The MotherFolk Story
Hello! I'm Bethan - writer, doula, and founder of MotherFolk
Motherhood is one of the most profound transformations a person can experience — yet mothers are rarely centred in their own stories. Babies become the main character, while mothers are sidelined to nameless, thankless supporting roles.
And to top it all, we’re surrounded by cultural narratives of what motherhood should be, setting us all up for shame, guilt, and a perpetual sense of failure. When we're ashamed, we hide away, we stop talking to each other, we become isolated. That's when we become most vulnerable.
When I arrived at baby groups with my first child, I felt painfully aware that my experience didn’t match the idealised version of motherhood. I stayed on the surface, afraid that if I spoke honestly, my truth would be too much.
I had found motherhood culture to go no deeper than a photo opportunity.
Nothing ever went below small-talk, and I assumed everyone else had it figured out - while I battled anxiety and self-doubt in silence. I realise now that perhaps, everyone was feeling the same way.
Writing changed everything.
When everything else felt out of my control, the pen gave me agency. Simply by putting words on a page, I started to connect to myself in new ways, to make sense of my experiences, and to take up space in a world that wanted me to disappear.
Writing became my way of navigating motherhood—and then, a way to help others do the same.
When I became pregnant with my second child, I knew things had to be different - not just for me, but for other mothers too.
That’s where MotherFolk began. I asked my local bookshop if I could start a mothers' writing group. They said yes, and the rest is history.
MotherFolk exists to put mothers first. Through writing, storytelling, and community, we create baby-friendly, mother-focused spaces where mothers can process their experiences, find connection, and reclaim their narratives. We imagine a culture where motherhood instinctively centres the mother - and we are building that culture, one circle at a time.
So, wherever you are in your story, you are welcome here, and I can't wait to meet you.
Bethan x
