Mothers who write
In this case, I was on the receiving end of the call, (I’m 99% of the time on the other end) and was particularly happy to help.
Sally McIlhone, writer and founder of Every Other Mother (the baby and child-friendly events aimed at entertaining and inspiring mums) was a co-host down.
“Any chance you could step in?” she politely messaged, less than 24 hours before the show. “Er… YES,” I replied, ecstatic.
The event was to be held at the Phoenix Theatre and Arts Centre in Bordon, which meant a whole new audience of mothers and babies.
After a warm introduction from Sally and I, columnist, and digital creator Daisy Harris-Reid (Mum about Town on Instagram) kicked off the show by telling us about her work and her journey to becoming a published author.
Next on stage was author and journalist Lucy Jones, who shared several extracts from her book Matrescence: On the Metamorphosis of Pregnancy, Childbirth and Motherhood, which was longlisted for the 2024 Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction.
In Matrescence, Jones dives into the maternal experience, and the physiological, psychological and social metamorphosis that women go through when they become mothers.
Her beautifully written words brought a lump to my throat and as she discussed how mothers, who often feel rather abandoned after giving birth, could be better supported by society, I thought just how important conversations like this, at events like this, are for mothers.
Only a few months prior, a friend had put a photo of Matrescence in a group WhatsApp chat, stating that the book was “a must read for all mothers”.
Of course, I told Lucy Jones all about this friend. She smiled and said something lovely.
I was hugely star-struck and wanted to ask
Lucy Jones all about writing and motherhood. I managed: “How many children do you have?”. She has three.
It was during the interval that I met The New Yorker journalist Anna Russell, who was writing an article on Lucy Jones. “You write for The New Yorker?” I asked, like a 12-year-old meeting the lead singer of her favourite girl band. We chatted and I learnt she has a one-year-old son, and used to work at The Wall Street Journal.
I then took to the stage to perform a short scene from a play I’m writing, all about, wait for it… motherhood.
With all the babies and toddlers present in the audience, I edited out all the swearing. While it wasn’t quite the same, the message was clear.
Next up was family solicitor and author Laura Naser, who spoke about her book The Family Lawyer’s Guide to Separation and Divorce and how she built her personal brand on Instagram.
I briefly interviewed Laura, asking how exactly she found the time, balancing her work and children, to write a book.
I did, as Laura spoke, get hit in the head with a flying piece of Lego. (Which of course is part and parcel of hosting an event with toddlers, who are rightly free to play and roam the stage.) I chuckled.
The show ended with writer Sally Cops sharing her touching piece on motherhood. It was perfectly poetic ending and an uplifting and inspiring event.
Rebecca Cook is to take on the London Marathon in aid of Smile
Train.
The 39-year-old discovered her son, who is now eight, was going to be born with a cleft when she went for her 20-week scan.
When George was four months old, he underwent a five-hour operation to repair his cleft lip – which inspired Rebecca to run Reading Half Marathon to raise money for work his surgeon was doing in Uganda.
“At first, it was a daunting position to be in,” she says. “As a family, we came to realise how fortunate we are that he’s been able to access outstanding care via an amazing NHS team.
“I truly believe that because of this expert treatment, there will be no significant impact on his life and nothing to stop him from achieving all his hopes and dreams, and we would like to make that possible for all children born with clefts around the world.”
George will soon be undergoing another surgery to take a bone graft from his hip to repair his gum.
Rebecca says: “The surgery is an intimidating procedure for any kid, but the hardest bit for George is that it will take him away from his passion of playing sport for at least six weeks. George’s bravery and encouragement inspired me to run the London Marathon for Smile Train.”
With this in mind, Rebecca says she feels so passionately about supporting charities like Smile Train – who provide cleft surgery and comprehensive cleft care to babies born with cleft in more than 90 countries across the world.