Mother Stories
Sustainably-Minded Mama Ari Surya On Newborn Life, Self-Care, & More!
Written by Katie Hintz-Zambrano
Photography by Nicki Sebastian
Dec 8, 2020
Our hearts go out to all the mamas during 2020, and especially those who have spent their pregnancies and those precious (and intense!) first weeks and months of motherhood in relative isolation. One such mother is Ari Surya, an L.A.-based writer, artist, and reiki practitioner who gave birth to her first child at the end of September, and has been documenting her journey beautifully and honestly via Instagram.
Recently, we caught up with the sustainably-minded mama to discuss self-care during the newborn days, postpartum depression, and more, as she and her fiancé Tundae Mena (a fellow creative) took the modern and eco-friendly Esembly diapering system for a spin. Modeled adorably by their 2 1/2-month-old son Marley Xen Olufemi, Esembly makes it simple to take on the somewhat daunting task of cloth diapering—all thanks to its effective, good-looking, and Earth-friendly 4-part system of diapering, laundering, skincare, and storage.
Check it all out and meet this inspiring family, right here!
This article is brought to you by Mother x Esembly.
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Meet the parents!
Writer, artist, and reiki healer Ari Surya, her partner and fiancé Tundae Mena, and their son, Marley Xen Olufemi.
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- "I grew up in Pacoima, California and was raised by my grandparents and mother. I believe I was born an artist. Ever since I could remember, I enjoyed creating art and my medium just changed throughout the years. My first form of artistry was singing and ballet, then painting, poetry, and visual art. My love for poetry started my writing in high school. I just remember thinking that I wanted to make people feel something with my words like some of the poets I love. About 5 years ago, I became interested in holistic medicine and energy healing and that is what brought me to reiki. I have always wanted to help others and thought it would be the perfect way for me to do so. A year ago, I found a woman of color reiki healer, which was important to me, that has a certified reiki course and got certified."
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Marley wears Esembly's modern and sustainable cloth diapering system. The diapers are made of two parts: an absorbent organic cotton Inner and a waterproof Outer, which comes in a variety of colors and prints. For extra absorption during long stretches of sleep, mamas can add a super-absorbent Overnighter diaper booster.
Persimmon Outer Diaper, $18.50, Esembly.
Inner Diaper, $12, Esembly.
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"About 7 years ago I started living a healthier lifestyle. I did a lot of research on how to naturally improve my mental health and found that the food we eat can help. With research and years of eating healthier, I believe that eating better and physical health is beneficial for our mental wellness. As a new mom, I plan to continue living a healthy lifestyle myself and introduce it to Marley as well, so it is something that is instilled in him."
Persimmon Outer Diaper, $18.50, Esembly.
Inner Diaper, $12, Esembly.
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"That being a mom is a full-time job within itself. It’s more than what I expected. Not only did you give birth to a human, but you are healing your body, getting reacquainted with self, and figuring out your new identity as a mommy, all while taking care of and learning your baby with no sleep."
Persimmon Outer Diaper, $18.50, Esembly.
Inner Diaper, $12, Esembly.
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For easy changing on-the-go, Esembly offers a Day Bag with two fully waterproof, odor-containing compartments that let you separate clean from dirty diapers. The bag is made from Oeko-Tex certified recycled fabric from 100% post-consumer plastic bottles, and includes an adjustable shoulder strap that makes it easy to sling over a shoulder or a stroller. It also comes in 11 different color combos.
Chamomile Outer Diaper, $18.50, Esembly.
Persimmon Outer Diaper, $18.50, Esembly.
Day Bag, $29.50, Esembly.
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In addition to diapers, Esembly also provides a more sustainable wipe! Its organic cotton, washable Wipe Ups (sold in packs of 12) are super durable, soft enough for baby's skin, and sized generously to handle baby's biggest messes. The Wipe Ups can be laundered with the Inners and Outers and you'll only need 30 wipes total from birth to potty training! Once your little one is done with diapers, you can repurpose the Wipe Ups as bath time washcloths!
Inner Diaper, $12, Esembly.
Wipe Ups, $14, Esembly.
Chamomile Outer Diaper, $18.50, Esembly.
Lagoon Outer Diaper, $18.50, Esembly.
Persimmon Outer Diaper, $18.50, Esembly.
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"That I’m capable of doing so much at once, I think you become a pro multitasker when you become a parent! Motherhood has also taught me that I need to slow down more often, be okay with sitting still, resting, and taking my time. In the beginning, I was trying to do way too much at once and would end up overwhelmed. I realized that I couldn’t expect to just keep working and going; this was my time to rest, get to know my baby, and spend precious time with him and my fiancé."
Deco Dot Outer Diaper, $18.50, Esembly.
Inner Diaper, $12, Esembly.
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Just one of a handful of (Outer) diaper changes for Marley during our shoot, to showcase some of our favorite Esembly colors and prints. The brand currently has 17 different options to chose from, including a vibrant limited-edition collection with Winter Water Factory.
Deco Dot Outer Diaper, $18.50, Esembly.
Inner Diaper, $12, Esembly.
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"The highlights have been seeing him do things for the first time like lift his head, smile, and look at us when we talk to him. The most challenging would be not sleeping as much and figuring out how to soothe him when he’s just fussy and won’t stop crying."
Deco Dot Outer Diaper, $18.50, Esembly.
Inner Diaper, $12, Esembly.
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In case anyone needed a reminder that baby yawns are the cutest.
Deco Dot Outer Diaper, $18.50, Esembly.
Inner Diaper, $12, Esembly.
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"I actually experienced postpartum depression the first month or so as a new mom. I did prepare my mind for it but didn’t prepare physically. I thought that because I had control of my depression beforehand and learned how to cope that it wouldn’t be so bad postpartum. I know now that it is not something that I could control and it was not as easy to recognize that what I was feeling was postpartum depression. With help from my partner and therapist, I was able to recognize and create a routine that was helpful for me at the time."
Deco Dot Outer Diaper, $18.50, Esembly.
Inner Diaper, $12, Esembly.
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"Experiencing my son’s growth, traveling with my family, and sharing all of my favorites with him like songs, movies, shows, etc."
Deco Dot Outer Diaper, $18.50, Esembly.
Inner Diaper, $12, Esembly.
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"Experiencing the bittersweet parts of letting go of the different versions of him as he grows and ages up."
Deco Dot Outer Diaper, $18.50, Esembly.
Inner Diaper, $12, Esembly.
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Just one of a bazillion kisses from papa throughout the day.
Deco Dot Outer Diaper, $18.50, Esembly.
Inner Diaper, $12, Esembly.
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"My son’s name is Marley Xen Olufemi Mena. One thing my partner, Tundae, and I were sure of was his name. We wanted something powerful that had a deep meaning for us both. Marley after Bob Marley, Xen (zen) which means peace and with an X because we want one of his nicknames to be Marley X after Malcom X, and Olufemi is Tundae’s middle name and means 'God loves me.'"
Deco Dot Outer Diaper, $18.50, Esembly.
Inner Diaper, $12, Esembly.
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"My mother and grandmother raised me to always be kind to others because you never know what someone is going through, to always be aware of your surroundings, and to be a dreamer—that I can do and be whatever I wanted if I worked hard."
Deco Dot Outer Diaper, $18.50, Esembly.
Inner Diaper, $12, Esembly.
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- "Regular trips to our ancestral homelands (Honduras and Mexico), taking local inexpensive trips to explore the world around us, and also the things I mentioned previously—treating humans with kindness and respect, being aware of your surroundings, and making sure Marley feels empowered to accomplish his greatest dream."
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- "My self-care before baby was working out/yoga, meditation, writing, a healthy drink or tea, and writing. When I was pregnant, it was taking a walk, sitting outside, making juices, meditation, taking my vitamins and baths."
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- "It has been challenging to have an actual self-care routine with a newborn, but weekly or when I’m feeling overwhelmed, I take a walk around my neighborhood with Tundae and Marley, a trip to the park, sit in my garden and take a few deep breaths with my eyes closed. And I just started making myself some of my favorite coffee drinks and teas that I would usually get from a coffee shop. I bought myself a french press and a matcha kit to make it a little fun for me. My favorite so far has been an iced matcha latte with almond milk and honey made with Pure Chimp matcha powder."
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- "I take vitamins daily—prenatal vitamins, B complex, placenta encapsulation, fish oil, chlorophyll water in the morning, and liquid magnesium/calcium before bed."
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"I did consider them. I had come across an ad for them and thought that they would not only be better for the environment but are so cute. I love that they are super-trim, easy to use, and have such cute colors and patterns. For parents hesitating to try, I would say they are easier to clean than you think!"
Brushstroke Outer Diaper, $18.50, Esembly.
Inner Diaper, $12, Esembly.
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"I honestly love all of the colors and patterns but if I had to choose it would be the Persimmon, Chamomile, and Ink."
Deco Dot Outer Diaper, $18.50, Esembly.
Rash Relief Cream, $13, Esembly.
Everyday Balm. $15, Esembly.
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One of the biggest concerns around cloth diapering is how you clean it all! Esembly makes it easy with its simple system. First, there's the brand's patent-pending Washing Powder, which is formulated to easily and effectively clean your diapers (and everything else that needs washing!). It's biodegradable and free of fragrance, dye, parabens, optical brighteners, phosphates, and SLS/SLES.
Meanwhile, a set of 6 Agitators assist during washing and drying. As your washer spins, the Agitators pound into the fabric, forcing soil and stains to the surface, making it easy for the Washing Powder to carry them away. In the dryer, Agitators lift and separate the fabric allowing hot air to flow more efficiently, helping dry your laundry quickly. The bumps and spikes on the balls massage the fabric so it comes out softer and fluffier.
The Wipe Up Wash Kit, on the other hand, is an organic foaming cleanser that works with the Wipe Ups to gently clean your baby’s bottom during diaper changes, and can also be used as a hydrating body soap for all ages.
Wipe Up Wash & Foamer Kit, $18.50, Esembly.
Agitators, $11, Esembly.
Washing Powder, $18.50, Esembly.
Inner Diaper, $12, Esembly.
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"Not necessarily as new parents, but in general we have and always try to be environmentally conscious by recycling, watching our electricity consumption, driving a hybrid, using metal straws, reusable bags, and shopping with companies that are more sustainable."
Brushstroke Outer Diaper, $18.50, Esembly.
Inner Diaper, $12, Esembly.
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"I have found more of a community on social media—following and sharing conversation with like-minded mothers."
Brushstroke Outer Diaper, $18.50, Esembly.
Inner Diaper, $12, Esembly.
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"Ah yes! Thank you. Some things I’m taking away from this year are that even though it feels like everything around me is falling apart in the world, it is okay to feel joy and acknowledge that my life is full of love and I’m capable of being at peace and finding happiness in my life."
Brushstroke Outer Diaper, $18.50, Esembly.
Inner Diaper, $12, Esembly.
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For more on Ari, her motherhood journey, and her work, be sure to follow her at @heliohoney_ on Instagram.
To shop the Esembly diapering system featured in this shoot, head over to EsemblyBaby.com.
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