Loss

"There’s a lot of stigma behind abortion. How can I be a mother who loves her kids and still have one? The truth is, I would have loved to have had another baby but in the middle of the pandemic, with so much uncertainty, I chose my children over my unplanned pregnancy. This painting which has taken me the three years, painting on each anniversary of my abortion and has helped me conceptualize my feelings. It’s still a loss, and I still grieve, even though I chose this and do not regret it. Like this painting, I am still nurturing and mourning; both things are true. My artwork promotes the mental health of mothers like me, who deal with these feelings in silence."
Submitted by ​Catherine Maldonado