I cannot believe we’re here. Let me give you a little backstory…
How it began
Over a year ago, I grabbed a TedX logo and put it on my vision board. I’d barely done any public speaking at this time.
Earlier this year, I nervously showed up at my local TedX auditions, clutching my cue cards, intimidated by the public speaking pros in the room. I pitched my heart out in front of an X-factor style panel. Until the buzzer cut me off before I got to the best bit.
Had I done enough?
I had.
If the next few months were to be a Netflix montage, here’s what you’d see.
Me staring at a blank page wondering how the f*** I’m going to pull this off.
Me frantically typing draft after draft, trying to squeeze everything my heart wants to say about mum guilt and how society treats mums into ten minutes.
Me banging my head on the desk and WhatsApping all the other speakers I know. Feedback, frustration and rewrites. By this stage, I was basically a human petri dish for Imposter Syndrome and self-doubt.
Then, of course, I really f****d up.
I stepped onto the red dot, proudly wearing the F*** Mum Guilt T-shirt at the dress rehearsal and froze.
I choked.
It was like 8 Mile but more teary.
I tried to pick myself back up but the flow was off and my stress radiated out.
I cried on the way home. I thought about pulling out. Why was I putting this kind of pressure on myself when surviving life with triplets was already hard enough?
Why?
Because of you.
Because it matters.
Because nothing will change unless brave mamas grab the mic and speak their truth.
Because I know when I open up, others do too.
So here it is, from my heart to yours, F*** Mum Guilt the TedX talk.
Watch it, comment on it and share it with your mum WhatsApp groups or your family networks at work. Speak up about mum guilt, start those important conversations one at a time.
Much love,
A very tired, proud, emotional Leila x
ps. How do you like our fancy new home? Remember you can read, comment and generally interact directly in Substack here
Great job from beginning to end the flow and floods of forgiveness ending with a resounding call to action quote that’s raw real and TRUE “…staying in mum guilt is a choice!” I’d say this talk is a PSA for everyone stuck in a rinse & repeat cycle of societal guilt.