Seasons of Motherhood: Madison Berna on Love, Growth, and Identity

For Madison Berna, motherhood is a beautiful continuation of an already extraordinary journey. Her love story with her husband is both unexpected and charming. She met her husband when their cars collided in a mall parking lot in Tennessee - an unexpected encounter that blossomed into a lifelong partnership. Now a proud mother of two - her son Jon, who recently turned six, and her daughter Eloise, who is three and a half years old.

As residents of California, their family loves spending time along the coast, with Cayucos being a favorite destination for her and her family. They visit the charming, homey town every year, enjoying not only its peaceful atmosphere but also the many activities available in the surrounding areas. For their anniversary in March, Madison and her husband enjoyed a memorable horseback ride along the coast. They've also explored every tour at Hearst Castle, which she describes as incredibly breathtaking and well worth the visit.

More than anything, Madison hopes her children grow up to be "compassionate, caring, mindful, and strong-willed." - values they continue to nurture in themselves as well. Coming from a challenging childhood and overcoming depression, Madison is deeply intentional in helping her kids see the beauty in life's highs and lows. "One bad thing happened doesn't mean your whole day/life is ruined. I wish I'd understood that growing up, and I pray my kids do. I strive to help them see the good in all seasons of their life. "

Madison deeply resonates with VIVAIA’s Mother's Day theme Beyond Motherhood, She's More this year. "That’s a great way to put motherhood. Motherhood isn’t just about raising babies," she shares. "It truly is far beyond that. It's incredible feelings. Fear, love, guilt, comfort. Motherhood is an incredibly deep, loving and hard thing to go through. " Motherhood has not only strengthened her creativity and intuition but also helped her better understand herself - not just as a mother, but as a whole person.

Becoming a mother of two transformed Madison’s perspective on life. She initially worried about how she could love a second child as much as her first, but those fears quickly melted away. "Motherhood is made up of seasons," Madison reflects. "Postpartum, school age, teenage years - It goes on forever." She embraces these changes, recognizing that both she and her children are constantly growing together.