The Shape of Home - D

The Bear who Bore the Burden of Love.

D informs me that she's prioritizing her mental well-being so that she can stay connected with her mom. As a representation of her home, she sculpted a Mama Bear which exuded both a protective and intimidating energy.

She recalls her memories of her mother growing up, “She suffered a lot in the relationship with my biological father. My father abused her and left her. As a single mother with one child, she had to try hard to make rent. We struggled a lot, especially with eating. We didn’t have enough food or milk. Looking back on that, I actually have more respect for my mom. My mom was only doing her best. Even though we were struggling, she just wanted the best for me. She always dressed me well and did my hair so that it didn't look like we were in poverty. She always tried her best.”

D also talks about her conflict with her mom: “When I first got on social media, that was when things went bad. On the internet, I was seeking the validation that I did not get from my mom. When she caught me doing something bad with my phone (on the internet), she took it away. I don’t really want to talk about what I did on the internet. I almost slapped her because of that reason. I used to say mean things to her, throw things at her, and do many things to my mom…. She was just trying to protect me.”

While D recognizes how her own issues prevent her from uniting with her mother, the bear commemorates the journey of their relationship: “It’s like memories are a recording in my head, both good and bad things that happened. I am proud of what we’ve accomplished through the years. I am proud to say that she is my mom. I am proud that we’ve come so far with our relationship.”

Shapes of Home is a part of our Children’s Rights Project. If you or someone you know would like to get involved, contact team@teralta.art.

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