10 years of Mother in the Mother
Mother in the Mother began on Mother’s Day 2012. It’s been quite a journey! To celebrate the 10th anniversary, 4 women who wrote stories for the book met with me over zoom to read from their stories, and talk about their expereinces since writing them. I love that this project has touched people’s lives, and it was great to touch base with some of the women who have been involved throughout, including Ella who was there at the very first workshop I ran, back when I had no idea how this project would unfold and develop.
It struck me that the point at which we wrote our stories, was just one point in time, I guess this is true of all writing. We were telling our stories from the person we were at that time, with the circumstances we were in then. But stories are living things, they change and evolve, especially stories that involve relational dynamics where everyone within the story has developed. So it was really interesting to hear the writers’ reflections on what they wrote, how things may have changed since then and what the writing of their story now means to them.
As well as the book reading, we celebrated with a podcast recording with the awesome Midwives Cauldron, a book signing event at stockists The Better Food Company, a writing competition with new stories added to the collection, and of course, a traditional Mother’s Day simnel cake!
“I’m writing to tell you just how much writing those 300 words has had an impact. I began my own writing journey and found the confidence to pursue my passion for audio storytelling. But also to seek therapy and eventually confront my mother. Which was an intensely healing process. Writing for your book was the catalyst and i owe you huge thanks.” – reflections from one story contributor
