There is a version of motherhood we are taught to expect. The glowing version. The fulfilled version. The version where women naturally adapt overnight and somehow hold everything together beautifully.
But the reality for many mothers and maternal figures is often messier, more emotional and far more identity shifting than anyone admits.
To celebrate Mother’s Day, we are revisiting two conversations from the Paradisefold Make Your Mark series that stayed with us long after filming.
In intimate and deeply honest discussions, parenting coach Sarah Raslan and author and journalist Alev Scott reflect on identity, body image, societal expectations and the ways motherhood reshapes how women are seen by the world, and by themselves.
First, we speak to parenting coach Sarah Raslan from The Wise Parent, an organisation working with mothers and caregivers everywhere to support their development as individuals and parents.
In this video, Sarah discusses the challenges of becoming a mother, dealing with body confidence, handling triggering child behaviours, the importance of repair and of practising self-compassion. You can join us and follow The Wise Parent here on Instagram.
Then, in March’s Make Your Mark conversation, author and journalist Alev Scott joins us to discuss her fascinating new book Cash Cow, a bold investigation into the global commodification of motherhood.
A writer previously known for her work on Turkish politics, Scott described Cash Cow as a deeply personal departure: a reckoning with how society views the maternal body, prompted by her own.
Together, their conversations offer something refreshingly rare: a space for mothers to feel recognised, understood and less alone.
Why these conversations felt so important this Mother’s Day
What we loved about both Sarah and Alev is their willingness to talk honestly about that space in between. The body changes. The emotional overwhelm. Societal expectations. The loss and rediscovery of self.
Not in a frightening way! In a truthful one.
And honestly, there is something very comforting about hearing women speak openly about experiences so many people quietly share.
Whether you are a mother, maternal figure, thinking about parenthood or simply interested in the stories women are finally starting to tell more honestly, we think you will love these conversations!
The full videos are available now:
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