SEE: Year In The Life Of Brooklyn Women Captured In Photo Series

BROOKLYN, NY — Getting the kids off to school before catching the subway to work, sitting in on violin lessons, in-person birthday celebrations — Abby Moskowitz couldn't have known it then, but she was watching moments that would soon become obsolete.

The Brooklyn photographer spent 2019 documenting the lives of 11 women in her neighborhood hoping to show the many jobs, both paid and unpaid, women take on each day.

Post-pandemic, the time captured on film has only grown in meaning.

"I got in there in a normal time which, I don’t think it’s going to be that normal again for a long time," Moskowitz, who lives in Windsor Terrace, told Patch. "To capture that moment in time of what was their normal is really amazing. They are grateful for that."

The photography project, called "The Women's Series," is a selection from hundreds of photos Moskowitz took of the women through moments big and small, from folding laundry, to career milestones.

Just beneath the images — unveiled through blurbs from the women under the photos — is a look at the larger story behind the snapshot in time, whether it be rumination on divorced co-parenting, single motherhood or family relationships.

"They let me into their lives," Moskowitz said. "It was to show everybody that we’re all important, we all have a story. You’re not alone — we can see you even if you feel unseen."

The project has a special significance for Moskowitz who, like many of the women, spent years juggling her career goals to raise her children.

The idea for it came one day at the gym as she prepared to take her photography career from the back burner, she said.

"I was looking around and I see these women all the time — I see them at pick up, I see them on the subway — what are they doing?"

"As a stay-at-home mom I felt a lot of judging, people would often say, 'What do you do all day?'" Moskowitz said. "Turns out, I do a lot."

The photos, displayed during a recent limited-capacity exhibit, ended up meaning a lot to viewers, too, Moskowitz said.

"The responses from people were amazing," she said. "One woman told me, 'I don’t even have kids but I was almost in tears looking at these images and reading their stories.' It really struck a chord."

The full project can be found online. Take a peek at the series below:

What did you do today?

“Got up, made lunches, got kids ready for school, went to work, wrote a thousand words, ran to whole foods, took subway home, prepped dinner (fried rice, only 800 ingredients), took kids to Hebrew school, pan-roasted the meat for the fried rice, talked to my mom on the phone, rushed back to Hebrew school for a meeting about the 3-year B'nai Mitzvah program my daughter will begin next year, burst into tears at said meeting contemplating the hundreds of hours said program will require of me, then got kids, came home, made dinner, settled a fight over the game of Life by putting it away, ate dinner, cleaned up the fried rice mess, put away a bunch of crap strewn all over the apartment, put laundry away, and put the kids to bed. Then I went back to work on my laptop. With a glass of wine.”

You were sitting on the beach with your friend and discussing how being the main breadwinners for your households was difficult. What were your thoughts?

“While being in a household with 2 working parents can obviously be challenging and hard to coordinate, being the only working parent/sole breadwinner also has its challenges. There were a couple of times during our marriage where that role fell to me. Both times, it was because we moved for my work and Alex had to give up his. I am lucky that my profession almost guarantees me employment wherever I go, but that hasn't always been the case for my lawyer husband. While it is empowering to be able to support my family, I have also struggled with feelings of resentment and being overwhelmed. I also know that it has been hard on my husband to feel like he’s not contributing financially. We have both had jobs for the past 2 + years and things feel relatively well balanced.”

Why did you start your own business?

“I was a single mom with two boys at the time, they were 1 and 3. I used to work for a company in the city as a recruiter. As a single mom my kids didn’t have a parent that would be there at performances and such. One day there was something going on at my son’s preschool and I really wanted to go. My boss said I couldn’t leave. I remember thinking, I can find another job, but I can’t get those memories back. I’m a single mom and I didn’t have any savings, but I packed up my desk and I left. I never looked back.”

Do you consider yourself a stay at home mom?

“Absolutely. Staying home with my kids is definitely a huge part of my journey. I love being there everyday for my kids and being able to witness every milestone. But singing is what I naturally do best. It was something I did on the side for a long time but after I became a mother, I knew I had to make it happen. I had to change my mindset about singing and take it to another level in order to be truly happy. I’m learning to fake it till I make it.”