Q&A with Talia Gutin

 

Photo by Kate Eleniak

 

 

Talia Gutin is the author of the new poetry collection The Mother Self. Also a certified life coach, she lives in Boulder, Colorado.

 

Q: Over how long a period did you write the poems in your new collection?

 

A: It took two years from the time I wrote the first poem to when I completed the first draft of the book.

 

Q: The author Vienna Pharaon said of the book, “The Mother Self honors and acknowledges the mother in the most profound of ways, offering you connection and understanding on a journey that can sometimes feel lonely and overwhelming for the modern woman.” What do you think of that description?

 

A: Firstly, I sincerely appreciate the description, and Vienna captures something I hoped The Mother Self would achieve: serving as a source of connection for mothers during what can often be an isolating and lonely time.

 

I believe that motherhood, at any decade, has at times felt overwhelming and isolating for women. However, for the modern woman—who often juggles both motherhood and career (though, of course, not every mother fits this mold)—there are new layers of pressure, especially in the digital age of social media.

 

Women today are constantly bombarded with messages about how we "should" be doing things as mothers. This often leads to a countereffect: we begin to feel that our struggles are somehow invalid or wrong because the influencer on Instagram seems to be navigating motherhood effortlessly. As a result, many women experience even more isolation.

 

Writing The Mother Self was about acknowledging this isolation and offering a space for reflection, healing, and connection. I hoped to show that it’s okay to experience the messiness of motherhood and that you’re not alone in moments of uncertainty, overwhelm, or doubt.

 

The book serves as a reminder that embracing the full spectrum of motherhood—including its joys and challenges—can help us reconnect with our true selves despite the noise and expectations from the outside world.

Q: How was the collection’s title chosen, and what does it signify for you?

 

A: The original title of the collection was The Reverence of a Mother, which reflected the early focus of the poems—centered on the connection and sacred bond with my son, witnessing him in wonder.

 

When my publishers suggested a title change, it was initially hard to let go. However, upon reflection, I realized the original title no longer captured the full scope of the poems or how the collection had evolved.

 

The Mother Self represents the integrated identity of the mother within the fullness of the Self. To claim one’s ‘mother self’ is to embrace the role of a mother in all its complexities and facets. At its core, it is to feel the deep, archetypal sense of “I am Mother.”

 

Q: What impact did it have on you to write these poems, and what do you hope readers take away from them?

 

A: Writing this collection, at its core, helped me navigate the profound life transition of motherhood. Writing became my way of connecting to my inner world during a time that was almost constantly outwardly demanding.

 

To process my experiences and integrate the evolving aspects of my identity, I had to carve out what I call “intentional solitude”—moments to reorient inwardly, gather myself, reflect, grieve, and feel.

 

This is what I hope readers take away from these poems: I want reading them to be a pause—a chance to reconnect with their inner lives. I hope they help readers process where they are, grieve what they’ve left behind, and reflect on who they are becoming.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: With two young children and a third on the way this July, finding time to work on new projects has been challenging.

 

One idea I’ve been exploring is a book that delves into the development of selfhood in the digital age. I believe our social media landscape places excessive emphasis on external representation rather than nurturing internal reflection.

 

This shift, in many ways, disrupts our ability to cultivate a coherent and grounded sense of self—something that requires us to consistently reorient ourselves inwardly.

 

For now, it remains just an idea, but it’s a subject I look forward to studying and writing about soon.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: As a mother, writer, and mental health practitioner, navigating the complexities of modern life, I’m deeply passionate about the intersection of identity, selfhood, and motherhood.

 

Writing has always been my way of processing both my inner world and the world around me, and I’m continually inspired and fascinated by how we evolve in response to the different roles we take on.

 

I believe in the power of language to foster connection, particularly during times of emotional isolation (something early motherhood can bring), and I hope my work can offer solace and empowerment to others on their own journeys.

 

While The Mother Self is a reflection of my personal experience, I also see it as a collective space where mothers can feel seen, heard, and understood.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb