As a gift for Mother’s Day: flowers, chocolates, a piece of jewelry or why not a colorful and lively book, made for older children, capable of being moved and amazed, of being consoled? Because mothers too, in what they believe to be their defeats, have ailments and need bandages, kissing cream, sweet words.
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Six years ago, the question book Do you know… that you don’t have to know everything was born from the transatlantic meeting between Mylen Vigneault and Maud Roegiers and appealed to a wide audience, children and parents alike. “Since then, we have received several messages, mainly from women, who told us that they would have loved to hear these words when they were little.“, recalls Maud.
Enough to give the duo ideas for a sequel, always in the spirit of providing a bubble of guilt-free and comfort to readers. ” This time, we decided to make an album that could be offered by adults for adults. It’s a tribute to all mothers, which we both are, it’s never too late to hear comforting words of love. “
For this tribute to be the most universal, Maud had to create a woman who was just as universal. “I wanted to draw the most universal mother possible, using indeterminate colors. She has coffee-brown skin and blue hair. Which no one has, so everyone can relate to it. I made them long so that I could play with them, so that they could become elements of the decor. Casually, in a book like this, we put a lot of constraints on ourselves, to please as many people as possible and not shock anyone, so as not to stigmatize. In children’s publishing, there are sometimes a lot of barriers, we are so afraid of stereotypes – which nevertheless continue to stick to certain realities – that we can no longer use them. A pink book is for girls! But when I came out The princess who farts many little boys loved it. “
The pressure of perfection
If, in her books, the forty-year-old, who has three children, has often countered the pressure that can act on the shoulders of the little ones, parents and mothers also experience it. “I think we are the first to wear it, realizes Maud . In relation to our experience, the transmission from our own parents, what we want to teach our children. But, with our generation, I think the taboo has fallen. Before, motherhood was magnificent. We couldn’t say otherwise. “But perfection does not exist. There is a soft stomach, dark circles, discouragement, the perfect images sent back by the TV, the breakdowns, the days far too short to do everything you want.
Dreaming in particular. We often talk about children’s dreams, but those of mothers? “For me, this is one of the most important pages of this album. Often, I feel guilty when I have to leave, I tell myself that my children are growing up and I’m not there. But isn’t showing them that I’m living mine later teaching them to live their dreams?“
Throughout the sentences and illustrations, their poetry and their symbolism, light sketched birds provide the common thread. “On the text sent by Mylen, I have carte blanche. I cut it into pieces, I imagine the illustrations. Here I also changed the order of the passages. To have continuity, with, at the beginning, sentences that very young children could say at birth. The more we advance in the book, the more the child grows and so do his words. “
Released a few weeks ago, Do you know, mom? has already shed some good tears. “It was a highly anticipated album. In salons, I saw several mothers cry in front of me while leafing through it. One day, I found myself in a car with my 13-year-old daughter in a parking lot. She told me she still hadn’t read the book. I just happened to have it with me and handed it to him. She finished it crying, realizing how hard it is to be a mom. Some mothers show it, others less, but all go through difficult times. In the end, it was a great mother-daughter exchange. Children can also realize that we are not just superheroes. “
“Do you know, Mom”, Mylen Vigneault & Maud Roegiers, at Alice Jeunesse, 48p., €15
And the fathers throughout this ?
If a boy (inspired by Maud’s son) and a girl convey all these good vibes, there is no trace of the dad in Do you know, mom? “It was a big discussionexplains Maud. But if we included dads, a lot of things about motherhood would have to be skipped. So, we took the risk of not introducing the father figure, even if it meant receiving comments, we accept. Without excluding, that said, one day Do you know, dad? But will fathers be as receptive as mothers? We give ourselves time.“
In the meantime, they can absolutely read this work. “Dads bought it for their partner, some thanked me. As present as a dad may be, sometimes witnessing his partner’s distress, he can’t always find the words and can feel helpless. This album can be a support.“
“Do you know, Mom”, Mylen Vigneault & Maud Roegiers, at Alice Jeunesse, 48p., €15
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