I’ve been following you on Instagram and adore you so much! I love that your husband is a photographer, and you are his muse. Funny connection…my husband and I met on set where he was the photographer, so I just feel a connection with your little fam. I would love to know how you both met. I love to hear a good love story!

David and I met in college. I worked at the candy-counter at our university’s local bookstore, and he would come to buy chocolates “for his mom” (little did I know, he had a small stash of candy building up at his apartment because of how often he was stopping by!). He eventually asked me out on a date, and the rest is history!

Could you describe yourself in one sentence?

I change pictures and take diapers. Oh, wait.

What was your initial reaction when you found out you were pregnant?

Complete disbelief. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I think I went out and bought two other pregnancy tests the next morning just to be 100% sure before celebrating.

Can you share with us a little bit of your birth story?

I loved being pregnant, preparing for birth and seeing my birth plan unfold just how I envisioned it. We were very fortunate to go into labour naturally and spent the majority of labour in the privacy of our apartment, just the two of us. It was very intimate and spiritual—we had all of the lights off with just a few LED candles on as David applied acupressure during each birth wave. It wasn’t until the final stretch of birth that both my doula and midwife told us to meet them at the hospital to meet our baby. We arrived just in time to start pushing and welcomed Ezra James just a couple of hours later. I have a deep, deep appreciation for doulas, midwives, nurses and OBs—what a special industry to be in to welcome new life!

What has postpartum been like for you?

I took the first 30 days postpartum to be off my phone and limit any company to just my husband and new baby. I’m a huge introvert, so I wanted to reserve all my energy (mental and physical) for allowing my body to heal and focus on adjusting to our new family of three. I really appreciated that time. I think it was just what I needed to slow down and bond with my baby.

As a mother, it’s important to take some time out for yourself. How would you recommend mothers, and women in general, do that?

I’m a big advocate for the power of creativity! Re-discover your inner-child and find something creative that fuels you. It looks different for everyone, and there isn’t a one-size-fits-all way to be creative. Sometimes I love trying out new recipes in the kitchen; other times, I really enjoy photography. It might be sewing, crafting, painting, writing a poem, or choreographing a dance. I recently started reading The Artist’s Way, which has been a great resource in pushing myself to be more creative.

How would you describe motherhood?

In its highest form, motherhood is unconditional love. In its lowest form, it’s me sitting on my closet floor wearing yesterday’s outfit with a sleeve of Oreos, trying to get some personal space.

What has been your biggest takeaway thus far as a mother?

Learning to let go of the idea of perfection and control and practise compassion, compassion, and compassion: compassion towards myself, compassion towards others, and compassion towards my family.

What’s your morning routine?

I’ve found a lot of joy in having a morning routine since becoming a mama. It’s a loose routine, but at some point, it involves drinking a big glass of water with my vitamins, making my bed, and writing in my journal.

Lastly, who’s your Mother Muse?

I have a deep appreciation for Frida Kahlo. I love her strong sense of identity as a Mexican woman and artist. I grew up in an ethnically-homogenous town and used to feel shy about my Latin heritage. It’s now something that I’m proud of, and I have loved having Frida as a creative role model. Although she didn’t bear any children during her life on earth, she was a mother to new art and new ideas. I’ve found that keeping that spirit of creativity alive is essential to my well-being as a new mom.

Follow our Mother Muse Sara Covey Here

Photographed by Suzzane Brown, Simply by Suzy