Although Mother's Day, when it is customary to show gratitude and care, is only once a year on the calendar, every day of our lives is actually possible only thanks to our lovely and strong mothers. Motherhood is society's most rewarding job, and its beauty and importance deserve to be acknowledged every day! The following reading is dedicated specifically to you, dear mothers!

Together with the charming mother of three children and the founder of the esteemed Anna Grace makeup studio, Anna Saar, we talk about the beauty and pain of being a mother. Anna shares her experience on how to adapt to body changes after having children, how to build a successful career as a mother, and how not to lose one's radiant femininity against the backdrop of the maternal role. Anna's own roots reach back to far-away America, where, according to her, the skill of living a bold and vibrant life also comes from – and naturally, even after having children. Have an exciting read and beautiful moments with your family this Mother's Day!  

Difficulties are an inseparable part of motherhood

Although talk of fatigue and exhausting worry often goes hand in hand with motherhood, our blog guest Anna Saar radiates truly positive energy. She spent her childhood in America, where her maternal roots are located. Having experienced a upbringing quite different from Estonia's and having adapted to ever-changing family dynamics, Anna has a very broad perspective when talking about family and children-related topics. Two lovely sons and a daughter are growing up in her own family, who came into Anna's life in her early twenties. According to Anna, it is the children who bring joy and good energy into her life. "These are truly beautiful moments when you look at your children and simply admire them. I often ask myself, have I really brought these wonderful characters into this world? My 14-year-old daughter Emma often tells me that I am her favorite person in the whole world. That is the best compliment for me!" 

"I often ask myself, have I really brought these wonderful characters into this world?"

On the other hand, Anna admits that children's words can sometimes be very painful to hear. The most challenging thing, however, is when a child shuts themselves off. "The difficult moments are when you realize that your child has started to live inwardly and no longer shares their true thoughts and emotions with you. That is when a feeling of helplessness arises, and self-blame often sets in, as if I have failed as a mother." Just like all beautiful moments, difficulties are an inseparable part of motherhood. Silence regarding worries, however, deepens feelings of shame and guilt, which is why it is important to talk about your struggles. Knowing that other mothers are dealing with similar problems is encouraging and helps one avoid falling into the self-blame that Anna mentioned.

"Talking about the worries associated with motherhood helps end self-blame, and encouragement is found in knowing that other mothers are dealing with similar problems."

 

 

Anna's beautiful moments with her children

Bringing a child into the world is a miracle, compared to which one's figure becomes secondary

Anna has faced the challenges of motherhood with the self-confidence supported by an American culture of open communication. "Growing up in the USA, I lived in a culture where everyone communicated very boldly, without fear of showing their desires and feelings. I am very grateful to the American cultural space because it taught me to live confidently and always stand up for myself." Anna believes that thanks to the self-confidence she achieved at a young age, she has been able to easily overcome many life difficulties that could have turned into complexes if her mental health had been weaker. "During all three pregnancies, I gained about 25 kilograms. Although my body always recovered quite quickly, I still had to get used to a constantly changing self-image. I imagine that if one is strongly identified with the figure looking back from the mirror, such changes can have a very hard mental impact. But if you can remind yourself of the value of being a mother and be grateful for your body's wonderful strength, the reflection in the mirror immediately becomes secondary. My body is certainly not the same as it was ten years ago before the pregnancies. My breasts have changed, and there is still a lot of skin on my stomach. However, I exercise enough to feel good in my body. Let this excess skin be a reminder to me that my powerful body is capable of cooking three children, bringing them into the world, and still functioning perfectly." 

 

"Let this excess skin be a reminder to me that my powerful body is capable of cooking three children, bringing them into the world, and still functioning perfectly."

 

Although Anna considers her upbringing in her youth the basis of her radiant self-confidence, she still emphasizes that a lot is in our own hands and that every moment is an opportunity to make better decisions. "A large part is certainly in the genes, but we should not forget the factors that we can also change ourselves. For example, how we exercise or eat. Don't be too big a critic of yourself – do just enough to be proud of yourself." Anna advises not to base your life on the opinions of others, but she still encourages always giving positive compliments. "It is so beautiful when women give each other compliments! Positive words cost nothing, yet they inject a huge amount of new strength and energy into us." 

 

"Positive words cost nothing, yet they inject a huge amount of new strength and energy into us."

Anna radiates feminine mystery in a divine L.A. Girl nightgown

If you have the willpower and ambition, children are not an obstacle to building a career

"I think every mother goes through a period where she forgets her personal ambitions for a while and focuses entirely on the children. This is necessary for both the little family and for the new mother to get used to her new role. However, you must not let this period last too long and completely overshadow your dreams or identity. In my case, this 'bubble' of isolation from the outside world lasted about five years, during which I dedicated all my advice and strength to my children. At one point, however, I felt that I was ready to live for myself again and be a little selfish. That's how I arrived at the idea of creating my own company." Anna does not consider caring for a large family an obstacle to building a career, but emphasizes the importance of bold initiative. "Passion must match skills! If they align, nothing else matters, only starting. If you have a strong will to act yourself, the children will not stand in the way of anything!"

 

"If you have a strong will to act yourself, the children will not stand in the way of anything!"

 

Anna has found her passion specifically in the field of beauty services. The Anna Grace beauty studio operating in Tartu offers a wide range of services from everyday makeup and eyebrow modeling to magnificent bridal hairstyles and makeup courses. According to Anna, providing high-quality beauty services has been her dream since childhood. "Even as a teenager, when I watched my aunt putting on makeup, I knew that when I grew up, I wanted to put on makeup myself every day. The interest in makeup products later grew into a desire to start my very own company, through which I could make women feel beautiful and confident. What I love most about my job is the variety – even regular clients have different requests every time, and we get to experiment with new styles. Nothing motivates me more than the moment when I see a client genuinely happy, feeling special and beautiful." 

 

Working alongside children requires a certain amount of cunning and finding creative solutions, according to Anna. "For me, it is a great value that I work from home. The Anna Grace studio is right in the basement of the house, so if there is an early job sometimes, I just have to walk down the stairs and I am already at the 'office.' In addition, working from home also offers security for the children. They always know where I am and can come to me any moment if necessary, even if a client is currently sitting in the chair."

 

"Passion must match skills! If they align, nothing else matters, only starting."

Anna feels bold and glamorous in her L.A. Girl underwired bra and panties

Wearing lingerie is like an art, which is important to learn and discover for yourself

In the same way that after having children Anna had to rediscover her passion for the art of makeup, she also had to re-learn to appreciate her clothing style and beautiful lingerie. "This is very personal, but I really had to re-learn how to wear lingerie! My aunts in Canada never wore lingerie, and I remember I always wanted to be like them. Therefore, I didn't wear lingerie myself for a very long time, until I had children and the 'granny panty' phase began in my life. First, I rediscovered the comfort of beautiful lingerie, and then I started improving my lingerie drawer with increasingly stylish cuts. Now I really like experimenting with different colors, putting together bold sets, and feeling like I have a separate outfit under my clothes." 

 

"Now I really like experimenting with different colors, putting together bold sets, and feeling like I have a separate outfit under my clothes."

 

Anna has also developed a favorite lingerie brand from the Estonian handmade label BonBon, which speaks to her of timeless youthfulness and the bold American lifestyle. "The L.A. Girl collection is truly in my heart! I visit L.A. myself a few times a year, but BonBon's lingerie makes me feel as if I were by the sun and the idyllic ocean there every day. I think you should wear lingerie just like you would wear a bikini on the beach. After all, it’s important to all of us how our bikinis look on the beach, why should it be any different with lingerie? For the sake of feeling good, one must put emphasis on everyday lingerie. So what if maybe only we see this lingerie, but that is the most important thing! I personally wear 'seamless', but also 'supportive' lingerie on a daily basis. I feel very good, for example, in sexy full-lace lingerie. At other times, however, I prefer a simple and super-comfortable bathrobe. Just as the world of makeup is large and colorful, lingerie also continuously offers opportunities to discover new combinations and cuts. For every collection, you just have to find your own time and place!"

 

"Just as the world of makeup is large and colorful, lingerie also continuously offers opportunities to discover new combinations and cuts."

Anna feels heavenly beautiful in her body L.A. Girl playful bodysuit

Thank you to Anna for sharing her thoughts on both valuable experiences of motherhood and more difficult trials. We hope that many mothers and expectant women will find strength and self-confidence from BonBon lingerie!

 

Wishing you an abundance of the beauty of motherhood!