She Was Told Having Kids Would Ruin Her Dreams, So She Proved Them Wrong

German Artist Marina Abramovic famously told the newspaper Tagesspiegel that having kids would be disastrous to her creativity. “I had three abortions because I was certain that it would be a disaster for my work,” she said. “One only has limited energy in the body, and I would have had to divide it.”

Another artist from Brooklyn, however, gave a meaningful response to Abramovic, shedding light on how motherhood does not necessarily stop someone from pursuing her passion, reported Babble.

To illustrate her point, Hein Koh even posted a picture of herself, breastfeeding her twins while working on her social media accounts.

“When my twins were 5 weeks old and despite the sleep deprivation and frequent (every 2-3 hours, 24-7, 45 min at a time) breastfeeding, I was still getting shit done,” Hein narrated. “Marina Abramovic thinks children hold women back in the art world, but as @dubz19 put so aptly, ‘FUKKK THAT’.”

“Somehow as a man you are allowed to have kids and still be perceived as driven in your career,” wrote Hein. “While if you are a woman who has a child, people think of it as a huge sacrifice,” she observes. “The new family models are changing — mothers don’t necessarily have to be the primary caretakers anymore. With a more even distribution of responsibilities, and a support system — support is key, and I recognize it is a privilege — women can still have children and be successful in their careers.”

“I’ve pieced together a schedule that allows me to spend time with the kids for at least a few hours every day, but also have at least a few hours to myself to work in my studio or do other things that I need to do,” she added. “Childcare is a privilege, and unfortunately many moms and artists don’t have that. That being said, I understand how fortunate I am and I don’t waste time.”

“We all have to do what we think is best for ourselves and our families,” she further stated. “I’m just trying to live my life, and I know I have limitations but I’m doing the best I can. People should just leave moms alone, and mind their own business. Especially other moms, who are always the first to judge. Regardless of our individual choices, women should support other women, and lead by example rather than attack. That’s the kind of culture I want to promote.”

Koh’s photo and her message, that motherhood should be celebrated, have been well received by netizens, gathering over 6,000 likes and almost 2,000 shares since its posting on August 18.