Mothers in Germany: 30 women talk about their lives

How are mothers in Germany?

What moves you What do you wish? How do you feel about life as mothers? Tanya Neufeldt from Berlin, herself mother of a son and author of the blog luciemarshall.com, wanted to find out more and decided to create a book about mothers in Germany.

In order to find her interview partners, Tanya Neufeldt started a call on her blog and received a large number of letters from women who would like to tell their stories. Finally, she traveled across Germany with the photographer Mujo Kazmi to get to know 30 mothers and their life stories.

In cooperation with Care.com and the kladde book publisher as a funding partner, these discussions resulted in the wonderful book "Mothers in Germany", which allows a diverse and touching look at what moves mothers in Germany. The aim of the book is also to draw social attention even more to the topic of families and to discuss models of how politics and employers can respond more to families.

The proceeds from the book will be used to support the "Care Forward" project, a program for refugee women that Care.com launched in 2017 together with the International Rescue Committee (IRC). The participants in the Care Forward program attend vocational orientation courses with the aim of subsequently training to be a geriatric carer, educator or nurse, or to work in childcare or as domestic help. Participation in the course is free.

"These interviews give me energy"

Tanya Neufeldt writes in her book: "I've traveled all over Germany and talked to 30 mothers who couldn't be more different and follow very different life concepts – mothers who had children early, late mothers, married, single parents, same-sex partnerships. Mothers who work full-time, mothers who have decided to devote their time entirely to the children and family, mothers who quarrel, struggle, mothers who are happy with what is. Mothers with different origins, mothers who have adopted their children or have been adopted themselves. Mothers with children who need special support ".

The result is a book from a mother, about mothers, for mothers – a book that inspires and connects by opening up the view to other worlds.

"If I sometimes have the feeling that I am alone with everything, then I read these interviews and look into the faces of these women," reports Tanya Neufeldt. "That gives me new energy. I feel a very big bond, it gives me a feeling of togetherness – like a tribal affiliation. Because women remind me of the value of being in a 'mother's boat' with so many allies. Together we are always stronger ".

More information on the "Mothers in Germany" campaign is available here.

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