events programme
How To Incorporate Arts and Culture into Family Life with Christina Rose Brown and Emmy Watts (Bablands).
Do you want to go to more galleries, exhibitions and events but feel daunted by the idea of doing this with young children?
Join us as we talk to two leading voices on this topic, Emmy Watts and Christina Rose Brown.
They will be sharing their motherhood journey, how they navigate the arts and culture scene with young children in tow, as well as what they have learnt along the way.
As insiders, they will be sharing their best tips for the best places to go and there will be a Q+A session plus the opportunity to speak to Christina and Emmy on a one to one basis after the talk.
We will also have two special book collections, written by Christina and Emmy from Hoxton Mini Press available to purchase at the event with the option to have these signed.
Format
10 am Arrivals
10.30 am – Talk with Christina Rose Brown & Emmy Watts (Bablands)
11.30 pm – Networking and book signing.
12 pm – Event ends.
Key Information:
Tickets include entry to the talk and complimentary tea/coffee and breakfast pastries.
Babies welcome (up to pre-walking stage). For this particular event we are able to have toddlers up to age 2 in the room.
The space is fully accessible and there is space for prams.
Photographer present (please advise if you would prefer not to be photographed.)
The event will take place at Drake & Morgan, 6 Pancras Square, London N1C 4AG. There is lift access in the venue to all levels and it is a baby friendly space.
The restaurant is located less than 5 minutes’ walk from Kings Cross Underground (step free) and St Pancras station. If you are driving, Handyside Car Park is a 231-bay multi-storey car park in the Tapestry building on Canal Reach near the venue. Local 24/7 parking can be found within St Pancras railway station.
About Emmy Watts
Emmy Watts is a freelance writer and mother of two. She founded the Bablands blog and Instagram page for London parents and carers while on maternity leave with her eldest daughter, as a way of chronicling their adventures in the capital while encouraging others to make the most of raising children in London. Emmy trained as a journalist and has written 10 books for East London-based indie publisher Hoxton Mini Press, including four guide books aimed at Londoners with kids.
She has also written articles for print and online publications including The Guardian, HuffPost and Money Magpie.
About Christina Rose Brown
Christina Rose Brown is an artist, mother and teacher. Her work is semi-autobiographical, often featuring depictions of the female form and images of motherhood, to explore themes of female identity and universal and personal lived experience. She works predominantly with textiles and paint, using hand embroidery to embrace and also subvert the history of ‘women’s work’ and second wave feminist art. Her process of stitching is slow and thoughtful, creating a space for mindful reflection within a world that is so fast-paced.
Alongside her art practice she is a qualified teacher, still working part time within a large inner-city secondary school and runs creative art workshops for both adults and children in galleries and venues across the UK including Tate Modern, the British Museum, The Foundling Museum and Waddington Custot.
She is the author of 'An Opinionated Guide to Art London', published by Hoxton Mini Press.
Mother+ Lates In Conversation with Sarah Ditum, Author, Toxic: Women, Fame & The Noughties
Join us for an engaging and thought-provoking evening as we delve into the captivating world of Toxic: Women, Fame and The Noughties, the ground breaking book that uncovers the fascinating intersection of celebrity, feminism, and culture in the tumultuous noughties.
Britney, Paris, Lindsay, Aaliyah, Janet, Amy, Kim, Chyna, Jen. Nine iconic women whose fame in the early internet years of the century came at a price. In Toxic, journalist Sarah Ditum describes how each of the women changed ‘celebrity’ forever, despite often falling victim to it, during what we now view as one of the most hostile eras in which to be female.
The book takes you on a journey through the defining decade of the 2000s, exploring the complex and often controversial relationship between celebrities, feminism, and the evolving cultural landscape.
This is an exclusive launch event for the book with the author in attendance, dissecting its key themes, revelations, and the impact of celebrity and feminism on the 2000s and the modern day.
This event is open to all who are passionate about understanding the intersection of celebrity culture, feminism, and the cultural evolution of the noughties. Whether you're a bookworm, a pop culture aficionado, or a feminist at heart, this discussion promises to be enlightening, engaging, and thought-provoking.
As this event will be hosted in the Wild Swans boutique, all guests will have the opportunity to shop on the evening and ticket holders will receive an exclusive 10% discount on items in store.
Key Information:
Copies of the book available to purchase on the evening.
Complimentary wine and non-alcoholic drinks.
10% off exclusive discount at Wild Swans boutique.
Arrivals from 7pm with the talk beginning at 7.45pm and finishing by 8.30pm.
Photographer present (please advise if you would prefer not to be photographed).
Venue:
The event will take place at Wild Swans boutique in Islington. Discover the ultimate destination for Scandinavian style, featuring iconic labels such as Ganni, Stine Goya, Stella Nova and Broste Copenhagen. Wild Swans was founded by Caroline Van Luthje in 2004 and quickly gained recognition as "... the best selection of Scandinavian fashion in London" - The Times.
Transport:
The store is located in Islington Square with the entrance to the square directly opposite Paul Bakery approximately halfway down Upper Street.
Bus Routes: 43, 19, 30, 341, 4 all stop close by to the restaurant.
Overground & Underground: The restaurant is equidistant from Angel (Northern Line) and Highbury & Islington station (Overground/ Rail/ Victoria Line).
Parking: There is paid for street parking on Theberton Street and Almeida Street and surrounding roads.
Format:
7.00- 7.30pm Arrivals and complimentary wine and non-alcholic drinks.
7.45pm – Talk with Sarah Ditum conducted by Mother+.
8.15pm – Networking and opportunity to speak to Sarah on a one-to-one basis.
9pm – Event ends.
BABY FRIENDLY CHEESE & WINE TASTING WITH SOCIAL SIP CLUB
We are back to celebrate the Autumn season and what better way than with our relaxed and informal daytime cheese and wine tasting where babies are more than welcome.
Hosted by Amanda Sefton, Founder of Social Sip Club, this event is the perfect way to enjoy the changing of the seasons through wine whilst meeting and connecting with like minded people.
The tasting will include three wines which will be paired with a range of cheeses selected for the event by Social Sip Club. You will learn the story of how the wine is made, what it tastes like, and which cheese makes a perfect match. Amanda’s approach is very much about making buying and drinking wine sociable and fun without any of the pretense that usually surrounds it.
The event will be hosted in the beautiful Palm Court at Alexandra Palace. The venue has plenty of space and there will be breaks throughout the session for those that need to tend to babies.
Key Information:
Tickets include three wine flight and accompanying cheeses.
Babies welcome (up to pre-walking stage).
There will be a dedicated area for babies to relax, feel free to bring your own mats.
The space is fully accessible and there is plenty of space for prams.
Photographer present (please advise if you would prefer not to be photographed.)
Two on-site car parks and easily accessible via bus, train, and Underground.
Amanda fell in love with learning about wine while working abroad and came back to London to study more, completing her WSET exams. Starting in the basement of a London storage facility, Amanda's wine journey has taken her through winemaking in Sussex to working in the organic vineyards of Bordeaux. Since then, she has marketed and sold wine around London, as well as drinking her way around the World's wine regions.
Amanda has been running workshops and classes to help people get the most from wine since 2013 and Social Sip Club comes from wanting to share wine knowledge without all the faff and pretence that is usually associated with it.
Venue: The event will take place in the Palm Court entrance of Alexandra Palace. It is located inside the Phoenix Bar & Kitchen with double doors leading directly to the space where the talk will be held. The space is fully accessible for prams and baby changing available.
Transport: Alexandra Palace is served by Rail, Bus, and Underground. All transport information is available here. There are also two onsite car parks within walking distance of Palm Court.
mother+ jaego’s house: POSTNATAL CORE STRENGTH WORKOUT WITH SHAKIRA AKABUSI
Join pre and postnatal exercise specialist Shakira Akabusi for a session on postnatal core strength and improving fitness level. The workshop will begin with a gentle warm up, followed by deep core activation and a whole body workout with expert insights into how these movements can support women to enjoying an active and healthy lifestyle as mums.
Shakira Akabusi is a pre and postnatal exercise specialist, TV fitness expert, Author, Speaker and Mum of 4. Founder of StrongLikeMum Shakira offers pre and postnatal workshops to support pregnant women and new mothers, to understand their bodies, reconnect with their core and achieve their fitness gaols.
Passionate about embracing the connection between body and mind, Shakira hopes that through her work with StrongLikeMum she will be able to Shatter the Stereotypes surrounding motherhood, offering expert insights into health and well-being. As a mum of four Shakira encourages sustainable and reliable changes for women looking to improve their health during and after pregnancy.
Shakira’s debut book ‘The StrongLikeMum Method’ taps into maternal instincts, helping women to discover the natural strength of the female body, embracing a healthy and happy motherhood. Supporting women to move confidently and with ease, The StrongLikeMum Method shares knowledge, exercise and nutrition tips for expectant and new mums in a relatable and sustainable way.
Key Information:
This event is a part of an exclusive partnership with Jaego’s House and we have limited tickets available for non-members so we highly recommend booking your place. If you are already a member of Jaego’s House, please book your tickets via the member’s portal.
Tickets include refreshments.
Please note babies cannot attend this event.
Venue: The event will take place at Jaego’s House, 557 Harrow Rd, London, W10 4RH.
Transport: Nearest tube and overground stations are Ladbroke Grove, Kensal Rise, and Kensal Green.
FROM START UP TO SELFRIDGES: CREATING A SUSTAINABLY DESIGNED BUSINESS WITH ALI MCALEAVY
Join Mother+ in conversation with Ali McAleavy, a London-based mother of three and founder of the award-winning circular kids’ footwear brand, ZIG+STAR to discover how she took her business from the kitchen table to the world-famous department store Selfridges in two years.
We will be discussing how maternity leave gave her the inspiration to create the business, the power of networking and how she juggles motherhood with running a business.
You will leave the session with honest, practical, and real advice as well as tools and insights to apply to your own life, whilst meeting likeminded women in a relaxed environment.
Format
7.00- 7.30pm Arrivals and complimentary wine.
7.45pm – Talk with Ali McAleavy from ZIG+STAR
8.15pm – Networking and opportunity to speak to Ali on a one-to-one basis.
9pm – Event ends.
ZIG+STAR is the award-winning, unisex kids footwear brand, using sustainable design to create shoes that grow with the child. They are on a mission to reduce waste and offer end-of-life solutions to ensure “no ZIG+STARs will ever end in landfill”.
About Ali McAleavy
Ali McAleavy is a London-based mother of three and founder of the circular kids’ footwear brand, ZIG+STAR. After a 20-year career in fashion, she started the footwear brand when she couldn’t find what she wanted for her own children, sustainable, podiatrist-approved footwear that was cool, comfortable, and built to last.
Venue: The event will take place at The Starting Gate, Station Road, Alexandra Palace, London, N22 7SS.
Transport: The venue is located directly opposite Alexandra Palace train station. A regular train service with Great Northern runs direct from Moorgate, through Highbury & Islington. There is also a service direct to/from King’s Cross.
The W3 bus runs from Finsbury Park and Tottenham to Alexandra Palace and the 184 bus stops outside the venue. Wood Green is the nearest underground station on the Piccadilly Line. There is street parking available nearby.
HOW TO HANDLE WORRY & ANXIETY IN MOTHERHOOD WITH ANNA MATHUR
One of the things that stands in the way of us being our best, most authentic version is anxiety. It invades our headspace and challenges our ability to be present in the moment.
This is further amplified in motherhood, where it can dictate our decision-making process when it comes to our family, often limiting our enjoyment of situations. Ultimately, we cannot be wholly present and enjoy the moment if we are held back by worry and anxiety.
What if it doesn’t have to be this way?
Join us to hear from a highly renowned psychotherapist, author, and mum of three, Anna Mathur as she returns to Mother+ for an inspiring and insightful session about how to handle worry and anxiety in motherhood.
Taking inspiration from her new book Raising a Happier Mother, the talk will cover a range of topics from looking at different types of worry and anxiety we encounter, the lessons we can learn from it and how to manage it in a healthy way.
We will take a deeper look at what happens when low level worry manifests into something more ultimately having a negative effect on our confidence and wellbeing.
In this session we will cover topics including:
Understanding how anxiety can be both a positive and negative trait.
How motherhood can amplify worry and anxiety and how to handle this.
Learn how to recognise when low level worry becomes detrimental to your wellbeing and methods to combat this.
Q&A
You will leave the session understanding how to address and manage feelings of anxiety with practical tips on how to manage it in a healthy way to be the best, authentic version of yourself.
Recorded Session
For those who are unable to attend the live event, this event will also be available as a recorded session, sent via a link to your email within 48 hours after the event, so you can watch at anytime. If you've selected a book option with your online ticket, we endeavour to get your copy out within 7-10 days after the event, but it may take slightly longer. All information about our recorded sessions is available on our ticketing page here.
About Anna Mathur
Anna Mathur is a psychotherapist and Sunday Times bestselling author. She is passionate about taking therapy out of the therapy room and sharing her personal and professional experiences to support mums through motherhood. She shares supportive insights on Instagram (@annamathur), via online courses and through her incredibly popular podcast The Therapy Edit.
Raising a Happier Mother: How to Find Balance, Feel Good and See Your Children Flourish as a Result Book
Signed copies of Anna’s latest book are included with all in-person tickets and will be given to you at the event. If you would like to purchase additional copies these will be available at the event. All ticket holders receive 25% of the RRP of £16.99 of Raising a Happier Mother.
Drawing on her work as a psychotherapist, alongside her own experiences as a mother, psychotherapist and bestselling author Anna Mathur shows that caring for our children begins with caring for ourselves, and that it's time to replace exhaustion with empowerment. Far from being selfish, self-care is an essential quality of a happier mother. The greatest gift you can give to yourself, and your children is to give yourself permission to thrive.
In Raising a Happier Mother, Anna breaks down the six hurdles that prevent many of us from having a truly fulfilling experience of motherhood and provides us with the practical tools and warm reassurance needed to navigate them. This book will teach you how to find balance, feel good and see your children flourish as a result.
Key Information
Tickets include:
Complimentary tea and coffee.
A selection of pastries.
25% off the purchase price of Anna’s book Raising a Happier Mother (RRP £16.99)
Exclusive Mother+ gift bag
Networking opportunities before and after the event with likeminded women.
Dedicated play area in the room for babies (up to pre walking stage).
Format
11 am Arrivals
11.30 am – Talk with Anna Mathur.
12.30 pm – Networking and book signing.
1 pm – Event ends.
Venue: The event will take place at Drake & Morgan, 6 Pancras Square, London N1C 4AG. There is lift access in the venue to all levels and it is a baby friendly space.
Transport: The restaurant is located less than 5 minutes’ walk from Kings Cross Underground (step free) and St Pancras station.
Parking: Handyside Car Park is a 231-bay multi-storey car park in the Tapestry building on Canal Reach near the venue. Local 24/7 parking can be found within St Pancras railway station.
MOTHER+ JAEGO’S HOUSE: HOW TO GET YOUR MOJO BACK WITH CLIO WOOD
Owning your new motherhood identity and sexuality after birth.
Having a baby naturally changes everything and that includes your sex life. Not just our sexual appetite, but physically when it comes to our bodies and emotionally in the way we think about sex.
So how do you navigate this new territory from a physical and emotional perspective?
Firstly, yes, it can be done. Despite the zombie-tiredness, the to-do list as long as your arm, and the mountains of laundry, it is possible to get your mojo back after you have kids.
Join Mother+ for an evening session with author and women's health and sex positivity advocate, Clio Wood, as she helps to identify the challenges we face and guide you to the right solution for you (hint: it's not always easy!).
Taking a more refreshing approach to this subject, she will also answer all your questions, drawing on her expertise and personal experience in a fun and relaxed setting.
You will leave the session with honest, practical advice as well as simple tips to apply to your own relationship. Copies of Clio’s book ‘How to get your mojo back’ will be available to purchase on the night.
Format
7.00- 7.30pm - Arrivals and complimentary wine and bar snacks.
7.45pm – Talk with Clio Wood.
8.15pm – Networking and opportunity to speak to Clio on a one-to-one basis.
9pm – Event ends.
Clio Wood is a maternal health and sex positivity advocate, journalist and Founder of &Breathe. She create &Breathe, an award-winning wellbeing retreat company, after she experienced the traumatic birth of her first daughter and subsequent postnatal depression, PTSD and pelvic floor issues.
Through her own experience and the creation of &Breathe she became deeply knowledgeable on postnatal and menopause health and sexual wellbeing and began to champion these areas through her writing, speaking and ultimately her first book, Get Your Mojo Back, Sex, Pleasure and Intimacy After Birth (Watkins, 2023).
She has been featured in or written for The Times, The Guardian, The Telegraph, Grazia, HuffPost and iNews amongst many others.
How To Get Your Mojo Back Book
"There is no book out there like this. Candid, funny and utterly eye-opening. Get Your Mojo Back digs deep on women's health and how to get your sex life back - quite literally from all angles. Just wish it had been written sooner." - Anna Whitehouse, Mother Pukka
"Did you know that 83% percent of new mothers go through some form of sexual dysfunction and pain post pregnancy? So why is no one talking about it? Get Your Mojo Back by Clio Wood breaks the silence on this feminist topic and tells us exactly how to reclaim our sexuality whilst also improving our mental and physical wellbeing after birth.
Focusing on all the practical aspects that can affect your sexual experience and intimate relationships in motherhood, each chapter contains a personal story to relate to as well as tips to overcome unfulfilling sex and numbness, painful postpartum intercourse and struggles with your new identity, mental health and changed body. Plus, of course, reignite that all important spark with your partner!
The book contains expert information from women's healthcare professionals including obstetricians, physios and psychologists specialising in perinatal mental health, trauma, and sex & relationships.
Key Information:
This event is a part of an exclusive partnership with Jaego’s House and we have limited tickets available for non-members so we highly recommend booking your place. If you are already a member of Jaego’s House, please book your tickets via the member’s portal.
Tickets include complimentary wine and bar snacks.
Copies of Clio’s book ‘How to Get Your Mojo Back’ will be available to purchase on the night.
Please note that this session is for adults only and we are unable to have babies or children in attendance.
Venue: The event will take place at Jaego’s House, 557 Harrow Rd, London, W10 4RH.
Transport: Nearest tube and overground stations are Ladbroke Grove, Kensal Rise, and Kensal Green. There is parking available nearby.
HOW TO MAKE A SUCCESSful CAREER PIVOT AT ANY STAGE WITH NICKY ELLIOTT
The idea of having the same career throughout your working life seems very outdated in today’s modern world. With the advent of technology and flexible working, career pivots are increasingly becoming the norm.
A career pivot - the idea of transitioning from one career to another; whether this is in a different sector, or a totally new industry - is undeniably tempting. You may currently be considering one or perhaps just feel stuck and know you need a change, but don’t know where to start. These are issues facing many working women today – you’re not alone.
So how do you make a career pivot?
Join us to hear from Nicky Elliott, host of Women’s Business, a podcast for career women, as she explains what it takes to make a successful career pivot - whatever stage you are at.
Nicky will use her knowledge from interviewing inspiring women who have made the change including all their twists, turns, complications, maternity leaves, and new starts. She will also use her own experience of being a serial founder and career pivoter, to inform an enlightening discussion to help you take on this next phase with energy and excitement.
In this session we will cover topics including:
Navigating a career break and the implications on your career longer term.
How to approach a career pivot when you don’t have ‘the big idea’ yet.
How to take your idea to the next level and making it work with your current circumstances.
Q&A
You will leave the session with honest, practical, and real advice as well as tools and insights to apply to your own professional life.
About Nicky Elliot
Nicky Elliott is a serial entrepreneur, mother of two children and host of podcast Women’s Business, where she speaks to a collection of amazing women about their career journeys, from formative experiences to first jobs, their current role, and future aspirations.
On her online platform Wilder Ones, Nicky empowers her community of women to break down conventional norms and become free, through 100% real talk about work and careers, work/life balance, and raising the next generation of working people.
Key Information:
Arrivals at 10am with the talk beginning at 10.30 and finishing by 12.00pm. All guests are welcome to stay and relax after the talk and there will be a lunch menu available to order at the restaurant.
Unlimited tea or coffee.
A selection of pastries provided.
Exclusive Mother+ gift bag
Babies welcome (up to pre-walking stage), with dedicated play area in the room.
Photographer present (please advise if you would prefer not to be photographed).
Venue: The event will take place at Drake & Morgan, 6 Pancras Square, London N1C 4AG. There is lift access in the venue to all levels and it is a baby friendly space.
Transport: The restaurant is located less than 5 minutes’ walk from Kings Cross Underground (step free) and St Pancras station.
Parking: Handyside Car Park is a 231-bay multi-storey car park in the Tapestry building on Canal Reach near the venue. Local 24/7 parking can be found within St Pancras railway station.
ROSE & CANAPES BABY FRIENDLY WINE TASTING WITH SOCIAL SIP CLUB
With sunny, summer days on the horizon what could be better than a relaxed and informal daytime rosé wine tasting with perfectly paired canapes, and you can bring your baby.
Hosted by Amanda Sefton, Founder of Social Sip Club this event is the perfect way to enjoy the beginning of rosé season whilst meeting and connecting with likeminded people.
The tasting will include three rose wines which will be paired with delicious canapes (vegetarian options available) which have been selected for the event by Social Sip Club.
You will learn the story of how the wine is made, what it tastes like, and which food makes a perfect match. Amanda’s approach is very much about making buying and drinking wine sociable and fun without any of the pretence that usually surrounds it.
The event will be hosted in the beautiful Palm Court at Alexandra Palace. The venue has plenty of space and there will be breaks throughout the session for those that need to tend to babies.
Key Information:
· Tickets include three wine flight and accompanying delicious canapes.
· Babies welcome (up to pre-walking stage).
· There will be a dedicated area for babies to relax, feel free to bring your own mats.
· The space is fully accessible and there is plenty of space for prams.
· Photographer present (please advise if you would prefer not to be photographed.
· Two on-site car parks and easily accessible via bus, train, and Underground.
Amanda fell in love with learning about wine while working abroad and came back to London to study more, completing her WSET exams. Starting in the basement of a London storage facility, Amanda's wine journey has taken her through winemaking in Sussex to working in the organic vineyards of Bordeaux. Since then, she has marketed and sold wine around London, as well as drinking her way around the World's wine regions.
Amanda has been running workshops and classes to help people get the most from wine since 2013 and Social Sip Club comes from wanting to share wine knowledge without all the faff and pretence that is usually associated with it.
Venue: The event will take place in the Palm Court entrance of Alexandra Palace. It is located next to the Phoenix Bar & Kitchen with double doors leading directly to the space where the talk will be held. The space is fully accessible for prams and baby changing available.
Transport: Alexandra Palace is served by Rail, Bus, and Underground. All transport information is available here. There are also two onsite car parks within walking distance of Palm Court.
WHO AM I? THE IDENTITY CRISIS OF MOTHERHOOD WITH KATE MAXWELL, AUTHOR OF HUSH
The motherhood identity crisis is the internal questioning that happens after you start having children. “Who am I?” and “What do I want?” are fundamental questions that need to be answered for you to continue operating as the woman you want to be.
Being a mother is perhaps the most important job that you will ever have. But you may find yourself longing for your career as it can provide another sense of purpose. The first year and the maternity leave period (however long you take) is a time where you might feel incredibly lonely and isolated, leading many to experience an identity crisis.
Your life changes so significantly in just an instant. It is hard to remember who you used to be before you became a mother, and you may feel guilty as you have a longing for your old life.
This is normal and there is even a term for it ‘matrescence’ - it just isn’t spoken about as much as it should be.
Join us to hear from author of Hush, and mum of two, Kate Maxwell for an inspiring and insightful discussion on the great identity crisis in early motherhood. Kate's debut novel, Hush, about a woman who swaps a glamorous life in New York for solo parenthood in London, was inspired by her own experiences of maternity leave, and the gap between her expectations of motherhood and the reality. Hush has just come out in paperback and audiobook, published by Virago.
In this session we will cover topics including:
How to navigate the feelings around identity that can arise during maternity leave.
The depiction of motherhood and the ‘mother’ figure in fiction.
Using maternity leave as a time to change direction professionally.
Q&A
Please note you no do not have to have read the book to enjoy this talk, but we will cover wider themes from the book.
Kate Maxwell read English at Oxford University and has worked as a journalist and editor in London and New York. Hush is her first novel and was shortlisted for the Bridport Prize Peggy Chapman-Andrews Award. She lives in London with her husband and children.
Longing to have a child, Stevie changes her Manhattan career-oriented life for single parenthood in her native England in Maxwell’s powerful, nuanced meditation on the struggles experienced by new mothers.
After five exhilarating years in New York, Stevie has a successful career and a glamorous social life. But what she most wants is a baby, an aspiration that feels impossible given that she is single, thirty-eight and living in a tiny apartment in Manhattan, far away from most of her family in England.
Determined to become a mother, Stevie returns to London and has a baby on her own. When she gives birth to Ash, she finds motherhood painfully at odds with her former life and her expectations. She begins to wonder if having a child was a mistake - and what she might be willing to do to escape. As she struggles with what her future might hold, revelations from the past change everything she believed about family and love.
'A richly textured, exciting, and mysterious debut novel showing the push and pull of motherhood, career identity and what it means to be a woman with multiple sides. Relatable and entertaining. I was absolutely glued to it' - Emma Gannon, author of Olive
'A vivid, compelling story about the unspoken truths of motherhood, family, and feminine ideals. Tender, unflinching and beautifully evoked' - Francesca Hornak, author of Seven Days of Us
You can order your copy here and the audio version is available here.
There will also be copies available to purchase on the day.
Key Information:
Tickets include tea, coffee, and light refreshments.
Arrivals at 10am with the talk beginning at 10.30 and finishing by midday. All guests are welcome to stay and relax after the talk.
Babies welcome (up to pre-walking stage).
Photographer present (please advise if you would prefer not to be photographed).
Venue: The event will take place at Crouch End Picturehouse. There is lift access in the venue to all levels and it is a baby friendly space.
how to Find Your FLOW AND get The Glow When You Have Children WITH Madeleine Shaw
It can be difficult juggling the demands of work and family whilst trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle. With our minds and bodies racing throughout the day with tasks from a seemingly never-ending to-do list, often our own wellbeing falls to the bottom of the pile.
We know it is important to take care of ourselves from what we eat to how much we move our bodies, but how do you achieve this, especially when you have children?
Join us to hear from the leading nutritional therapist, Sunday Times best-selling author and mother of one, Madeleine Shaw for an insightful and restorative session on how to find your flow and get the glow by incorporating nutrition, meditation, and yoga into your daily routine, even when you are short on time.
In this session we will cover topics including:
Busy Mum meal prep – simple strategies to set you up for the week ahead.
Family Recipes - 5 nutritionally balanced easy recipes that work for the whole family.
Find your Flow - easy ways to incorporate meditation and yoga into your day even if you only have 10 minutes.
Q+A session.
You will leave the session with practical tips to incorporate healthy eating into your lifestyle that will benefit the whole family, as well as simple ways to connect with your body and mind to reset, recharge and help you be the best version of yourself.
Continue your wellbeing journey with The Glow Space
The Glow Space is a digital platform (starting at £8.99 per month) that brings Madeleine’s philosophy directly into your home - with unlimited access to her invigorating yoga classes, nourishing recipes, integrated meal plans and guided meditations. You can continue your wellbeing journey with Madeleine's Glow Space, with an exclusive 20% offer on the annual membership price (equivalent of approx. £5.50/month) with every ticket purchase.
About Madeleine Shaw
Madeleine Shaw is a leading voice on the wellness scene and has been in the wellness industry for 10 years now. She started her journey as a nutritionist and home cook, then later trained as a yoga and meditation teacher. Her Sunday Times’ Bestselling book (Get the Glow), in many ways still the cornerstone of her philosophy and brand, has sold over 150,000 copies to date.
Madeleine’s own wellness journey started when she was diagnosed with IBS in 2010; overnight she changed not only what she ate but how she moved, and really focused on her mental health too. The transformation was immediate and long-lasting.
Madeleine truly believes that when you start thinking holistically about your health - taking into account what you are eating, how you are moving, and making time to focus on your mindset - then you can see the greatest results.
You can glow from within. Madeleine’s mission is to show people how to incorporate these principles into their varied and busy lives - so she created The Glow Space; a wellness hub to help you find your flow at home, easily and cost effectively.
Key Information:
Tickets include tea, coffee and light refreshments.
All attendees will receive an exclusive 20% discount code for The Glow Space annual membership.
Arrivals at 10am with the talk beginning at 10.30 and finishing by 12.00 All guests are welcome to stay and relax after the talk and there will be a lunch menu available to order at the restaurant.
Babies welcome (up to pre-walking stage), with dedicated play area in the room.
Please note we have limited space for large prams in the room for the talk, but they will be able to be left in the buggy park on the ground floor (lift access throughout building), so we recommend bringing slings or a car seat carrier with you if required.
Photographer present (please advise if you would prefer not to be photographed).
Venue: The event will take place at Drake & Morgan, 6 Pancras Square, London N1C 4AG. There is lift access in the venue to all levels and it is a baby friendly space.
Transport: The restaurant is located less than 5 minutes’ walk from Kings Cross Underground (step free) and St Pancras station.
Parking: Handyside Car Park is a 231-bay multi-storey car park in the Tapestry building on Canal Reach near the venue. Local 24/7 parking can be found within St Pancras railway station.
BABY FRIENDLY CHEESE & WINE TASTING HOSTED BY SOCIAL SIP CLUB
Following the success of our Christmas Wine Tasting, we are back to celebrate the arrival of Spring and what could be better than a relaxed and informal daytime cheese and wine tasting for parents where babies are more than welcome.
Hosted by Amanda Sefton, Founder of Social Sip Club this event is the perfect way to enjoy the new season whilst meeting and connecting with likeminded people.
The tasting will include three wines which will be paired with a range of cheeses selected for the event by Social Sip Club. You will learn the story of how the wine is made, what it tastes like, and which cheese makes a perfect match. Amanda’s approach is very much about making buying and drinking wine sociable and fun without any of the pretence that usually surrounds it.
The event will be hosted in the beautiful Palm Court at Alexandra Palace. The venue has plenty of space and there will be breaks throughout the session for those that need to tend to babies.
Key Information:
· Tickets include three wine flight and accompanying cheeses.
· Babies welcome (up to pre-walking stage).
· There will be a dedicated area for babies to relax, feel free to bring your own mats.
· The space is fully accessible and there is plenty of space for prams.
· Photographer present (please advise if you would prefer not to be photographed.
· Two on-site car parks and easily accessible via bus, train, and Underground.
Amanda fell in love with learning about wine while working abroad and came back to London to study more, completing her WSET exams. Starting in the basement of a London storage facility, Amanda's wine journey has taken her through winemaking in Sussex to working in the organic vineyards of Bordeaux. Since then, she has marketed and sold wine around London, as well as drinking her way around the World's wine regions.
Amanda has been running workshops and classes to help people get the most from wine since 2013 and Social Sip Club comes from wanting to share wine knowledge without all the faff and pretence that is usually associated with it.
Venue: The event will take place in the Palm Court entrance of Alexandra Palace. It is located next to the Phoenix Bar & Kitchen with double doors leading directly to the space where the talk will be held. The space is fully accessible for prams and baby changing available.
Transport: Alexandra Palace is served by Rail, Bus, and Underground. All transport information is available here. There are also two onsite car parks within walking distance of Palm Court.
How To Overcome the Guilt Trap in Our Everyday Life hosted by Anna Mathur
Do we really know the impact of guilt on our lives? Do you sometimes feel as if you cannot show your true emotions for fear of being judged or made to feel guilty? This can be especially true when it comes to parenting and in particular ‘mum guilt’.
There appears to be a fine line between balancing the joy of having children with the day-to-day trials that can test our patience and it can be difficult to exist in this space when it’s so loaded with guilt.
Often, the guilt that we feel is completely unjustified. The guilt is tied to the ‘I should’, and the ‘I could’ whilst making comparisons with other people lives as we perceive them to be rather than the reality.
Join us to hear from a highly renowned psychotherapist, author, and mum of three, Anna Mathur for an inspiring and insightful session about how to overcome the guilt trap in everyday life and why you need to focus on your own self-worth and worry less about what other people think.
The talk will cover a range of topics from looking at the different types of guilt we encounter in our daily lives from the useful to the useless and how we can learn from these and what to do about it. We will take a deeper look at what happens when low level guilt manifests into something more which has a negative effect on our confidence and wellbeing.
In this session we will cover topics including:
Undertaking a guilt inventory and determining the true impact of unaddressed guilt.
How to handle guilt when it comes to parenting particularly ‘mum guilt’.
Learn how to recognise when guilt is morphing into shame, and what to do about it.
The importance of self-worth and how to stop people pleasing in everyday life.
Q&A
You will leave the session with a greater understanding of how to address and manage feelings of guilt with a powerful technique to manage it in a healthy way. You will also be able to recognise the importance of your own self-worth to enable you to live an authentic and fulfilling life.
Copies of Anna’s Sunday Times bestselling book Know Your Worth : How to Build Your Self-esteem, Grow in Confidence and Worry Less about what People Think are available to purchase as an add on with your ticket and will be given out at the event. Limited copies will be available to purchase at the event.
Anna Mathur is a psychotherapist, The Sunday Times’ bestselling author, and a mum of three with a weekly parenting podcast ‘The Therapy Edit’. She is an expert on mental health and providing advice on anxiety, feeling overwhelmed and encouraging self-worth.
Anna’s first two books, Mind Over Mother: Every Mum’s Guide to Worry and Anxiety in the First Years and Know Your Worth: How to Build Your Self-esteem, Grow in Confidence and Worry Less about what People Think, both went straight into the top 10 on The Sunday Times bestsellers list.
She is passionate about taking therapy out of the therapy room and is widely celebrated for her accessible mental health advice and the light-bulb moments she offers across her platforms. Often told through her own experiences, Anna has an approach to mental health like no one else, whether it is providing advice on anxiety, feeling overwhelmed or encouraging self-worth.
Key Information:
Tickets include tea, coffee, and a selection of canapes.
Arrivals at 11am with the talk beginning at 11.30 and finishing by 1.30pm. All guests are welcome to stay and relax after the talk and there will be a lunch menu available to order at the restaurant.
Babies welcome (up to pre-walking stage), with dedicated play area in the room.
Please note we limited space for large prams in the room for the talk, but they will be able to be left in the buggy park on the ground floor (lift access throughout building), so we recommend bringing slings or a car seat carrier with you if required.
Photographer present (please advise if you would prefer not to be photographed).
Venue: The event will take place at Drake & Morgan, 6 Pancras Square, London N1C 4AG. There is lift access in the venue to all levels and it is a baby friendly space.
Transport: The restaurant is located less than 5 minutes’ walk from Kings Cross Underground (step free) and St Pancras station.
Parking: Handyside Car Park is a 231-bay multi-storey car park in the Tapestry building on Canal Reach near the venue. Local 24/7 parking can be found within St Pancras railway station.
SEX AND INTIMACY AFTER HAVING A BABY WITH HANNAH WITTON
We are all aware that having a baby changes everything and often it can play havoc with your sex drive. Not just our sexual appetite, but also our bodies and every aspect of the way we think about sex. With less time, tiredness, hormonal changes and worries about contraception sex and intimacy between partners can become tricky and depending on your respective views it can become a thorny issue.
What if it didn’t have to be this way?
Join Mother+ to hear from the highly renowned sex educator and content creator Hannah Witton for an honest and insightful session about sex and intimacy after having a baby and why having kids doesn't have to ruin your sex life.
The talk will cover a range of topics from breaking down the myths around how much sex you should be having to how to keep the spark alive when you have no time and you're exhausted.
Taking a deeper look at the science around sex and desire this talk will help you establish a better understanding of both your body and your own needs in this space whilst also providing useful tips when it comes to communicating with your partner.
In this session we will cover topics including:
• Understanding how sexual desire really works and the science behind it.
• Breaking down the myths around how much sex you should be having.
• How to keep the spark alive when you have no time and you're exhausted.
• How to communicate effectively with your partner to be on the same page
• Q&A
You will leave the session with honest, practical advice as well as simple tips to apply to your own relationship. You are welcome to attend with a baby, bump or solo as our Mother+ events are for everyone.
Hannah has a special interest in this area and has been making sex and relationships education videos on her YouTube channel for over 10 years attracting over 700k subscribers and 100 million views. She also hosts the successful podcast, Doing It, which explores the world of sexuality, relationships, dating and our bodies with an expert guest each week.
She is an ambassador for Brook, the UK's leading young people's sexual health charity, and is a new mum to 9-month-old Rowan which has led to her exploring the themes of gender, sex and relationships when it comes to pregnancy and parenting. Hannah loves talking about taboo topics in a friendly, open and honest way.
Key Information:
• The talk will take place in a private room only for attendees.
• Tickets include tea, coffee, and light refreshments.
• Arrivals at 12pm with the talk beginning at 12.30 and finishing by 2pm.
• Babies welcome (up to pre-walking stage), with dedicated play area in the room.
• Please note we are unable to have prams in the room for the talk, but they will be able to be left in the buggy park on the ground floor (lift access throughout building), so we recommend bringing slings or a car seat carrier with you if required.
• Photographer present (please advise if you would prefer not to be photographed).
Venue:
The event will take place in Crouch End Picturehouse. The space is fully accessible for prams and baby changing available.
Transport:
The following bus routes run close to the cinema: 91, 41, W3, W5.
The nearest train stations are Crouch Hill (Overground) and Hornsey (Great Northern) and tube station is Highgate (Northern Line).
There is parking available around the cinema after midday.
How to Reframe Your Relationship with Work After Having Children with Anniki Sommerville
In any job it is highly likely that at some point you will experience feelings of stagnation and lack of progression as well as imposter syndrome once you reach the top. Add in maternity leave and children into the mix and these feelings are often magnified affecting your confidence, motivation, and self-esteem.
However, it doesn’t have to be this way.
Join us to hear from highly acclaimed author Anniki Sommerville, author of The Big Quit: How to ditch the job you hate and find work you love for an insightful, interactive conversation on how to reframe your relationship with work and achieve a better work-life balance.
In The Big Quit, Anniki shares how she went from feeling trapped in a toxic work culture that was making her miserable and anxious to creating a work-life balance that brings her happiness and satisfaction.
In this session we will cover topics including:
• How our relationship with work changes post kids
• The things we can do to redefine the way forward and embrace the next chapter
• Getting rid of the inner critic and boosting confidence
• Q&A session
You will leave the session with honest, practical, and real advice as well as tools and insights to apply to your own professional life.
All guests will receive an exclusive gift bag from our co-sponsor Jude, a healthcare company that tackles bladder weakness that can occur postpartum and beyond.
Anniki Sommerville is freelance writer and author. Her podcast 'How To Be A Boss At Ageing' was released in June 2020. In each episode she tackles a different aspect of growing older, with interviewees such as Cariad Lloyd and Sali Hughes.
She has her own monthly radio show on Soho Radio and regularly speaks on panels on topics such as motherhood, the changing nature of work, relationships, and ageing.
She has written for the Telegraph and Independent and used to edit the successful parenting blog Selfish Mother. She is currently Head of Brand & Content for healthcare company Jude.
Key Information:
• Tickets include an exclusive gift bag.
• Arrivals at 11am with the talk beginning at 11.30 and finishing by 1pm.
• Babies welcome (up to pre-walking stage).
• Ample space for prams and dedicated area for babies to relax, feel free to bring own mats.
• Photographer present (please advise if you would prefer not to be photographed).
Venue: The event will take place in the Palm Court entrance of Alexandra Palace. It is located next to the Phoenix Bar & Kitchen with double doors leading directly to the space where the talk will be held. The space is fully accessible for prams and baby changing available.
Transport: Alexandra Palace is served by Rail, Bus, and Underground. All transport information is available here. There are also two onsite car parks within walking distance of Palm Court.
BABY FRIENDLY WINE TASTING HOSTED BY SOCIAL SIP CLUB
For December we are getting into the party mood and what could be better than a relaxed and informal daytime wine tasting for parents where babies are more than welcome.
Hosted by Amanda Sefton, Founder of Social Sip Club this event is the perfect way to start the festive season whilst meeting and connecting with likeminded people.
The tasting will begin with a glass of fizz before moving on to taste two white wines and a red wine selected for the event by Social Sip Club. You will learn the story of how the wine is made, what it tastes like and what food makes a perfect match. Amanda’s approach is very much about making buying and drinking wine sociable and fun without any of the pretence that usually surrounds it.
The event will be hosted in the restaurant of The Maynard Arms in Crouch End and a lunch menu including vegan and gluten-free options will be available to order. The venue has plenty of space and there will be breaks throughout the session for those that need to tend to babies.
Key Information:
· Four wine flight (fizz, white and red wine) and light appetizers.
· Lunch menu including vegan and gluten-free options available.
· Babies welcome (up to pre-walking stage).
· There will be space for prams, but slings preferred.
· Photographer present.
Amanda fell in love with learning about wine while working abroad and came back to London to study more, completing her WSET exams. Starting in the basement of a London storage facility, Amanda's wine journey has taken her through winemaking in Sussex to working in the organic vineyards of Bordeaux. Since then, she has marketed and sold wine around London, as well as drinking her way around the World's wine regions.
Amanda has been running workshops and classes to help people get the most from wine since 2013 and Social Sip Club comes from wanting to share wine knowledge without all the faff and pretence that is usually associated with it.
HOW TO EAT WELL AND FEEL ENERGISED WHEN YOU HAVE CHILDREN WITH BEANIE ROBINSON, FOUNDER OF THE HEALTH SPACE
Join us on Friday 18th November at Megan’s Islington Square for this interactive talk and Q+A session hosted by Beanie Robinson, founder of The Health Space, an online women’s nutrition clinic, where we will focus on three key areas.
1.Easy meal planning that works for the whole family.
2. The right foods to lift your mood and give you energy.
3. A guide to pre and postnatal nutrition.
We understand the pressures of modern life make it difficult to consistently eat healthy, balanced meals despite having every good intention to do so. This can become even more challenging after having a baby and often continues once they reach school age with differing schedules and further commitments to factor into an already busy programme.
Managing this totally new way of life — feeding, changing, crying, sleeping, repeat — can be tough on both the mind and the body. With lack of sleep and low energy it can become a vicious cycle of reaching for quick fixes which ultimately only provide short term relief. This is often compounded with hormonal changes beyond the postnatal period and the requirements on the body mean getting the right nutrition is key.
This session will empower you to have easy solutions at your fingertips and help you to find nutritious alternatives to add into your diet. This will enable you to feel both energised and help restore a sense of order to your day.
A revitalising and antioxidant packed juice will be served on arrival. We have also reserved a table following the event at Megan’s where you can relax with others from the session and enjoy a leisurely lunch.
*Please note this meal is not included in the ticket price and we kindly ask that you order directly at the restaurant.
Key Information:
• Tickets include a welcome juice shot on arrival.
• Babies welcome (up to pre-walking stage).
• There will be space for prams but slings preferred.
• Photographer present (please advise on the day if you would prefer not to be photographed).
Location:
The restaurant is located in Islington Square with the entrance to the square directly opposite Paul Bakery approximately halfway down Upper Street.
Bus Routes: 43, 19, 30, 341, 4 all stop close by to the restaurant.
Overground & Underground: The restaurant is equidistant from Angel (Northern Line) and Highbury & Islington station (Overground/ Rail/ Victoria Line).
Parking: There is paid for street parking on Theberton Street and Almeida Street and surrounding roads.
About Beanie Robinson & The Health Space
The Health Space is an online nutrition clinic for women wanting to address health concerns through Holistic Nutrition & Lifestyle. I work with adult women between the ages 18 & 80. I specialise in weight loss, hormonal imbalances, PCOS, gut health & Type 2 diabetes. My intention is to support women in reaching a place where they feel fantastic & really glow from the inside out.
NAVIGATING THE WORKPLACE AFTER Having CHILDREN WITH working wonder
There’s no denying that having children changes you, but there is a common sweeping misconception that it means you no longer care about your career which can be frustrating and in many cases, not true.
This interactive session run by cultural transformation consultancy, Working Wonder, will combine Working Wisdom (knowledge & tools) with a Wonder Mindset (building confidence, growth mindset, positive psychology) to inspire you and to help you appreciate and understand the new world of workplace culture, post pandemic, which will help you prepare for the transition as a working parent.
This session will enable you to define your own version of career success and give you the confidence to design the way you want to work that works for you and your family.
About Working Wonder:
Working Wonder is a workplace culture transformation consultancy that empowers companies and their employees to create progressive, inclusive and positive working environments and practices. They do this through providing career coaching, training, employer brand marketing and consultancy.
Co-Founders Calli and Nichola are also working parents and can therefore fully empathise with people navigating trying to have a baby, pregnancy, maternity leave, returning to work, juggling childcare and even home schooling during lockdown alongside their careers.
Working Wonder’s philosophy centres around work happiness and how important it is for everyone to be able to achieve it so they can thrive at work and homelife. Understandably, as you become a working parent, your home life priorities change and you may need to evolve and be more flexible in how you work.
Key Information:
Tickets priced at £12 and available to purchase here. Price includes tea/coffee and a selection of delicious breakfast items.
Babies welcome (up to pre-walking stage).
There will be space for prams but slings preferred.
Photographer present (please advise on the day if you would prefer not to photographed).
how to turn your passion into a business with Dominique WOOLF
Mum of three, entrepreneur and keen home cook, Dominique Woolf won the Channel 4 television show The Great Cookbook Challenge with Jamie Oliver earlier this year. She is the author of Dominique's Kitchen a Sunday Times No.1 Bestseller cookbook and a successful business owner in the food industry.
She trained at the prestigious Leith’s School of Food and Wine before starting her own business, The Woolf 's Kitchen, in the middle of lockdown 2020. Initially selling a range of sauces inspired by those her Thai auntie used to make, she has now expanded into chilli oils, pastes and nuts, too. Following her success on the show she has gone on to publish her own recipe book Dominique’s Kitchen: Easy, Everyday Asian-inspired Food.
In this session Dominique will provide unique insight into how to juggle motherhood with being an entrepreneur. She will offer practical tips on how to turn a passion into a business from finding suppliers to managing the finances and how to get yourself recognised as a serious player in a crowded market.
As part of the event copies of Dominique’s Kitchen: Easy, Everyday Asian-inspired Food will be available to purchase on the day or feel free to bring your own copy for signing.
Key Information:
Tickets priced at £12 and available to purchase here. Price includes tea/coffee and a selection of delicious breakfast items.
Copies of Dominique’s Kitchen: Easy, Everyday Asian-inspired Food will be available to purchase.
Babies welcome (up to pre-walking stage).
There will be space for prams but slings preferred.
Photographer present (please advise on the day if you would prefer not to photographed).