Crosswalk Conversations

This project took place in Boston and Claremont, where I asked strangers simple but meaningful questions about their mothers, their memories, and their thoughts on how motherhood is portrayed in media and society. Many spoke about their warmth and gratitude but also revealed the sacrifices their own mothers took throughout their lives that define care work. This matters because the dominant narratives about mothers often flatten their experiences, ignoring the emotional labor and constant commitment involved. By having face-to-face conversations with mothers and children alike, this project made space for personal stories and commentary that highlights the depth behind the role of "mother."

If your mom could see herself through your eyes, what do you wish she would know?

What is one thing you never expected about being a mom?

What Emily Heard/Saw:

People were very open and thoughtful. In Boston, I invited a family of five to participate, and by the end, the mother was crying hearing her children’s heartfelt answers. These stories may seem simple, but they’re deeply telling of the sacrifices mothers make. As the conversations went on, I noticed people began to dig deeper, and sharing examples of what their mothers had given up for them. Many were genuinely intrigued by the project and asked questions about its purpose. Some stayed after the interviews to have longer, more personal conversations in curiosity of my project. This is exactly what the project aims to do: create space for reflection, and recognition of the quiet, powerful love behind motherhood.

How Can I do this?

1 / Set Up

Develop a few thoughtful, open-ended questions that feel meaningful to you, ones that invite people to reflect, not just respond.
Invite some friends to support you with recording, logistics, or even moral support on the day of.
Choose a location with good foot traffic

2 / Invite

Set up a comfortable space and atmosphere for your interviewees.

3 / Interact

Start asking! Be present in the conversation, and don’t hesitate to ask follow-ups if something intrigues you; you are here to listen and learn from your community.

Try it out in your Community

Take your own curiosity to the streets with a few questions in mind and create space for people to reflect on and share the unseen care behind motherhood. These conversations are also forms of advocacy. By encouraging others to voice their memories and recognize acts of care, we begin to challenge how society undervalues motherhood and domestic labor. This project brings awareness and advocacy of care work in motherhood both ways to both the interviewer and the interviewee.