Having a three year old obsessed with all things animal related (to the point that we now have an going monthly subscription to National Geographic Kids – not sponsored), I’ve learned alot of interesting animal facts in the past year.
One fact that has most resonated is about flamingos. Flamingo mothers to be exact.
The fact: After a flamingo mother gives birth, she temporarily loses her iconic pink color due to the stress and demands of motherhood. Flamingo mamas get their pink color from carotenoids found their diet of shrimp and algae – food that they are (in this phase of life) more focused on providing for their babies. However, as they nurture and raise their offspring, they gradually regain their vibrant pink hue.
Really cool fact, right? It’s a direct point of comparison for my postpartum experience in which I also feel like the I’ve lost my pink in the midst of mothering. Everyone says postpartum recovery takes about a year but I honestly didn’t start feeling like myself (mentally and physically) until about two years after having Beau and am only just starting to somewhat like myself 19 months after having Drew.
That said, in preparation for 2025, I hosted a kathiew and vision board gathering with my college roomies. On my vision board, was a cut out for a NatGeo magazine of a flamingo mama and her baby flaminglet to symbolize the intention of ‘getting my pink back’ this year. An intention that’s making me chuckle as I type this because I don’t even like pink.
My sister and I went on our 2nd annual NYC Sis Trip in December (recap of last year’s inaugural NYC sisters trip). During this trip, we came to the conclusion that we’re over the winter holiday spirit/cold weather and will come back in the *Fall season* next go round.
But more related to the subject of getting my pink back, I was able to sneak away for a lil solo excursion to see the sunrise. An excursion that my sister was quick to decline so she could sleep in. So at around 6am on a Sunday morning, I headed to the subway from the Flatiron District and took the 6 train down to the Court St. stop. A frigid 8 minute walk later, I found myself at Brooklyn Bridge Park – Pier 5 just as the sun was starting to cast its rays over the Manhattan skyline.
I had the whole pier to myself which felt so rare and special. NYC by default is crowded with a constant hustling energy. But dawn… Dawn is that rare space of time where the city feels calm, quiet and, dare I say, peaceful.
This sunrise adventure marked the first time in four years I went some sort of adventure allllll by my introverted self. Just me, my camera and a self-timer. A nostalgic homecoming of sorts. Mind you, it only lasted an hour as my fingers started feeling frozen through my gloves after a while. But it was something… And something is more than nothing. A moment that reminded me I’m more than just a mom. The first little droplet of pink to fill my cup of personal and creative restoration.
Soooo yea. Cheers to the pursuit of getting my pink back in 2025 and ending this year with a cup that is full of pink water. Hopefully, to the point of overflowing. And shout out to all the flamingo mamas out there doing the best they can with what they’ve got. May the pink be with you.
Until next post.
xo, Setarra
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