Top Takeaways from “Can mums have it all?”

We’re told women can have it all, but who’s keeping score? Managing careers, childcare, personal identity, and a hefty mental load, modern motherhood is a high-pressure juggling act. Our panel will explore what is attainable for mums versus what is expected when faced with images of perfection – from lunching ladies and gym bunnies to ‘mumfluencers’ and those who apparently do it all.

Top takeaways

At the Leeds International Festival of Ideas, “Can Mums Have It All?” saw Myleene Klass MBE lead a candid discussion with , Annie Price, Róisín Freeney, and Claire Warren on the realities of modern motherhood.

“The workplace wasn’t made for mothers. It’s a structural issue that needs to change.” – Joeli Brearley MBE

“When you do the maths on what it costs to be a stay at home mum, it’s astounding. For years, women have been expected to carry a huge load.” – Myleene Klass MBE

“We’re being sold a lie that it’s not possible to have a career and children, and run a happy home. But we’ve had to contort ourselves into a labour market that wasn’t built with women in mind.” Joeli Brearley MBE

“I am an eternal optimist. I believe I can have it all. But in reality, having it all is very individual. There will always be a point when you have to make difficult decisions about your time.”  – Annie Price

“Most of us are just trying to put bread on the table. I definitely think there’s a judginess around career women. There is a huge commodification around motherhood, so we’re often sold an unrealistic version of what motherhood looks like.” – Róisín Freeney

“Initially I thought having it all was about being successful in a career and being a yummy mummy and staying at home all at the same time. I very quickly learned it wasn’t possible.” – Claire Warren

Further Reading

• The Fifth Trimester: The Working Mom’s Guide to Style, Sanity, and Big Success After Baby by Lauren Smith Brody A book about transitions, expectations, and realistic strategies for mothers returning to work (or juggling work and caring roles).
• All the Rage: Mothers, Fathers, and the Myth of Equal Partnership by Darcy Lockman Explores how our expectations of “modern motherhood” and “equal parenting” misfire in practice and what that means for women emotionally and socially.
  
• Mumfluenced: Navigating Motherhood in the Age of Social Media by Danielle Phillips A reflection on how social media influences motherhood, identity, and comparison — especially relevant to the “image pressures” theme.
  

Related Podcasts / Episodes

• “The Longest Shortest Time” — Mommy Burnout Episode. Deep, human stories about motherhood, guilt, identity, and unloading expectations.
• “The Working Mother Podcast” — When “Having It All” Feels Impossible
  Guests reflect on career, motherhood, guilt, boundaries, and redefining success.

Documentaries / Films / Media 

• Miss Representation (2011)  Explores how media portrayals of women — including mothers — limit our sense of what’s possible.
  
• Babies (2010, documentary by Thomas Balmes)  A gentle, observational film following newborns around the world. While not directly about motherhood expectations, it offers contrast and reflection on early parenting
• Working Moms (TV series)  A fictional (but often resonant) portrayal of mothers juggling jobs, relationships, motherhood, and identity — useful for sparking discussion about real vs ideal

UK-based Podcasts & Media (Motherhood, Resilience, Parenting, Wellbeing)

• The Motherkind Podcast (UK) — hosted by Zoe Blaskey, focuses on parent wellbeing, self-care, navigating mum life in the UK context. 
• Not Another Mummy Podcast (UK) — a UK parenting / motherhood podcast with guests, stories, support. 
• The Parenting Tools Podcast (UK) — two UK dads talking through parenting challenges, balancing work, life, relationships.