Revisioning Motherhood: Writing a new Story of (and for) Mothers// with Amanda Lacson

This class is for anyone who is passionate about raising up and dismantling limiting myths about motherhood.

In this workshop we will examine pictures of motherhood handed down to us through poetry, pop culture and by examining photos from your own mother figures.

• What do these images tell us about the expectations set upon mothers?
• How do they impact the way that you mother or have been mothered?

We will discuss myths of motherhood, how we can unpack these myths, and what myths, stories and real-life examples we can look to, in order to create liberating stories about what Motherhood can be. I broadly define “myth” to mean ancient mythologies and their descendants in folklore and fairy tales; cultural expectations that pervade Western society; and the myths closest to home, the family stories that you grew up with.

Who Should Take This Class

This class is for anyone interested in motherhood, whether they consider themselves a mother, have been mothered, or would like to understand more about Motherhood images and expectations in the Western and non-Western world.

People who have felt limited or stressed by common Western motherhood expectations, especially in regards to maintaining work, self, or creative identity will also benefit from this workshop.

As the mother of a three-year-old, I know that time can feel compacted for mothers: yet, I also know the importance of staying grounded in my creative practice which started long before I became a mother.

Since motherhood expectations don’t change without the support of societal structures, this class is for anyone who is passionate about raising up and dismantling limiting myths about motherhood.

No prior writing experience is necessary. Participants may bring photos of their own motherhood figures to write from if they wish. For privacy sake, this workshop will not be recorded; however notes and resources will be emailed to all registrants afterward. 

Format

This workshop will meet live from 2 PM - 5 PM ET/11 AM - 2 PM PT on Saturday May 10, 2025 using Zoom. For privacy sake, this workshop will not be recorded; however notes and resources will be emailed to all registrants afterward.

About the Facilitator

Amanda Faye Lacson is a Filipina-American writer, photographer, and historian. Her work, both personal and community-oriented, is centered on exploring how our identities are shaped, how they impact the way we move in the world, and how we write our history. She aims to bring forward voices that have been less-studied through creative nonfiction and playwriting (fellow with Primary Stages’ Echoes Writers Group 2024-2025 cohort); photography that documents the artistic process at work; oral history-oriented podcast interviewing; and community-based workshops for the family historian. When her son was almost two years old, Amanda joined the Raised Pinay community, a group of Filipina (Pinay) mothers that gathered to write together, reflect on their Pinay childhood, and how it affects their experience raising Pinay children. Amanda received her MA in TLA at Goddard College in 2010, and currently co-teaches the required classes for the Certificate in TLA Foundations.