healthy families.
Gathering Spaces: Sanctuaries where we can recharge, connect, learn, and simply be. Spaces like The Matriark Salon, Ceremonia Meditation by Zuzanna von Salm, and other special places that nurture friendships, community, and wellbeing.
Walkable Cities and Vast green areas for all to enjoy: Parks, forests, clean sidewalks, and green spaces that invite us and our children to move, breathe, and thrive. Well-planned cities that put the health of their citizens first, and build accordingly.
Holistic Healthcare: Doctors who don't just treat illness, but work to prevent them and dive into root causes, helping us live fully. Doctors who fully integrate their practice with other modalities such as nutritionists, fitness instructors, acupuncturists, women’s health and menopause. Who take time to listen to each patient, to know our history, our needs, our relationships, and our environment because those things shape our health too.
And here’s my fantasy Mother’s Day wishlist. Not that the above isn’t already a fantasy... but while we are at it, why not dream even bigger?
🧠 A Mental Load Downloader: A device that extracts every to-do, appointment, grocery list, and permission slip from our heads, and delegates them automatically.
❌ A Guilt Eraser: One button to clear the residual guilt about motherhood and work-life balance because deep down, we know we're doing our best.
💊 A Menopause Magic Pill: A hormone balancer with no side effects. Blissful transition, no drama.
📸 An Automatic Photo Printer and Organizer: Every month, it selects the best photos from my phone, prints them, and binds them into a beautiful album — no effort required.
🛏️ A Custom Natural Latex Non-Toxic (no VOC) Pillow Molded to My Head and Neck: the closest I got from it is this company, but it’s made with polyester filling. If you know someone, please email me!
Mothering our families, ideas, and ourselves creates abundance for all.
This Mother’s Day, I want all mothers and caregivers to stop settling for crumbs. We deserve systems, communities, and spaces that allow us to give without going empty. I can’t wait for our Salon and meditation session with Zuzanna von Salm tomorrow to channel abundance in our lives.
Full lives. Full cups. Every Day. Oh how I wish!
Sending love,
Patricia