Bringing Motherhood Out of the Private into the Public with Alessandra Simmons
Dr. Alessandra Simmons is the executive director of Gathering Ground, a non profit dedicated to connecting people to the environment and their food through work and play. She’s a mom, poet and veggie and flower farmer, too!
Her poems have been published in Spillway, Smartish Pace, Rabbit Catastrophe, Rewilding: poems for the environment and elsewhere.
She lives and farms with her husband and son on Washington Island, WI and holds a PhD from UW-Milwaukee in English and a MFA from Indiana University.
The Unspoken Topic
- Motherhood is not a private thing. It is powerful when you can bring together all the parts of yourself to the conversation and table, including motherhood.
What We Cover
- Life on a farm.
- How to incorporate all aspects of your life into what you do.
- Beautiful poems written by Alessandra.
Take a Listen >>
Alessandra’s Poems
New Mother Poem [Oak]
I wish I were on oak tree
and you were an acorn-
then there would be thousands
of you and each one would fall
perfectly and I wouldn’t worry about where
you sleep. Chances are
one of you would catch
the good earth
with your rooting.
New Mother Poem [Honey Locust]
you’d be my seed pod
your little round body
bound by sweet pulp
and leather skin. When student
protesters are struck
by trucks and flares
of the national guard
their blood will wet
the sidewalks, their young
hands will not sculpt
or write or clap. But
you, my little legume, when
your pod is crushed
in the street and power
hoses wash away litter
and crowds, you will float along
until you bloat with water
and sun until you find a crevice
or a spot of trampled earth
and you will sprout and hold
your compound leaves in the air.
Greatest A-Ha Moment
- She didn’t think her motherhood experience had anything to do with her poetry dissertation. When she found the overlap between environmentalism and feminism, between nature and motherhood, she really found her path for her dissertation and that was very meaninful to her.
How She Stays Connected To Her Husband
- They connect the hour before bed together and always make time for family activities on weekends, even when they are busy with work.
Most Excited About
- How her nonprofit is growing
Mama Has a Minute
- Favorite form of self-care: Shower.
- Best parenting advice ever received: Say ‘boop’ when wiping their nose.
- Parenting Hack: Asking the child to do small tasks to redirect.
- Product Child cannot live without: Books.
- Share 1 book: Fertile Ground, a Pilgrimage through Pregnancy.
- What motherhood means to you: Motherhood means love and learning.
Freebies From Us at Raising Children You Like
- Join our Facebook Community
- If you’re looking for a more peaceful home, get the 5 Tips to Pause a Tantrum.
- Download The 5 Screen Time Mistakess if you’re looking to maximize screen time with your tot.
- Join The FREE Masterclass on learning to stay present and unruffled during your child’s tantrum with these 3 Secrets.
Action Steps For *You*
- Have a question or topic you’d like to cover? Let us know!
- Subscribe to our podcast to never miss an episode on iTunes or Stitcher.
- Love what you hear? Leave us a comment + review on iTunes! (WE LOVE YOU!!!)
