It began as a letter
When the Sky Feels Heavy started as a letter Luciana wrote to herself on a difficult day, in the thick of her own postpartum depression.
Muted Moments · Book one
When the sky
feels heavy
A heartfelt children's book that honours the strength and love of Mums. For little hands to hold, and for mothers to feel seen.
Written by Luciana Valbuena · Illustrated by Catalina Bobadilla
From psychologists to teachers, and most importantly, Mums — everyone loves this book.
- Psychologists
- Midwives
- Teachers
- Poets
- and most importantly — Mums
A story for the days that feel heavy
Some days the sky sits low. This is a gentle story about those days — written for children, but holding a quiet message for the grown-up reading it aloud.
It opens a conversation that is often difficult to begin: that mothers can feel sad, that the feeling passes, and that asking for help is a kind of strength.
Endorsed by psychologists, poets and midwives, it is the first book in a series dedicated to the unspoken truths of early parenthood.
The journey
From a hard day to a book in your hands
It became a book
Illustrated by Catalina Bobadilla, it grew into a picture book for little hands to hold — and for mothers to feel seen in.
Now it travels
Into homes, libraries, clinics and waiting rooms across Aotearoa — wherever a mother might need to hear that she is not alone.
If today feels heavy, start here
We keep a page of support services for mothers in Aotearoa and around the world — helplines, peer groups and specialists who understand postnatal depression and anxiety. No sign-up, no cost, no judgement.
Find support near you