Apple of Our Eye

Mothers & More presented its first Apple of Our Eye Award to actress Brooke Shields in July of 2005 for her courage and honesty, writing and speaking out publicly about her personal struggles with postpartum depression, and defending every mother’s right to decide for herself how best to take care of herself and her family. Ms. Shields bravely shared her real story about PPD with others, via her book, Down Came the Rain, and through the media.

The purpose of the “Apple of Our Eye” Award is to call attention to acts that honor the importance of caregiving work and respect mothers’ individuality and right to make their own decisions about how to care for themselves and their families. 

Here are some things mothers and others did to celebrate:

• Shared their stories with us. Only when mothers are truly open about their real stories will the media and society be accepting of Mothers & More’s beliefs that "All mothers, all children and all families are unique" and that society should "respect the wisdom of each mother to decide how to care for her children, her family and herself."
  Mothers everywhere participated in a discussion spurred by answering the question: Since you've become a mother, have you ever done something, or not done something, in the best interest of yourself and your family and found others judged you? How did you overcome the unwanted criticism?  
• Sent Brooke Shields an email. (Mothers & More provided some sample copy to help get mothers and others started)
• Let their friends and family know about the Apple of Our Eye Award. (Mothers & More provided some sample copy to help get mothers and others started)

Read our press release

Mothers & More Declares Brooke Shields “Apple of Our Eye” 

Read our letter to Brooke Shields

Dear Ms. Shields:

"All mothers, all children and all families are unique. We respect the wisdom of each mother to decide how to care for her children, her family and herself."

This is one of Mothers & More’s core beliefs, which we hold dear.

Our organization and its members would like to applaud you for exemplifying this belief by sharing your personal experiences with PPD, standing up for every mother’s right to care for herself as she sees fit, and challenging society to rectify its judgmental attitude towards mothers and the choices they make about their lives.

Mothers & More would like to honor your courage and honesty with our first ever "Apple of Our Eye" Award. The purpose of this award is to call attention to acts that honor the importance of caregiving work and respect mothers’ individuality and right to make their own decisions about how to care for themselves and their families.

Mothers & More is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the lives of mothers through support, education and advocacy. We address mothers’ needs as individuals and members of society, and promote the value of all the work mothers do. We are comprised of 7,000 members organized in over 150 local chapters throughout the United States. For nearly 20 years, Mothers & More has been bringing mothers together to weather the challenges they face, provide a network of support for one another, and advocate on mothers’ behalves.

We strive to provide a place where mothers can come together, share their joys and challenges honestly, without judgment, in our local chapters across the US and via our e-mail conversation loops. Postpartum depression is one particularly challenging situation in which mothers often feel a lack of social support or societal understanding as they make that initial transition into motherhood. Your experience with it and the impossible "celebrity mom" stereotype so prevalent in your profession add a valuable perspective to the national conversation about the real obstacles mothers face in trying to balance all the aspects of their lives as women and mothers.

Again, Ms. Shields, on behalf of our membership, thank you for your strength and courage in voicing your concern for mothers and the right they have to make their own choices on how to best care for themselves. Thank you for sharing your real story with all of us.

Sincerely,

Joanne Brundage
Executive Director
Mothers & More