The birth of a child is a wonderful event that at the same time forces a woman to reprogram her life to remain true to herself and her passions. Kasia is a mother of Polish origins, who has made of travelling her philosophy: a way to discover places and people; to take cues to be poured into her work as a photographer, but above all a "new dimension" to find harmony with Adam, her five-year-old son. Together they live unique experiences that, although they have some critical points, both help to build a strong bond based on trust. Here nature once again becomes a teacher of life, as much for an adult as for a child who is discovering the world and building his own being.
From Kasia's words we can see important reflections on how a woman today, despite the organizational and "cultural" difficulties, can invent new methods to cultivate a passion benefiting herself and her child. Another "epic woman" of our days who can offer some suggestions to all mothers who find themselves redesigning their spaces.
Photographer, traveller and mother: can you tell us a bit about your life?
My name is Kasia, I'm 35 and I've been a photographer for ten years. In summer I mainly do weddings but I also do lifestyle and nature photography. I have tasted the fascination of travel since I was a child and I always thought that as soon as I started earning my first money, I would spend it to explore the world. Then in 2015 I became a mother and had to change my plans. But one thing didn't change: I stayed the same. As a very active person I didn't give up travelling, so I started to take my son with me, and now he is becoming my great companion day after day.
How do you reconcile family, work and time for yourself?
In our family there are clear rules. Each of us has our own passions and we know that we need space for ourselves. When I work, I make everyone aware of my commitments in advance so that the rest of the family can manage on their own. This method also allows me to take time to go alone in the mountains: I use these moments to look at my work and family from the outside.
Who gave you the passion for the mountains?
Certainly, my parents. When I was a child, we used to go hiking together in the Tatra Mountains, in the Carpathian Mountains between Slovakia and Poland. These places have always fascinated me a lot. As time went by the passion remained and I started snowboarding, while in summer I love to ride a bike and run. Of course, the "outdoor disciplines" also include all the fun things you can do with a five-year-old!
What are your dreams?
My dreams are also my goals and I work meticulously to achieve them. Among them was a trip to the Dolomites with my son, with a car as a home and that's what we did in the summer of 2018.
Not an easy experience but just as satisfying when faced with a phrase like "mom these are the most beautiful mountains I have ever seen".
What would you like to convey to your child through the experiences you share?
I would like him to pass on the message that life is wonderful, that it is important to meet new people, that although it is difficult to reach the summit, from up there the view is wonderful. I would also like him to understand that mistakes can be made along the way, but what is important is to find the strength to move forward.
What have you learned from your role as a "travelling mother"?
That you have to be patient! Apart from jokes, a child teaches you the art of slowness, to grasp the details in things that we would otherwise miss. Travelling together makes us meet people and find new friends, gives us the opportunity to accumulate experience. Moments like these lived with a child help to create a very strong bond, to believe in each other.
Do you have a particular anecdote of your travels as a mother that you would like to tell us?
September 2018. I decided to celebrate my birthday with a trip just for me and my son Adam. We're in the Dolomites, at the Gardena Pass, with a fantastic sunset. We leave with the camera to capture the landscape, outside the air is very cold, so I ask him if he wants to go back and get his gloves. He turns around and says, "mom, forget it, we are mountain people!". Coming from a five-year-old boy, that's quite an effect!
What message would you like to send to today's moms?
To believe in themselves and their intuitions.
To create their own way of being moms.
Not to compare themselves to other mothers and their children.
To search for happiness because that's the way to transmit.