Conference 2022.

Welcome and Keynote

Our Chair, Anne Fennell, opened our annual conference and then MAHM team members presented summaries of this year’s work for the AGM before Erica Komisar gave the keynote presentation about the importance of emotionally healthy and present mothers in raising resilient children.

‘Resilience, or the ability to cope with the unknown, is not something we are born with, rather it is something we learn from being given a foundation of emotional security through the consistent presence of our caregivers throughout our childhood.’

Erica Komisar is a psychoanalyst, parent coach and author from New York. Her latest book, Chicken Little, the Sky isn’t Falling, was reviewed in our Autumn 2022 newsletter — sent biannually to MAHM members — by Maria Lyons. Read the review here online.

Seminar: Motherhood — An International Perspective

Join representatives of international organisations including Make Mothers Matter and the European Federation of Parents and Carers as they share about their local challenges and how we can work together and learn from each other. We also hear from Roxana Tigelaar who is looking to set up a MAHM group in the Netherlands.

Valerie Bichelmeier Vice-President & Main Representative at the United Nations in Geneva;

Madeleine Wallin FEFAF General Secretary, Permanent Representative UN-NY

Roxana Tigelaar MAHM representative in the Netherlands

Seminar: The Joy of Motherhood

As mothers, we all share the same common threads of trying to figure out our role, doing our very best, and striving to give our children the best start in life. Motherhood can stretch us, test us and invite us to dig deeper than we ever knew we could. So how do we find joy through all the ever-changing seasons of motherhood? In this seminar, Elizabeth Yeboah shares the four areas that have encouraged and inspired her as a mother to seek and find joy in her journey of 24 years. Motherhood wasn’t designed to just be endured, so join us as we explore the journey to finding joy in this most pivotal and vital role.

Elizabeth Yeboah is a home educator, mentor, wife, and mother to five wonderful children. She and her family live in Buckinghamshire where they love to seek adventures wherever they may be found. Her passions include homemaking and encouraging young women. If there was a choice between tea or coffee, tea wins every time.

Seminar: Campaigning and Politics

‘Politics’, it has been said, ‘is the art of the possible’. Campaigning in a political environment must combine the ideal with what is possible.

We explore with Imogen Sinclair, Director of the New Social Covenant Unit, if there is any appetite for ‘valuing care’; what are the differences in thought between those on the left and right, and what inroads could we practically make with all parties. Can Labour be persuaded to allow parents ‘Choice’? How can we ensure that ‘caring’ is valued as ‘work’ and not penalised either in the benefits system or in the tax system? Come and listen to the discussion!

Seminar: A Mind Of Their Own — Building Children's Emotional Well-being

Children are facing the challenges of navigating the complexities of our ever-changing society - one full of both opportunity and challenge, potential and risk. Many of us are aware of the headlines that anxiety levels and struggles with mental health are on the rise in children and young people. This can feel overwhelming and at times debilitating. But there is good news! Parents have incredible influence and capacity to help their children. There are simple changes that can be made in everyday life, which could help children meet life's inevitable challenges head-on.

This seminar uses material and video clips kindly provided by Care For The Family with Becca Woollgar facilitating the discussion.