08. Capturing motherhood’s complexity through poetry w/ Dominique Snedeker

She uses poetry to immortalize precious moments with her children and the myriad of emotions they contain. Dominique Snedeker, a poet, U.S. Air Force veteran, and at-home parent of three young boys, is on the show today.

In this episode, she shares how motherhood has reshaped her identity and how she used poetry to process that change. She also talks about how our memories have evolved because of technology and how poetry resembles sticky notes.

We discuss how poetry and writing enable us to move through experiences so we can reach different, new conclusions. And toward the end, we allow ourselves to open up and share the struggles we’ve faced with the hope of helping others to process and release similar challenges.

Dominique also treats us to three of her poems. They explore how becoming a parent can include a loss of identity, how our kids in fact shape and mold us, and how we moms are a treasure.

Get her books

Motherhood: The Crucible of Love:
https://www.amazon.com/Motherhood-Crucible-Love-Dominique-Snedeker/dp/B09VWKJS55
– Cold (forthcoming)

Connect with Dominique

– Blog: https://www.dmsnedeker.com/
– Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dmsnedeker/
– Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dmsnedeker/
– LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dmsnedeker/
– TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dmsnedeker
– Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/dmsnedeker

Books discussed during the show

– “There’s a Certain Slant of Light,” by Emily Dickinson
– On the Night You Were Born, by Nancy Tillman
– Wherever You Are My Love Will Find You, by Nancy Tillman
– Maybe: A Story About the Endless Potential in All of Us, by Kobi Yamada
– “The Bells,” by Edgar Allen Poe
– Like Butter on Pancakes, by Jonathan London

Free your creative self too

Download your free copy of 5 Steps to Help You Start Writing Today: https://parentswhowrite.com/5-steps-start-writing


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ABOUT ME

Erin P.T. Canning has worked for 20 years as an editor, encouraging each writer’s individual voice and strengthening their writing goals.

She always planned to write a book, but life had a tendency to distract her. After dedicating six years of her life to motherhood and discovering her ADHD, she started writing again, even though she feared her writing skills had atrophied.

After letting go of her perfectionism, Erin finally finished her own shitty first draft and released her fantasy romance novel, Ruins and Redemption, in 2023. Her current role as a podcaster and book coach enables her to help writers pursue their author dreams.