Maria

It's an exploration really of my childhood. My daughter calls it reporter poetry. It's poetry from the front lines of my life. It's an exploration of my childhood. Who was I? How did I end up in this family? What did this family mean to me? How did I become who I am today? What's mine? What's theirs? What should I drop? What do I want to own and who do I want to be?

And I think I Am Maria, as I write in the beginning, the reflection is when you're in a big family like that, you don't really have your own identity. You're a part of something larger than yourself.

And I think I Am Maria, as I write in the beginning, the reflection is when you're in a big family like that, you don't really have your own identity. You're a part of something larger than yourself.

And I think I Am Maria, as I write in the beginning, the reflection is when you're in a big family like that, you don't really have your own identity. You're a part of something larger than yourself.

Exactly. And so people would just come up to me and they would say, I'd say like, oh, hi, I'm Maria. They're like, no, no, no. But which Kennedy are you? Which Kennedy are you? And I'd say, well... I'm a Shriver. I'm a Shriver. They're like, but you're a Kennedy, right? Because I don't want to be talking to you if you're not a Kennedy. Right. And then who's your mother? Who's your father?

Exactly. And so people would just come up to me and they would say, I'd say like, oh, hi, I'm Maria. They're like, no, no, no. But which Kennedy are you? Which Kennedy are you? And I'd say, well... I'm a Shriver. I'm a Shriver. They're like, but you're a Kennedy, right? Because I don't want to be talking to you if you're not a Kennedy. Right. And then who's your mother? Who's your father?

Exactly. And so people would just come up to me and they would say, I'd say like, oh, hi, I'm Maria. They're like, no, no, no. But which Kennedy are you? Which Kennedy are you? And I'd say, well... I'm a Shriver. I'm a Shriver. They're like, but you're a Kennedy, right? Because I don't want to be talking to you if you're not a Kennedy. Right. And then who's your mother? Who's your father?

And I always had this sense of like that being just myself was not enough. And I think that propelled me throughout my life. And so coming to the place where it would be OK to be myself, claim my own identity, I am. So my mother named me. I am Maria. Full sentence, stop. It's not my job. It's not the family that I'm in. I'm not somebody's niece, cousin, ex-wife, wife, friend. I am my own being.

And I always had this sense of like that being just myself was not enough. And I think that propelled me throughout my life. And so coming to the place where it would be OK to be myself, claim my own identity, I am. So my mother named me. I am Maria. Full sentence, stop. It's not my job. It's not the family that I'm in. I'm not somebody's niece, cousin, ex-wife, wife, friend. I am my own being.

And I always had this sense of like that being just myself was not enough. And I think that propelled me throughout my life. And so coming to the place where it would be OK to be myself, claim my own identity, I am. So my mother named me. I am Maria. Full sentence, stop. It's not my job. It's not the family that I'm in. I'm not somebody's niece, cousin, ex-wife, wife, friend. I am my own being.

And who is that?

And who is that?

And who is that?

There was no teaching that you're here, you're enough, sit down, it's okay. So I was like, oh, okay, we're going to go out and change the world. And if I'm not doing that, I'm not going to get loved.

There was no teaching that you're here, you're enough, sit down, it's okay. So I was like, oh, okay, we're going to go out and change the world. And if I'm not doing that, I'm not going to get loved.

There was no teaching that you're here, you're enough, sit down, it's okay. So I was like, oh, okay, we're going to go out and change the world. And if I'm not doing that, I'm not going to get loved.

Yeah, big time. You know, you were there. Yes. Hiding in the bathroom.

Yeah, big time. You know, you were there. Yes. Hiding in the bathroom.

Yeah, big time. You know, you were there. Yes. Hiding in the bathroom.

It's like, who is your friend? What is she doing? Where is she going? What has she got to offer at the table? What are you going to offer? Yes. What do you have to offer? And I was raised that way. And so what do I have to offer? So I would come prepared to the meal. I would come prepared to dinner. And I had the feeling that that's what was expected of me.