Downs Side Up Uncovered - the Shoot

After Kate @kateonthinice who writes the Naked Mum blog persuaded me to join her one naked mum a month drive to celebrate our mummy bodies, I decided to tie it in with World Down Syndrome Day on 21st March, the theme being LOTS OF SOCKS or different socks as we are calling it in our house, for everyone is different.

While I was at it I thought I might as well raise funds as well as awareness, so I am collecting monies for the vital work of Down Syndrome International, the Down's Syndrome Association and the Cornwall Downs Syndrome Support Group.

And so the wheels were set in motion. These things are always organic, I never have an end plan, I just follow my nose. 

The wife of a former employer is a supremely talented and professional photographer Maryna Halton of Photograph by Maryna, who happens to specialise in boudoir photography. Although not the natural Mummy look we were trying to achieve, she was used to snapping naked bodies, putting semi clad women at ease and had 'seen it all before' so to speak. She very kindly offered her skills for free. 

So too did her partner Julie Wieczorek of Angel Face, expert mineral make-up artists on Miss World.

Julie applies make-up to a trembling Hayley

A local film maker also offered his services, and Geoff's video clip of the preparations and why I did it is at the bottom of this page.

Suddenly there was a team involved in Downs Side Up Uncovered. The sponsorship started rolling in and there was no going back. Gulp

As the day dawned and the props had been gathered, the nerves increased. I'd made my reasons for doing the shoot clear in Downs Side Up Uncovered, showing the bodies of mums of children with disabilities are like any other, that I lay my feelings bare in the blog, that I am not just a campaigner and Mum but a woman and wife as well.

The day began, the nerves soon abated, but I was astonished at how emotional I found moments of the day. Tears welled in my eyes. What I hadn't foreseen were the stories of those helping out, the reasons behind why they wanted to help.

I hadn't twigged either, that the last time I had been naked in front of near strangers was at the birth of darling Natalia. My body was remembering. I thought too about the families we support and what the day was all about and the tears pricked more, a kind of pride too I guess.

Then of course there are the emotions associated with getting older. The last time I took a really good look at myself naked was probably about 10 years ago and I didn't have to suck my tummy in then. Now, at 43 years one has to work a bit harder to look effortlessly natural, or maybe it just doesn't matter as much what you look like. Priorities have shifted significantly.

Hayley clings to her trusty dressing gown

And so, we did it. We spent 5 hours, doing different poses and locations. We all felt washed out at the end, nervous to get it right, not offend anyone, to produce artistic, tasteful images that portray the real woman. I haven't seen the pictures yet, Maryna is looking through them now. We'll choose the best and  send one over to Kate for her blog next month. Perhaps we'll reveal the others slowly as the charity funds mount up in the pot. Maybe a newspaper would like to feature one and champion our cause. Who knows. 

For now, here is the first of the behind the scenes pictures of the naked mum that is Hayley Goleniowska.

TO DONATE PLEASE TEXT DSUU47 £AMOUNT TO 70070

OR VISIT MY JUST GIVING SITE  HERE.

WATCH OUR VIDEO CLIP ABOUT HOW THIS PROJECT CAME ABOUT AND MY REASONS FOR DOING IT HERE: 

 

Downs Side Up Uncovered

It's that time of year when we begin thinking about World Down Syndrome Day which is coming up on the 21st March. The date represents the 3 of chromosome 21 that individuals with Down's Syndrome have. 

To raise awareness it is also Lots Of Socks Day, or Different Socks Day as I prefer to think of it. For we are all unique and play an equal role in life's colourful tapestry.

We can all get involved in this, wear different funky socks, dare to be bold, get your school involved, your colleagues.

I've decided to do some fundraising for 3 major charities; our local support group, the CDSSG, the Down's Syndrome Association who help families on a national level and Down Syndrome International who work globally.

What am I going to do? Run a marathon? Cycle from Lands End to John O Groats? Sit in a bath of baked beans? Sky dive? 

No. I don't have the time or the stamina for the first two options and I'm not very keen on beans, and I did a sky dive for charity when I was at college, so...

I'm going to be taking my clothes off for a photo shoot. I'll be protecting my modesty with a multitude of differently coloured socks.  Yep, that's right, I'm getting my kit off Calendar Girls style.

Yep, that's right, I'm getting my kit off Calendar Girls style.

OR TEXT DSUU 47 £AMOUNT TO 70070 TO DONATE

How on earth did this all came about? It's is a question I have been asking myself the last couple of days as I nervously prepare for the hoto session.

It began last year at the Britmums Live Brilliance in Blogging Awards ceremony, where I met Kate @kateonthinice for the first time. Kate and I really hit it off and shared a giggle over a glass of bubbles. We are both quite different, but our personalities slotted together, and it felt like I had always known her. It was a very rare evening where we felt like women, friends, writers, not only Mums.

Kate's blog The Naked Mum is a wonderfully supportive community for Mums trying to value every aspect of their lives, whilst supporting one another. She's had an idea to ask one blogger a month to pose naked, a way of showing that we are not just mums, but women, wives and partners too.

Kate says we should try things outside our comfort zone. It's better than regretting not doing them later on in life. And after all, in writing a blog, one lays ones feelings bare every time you press the publish button.

But more than that I want to show that Mums of children with Down's Syndrome, in fact any disability, are just like everyone else. We have wobbly bits and bits we like to hide, there are the unwanted pounds, places we are proud of, bits we don't mind flaunting, bits that have been stretched beyond return but most of all our wonderful bodies have made and nourished our beautiful children, just the same as everyone else. I am yet to find the green scales replacing skin.

Natty gets her first taste of breast milk at 4 days old

I remember when Natty was born, that I felt ashamed of my body,  foolishly guilty that it had not got it quite right. I have also suffered 5 miscarriages. By getting naked for this year's WDSD I am burying that ridiculous notion and I hope it helps other women celebrate the wonder that is creating all and every life.

I also help to raise awareness for World Down Syndrome Day and raise some money for those wonderful charities. Please sponsor me.

Hayley x