Real Talk with Tilly

There are countless books, podcasts, and opinions about motherhood. Yet when you become a mom, nothing truly prepares you for the journey ahead.

Recently, I had the chance to sit down with Tilly (@majes_tee), a content creator from Surrey, BC, for an honest conversation about motherhood, confidence, and finding joy outdoors with your children. What followed was a refreshing reminder that none of us have all the answers—and that's okay.

"No One Told Me How to Be a Mom"

One of the most powerful moments in our conversation came when Tilly shared a truth that so many mothers can relate to.

"How to be a mama? I didn't know. No one told me how to be a mom. No one taught me."

Motherhood doesn't come with a manual. Every child is different. Every family is different. Every mother's journey is different.

As parents, we often feel pressure to know exactly what we're doing. But Tilly believes the real secret is learning to trust yourself.

"Every kid is different. Every motherhood is different. You just have to trust yourself and try it. It's okay to fail, and it's okay to cry. It's okay to feel sad. At the end of the day, you will find your own way to do things, to have fun, and to grow with your kids."

It's a message many moms need to hear.

Finding Light Through the Outdoors

While Tilly's adventures may look effortless today, her journey into motherhood wasn't easy.

After welcoming her son, she found herself struggling through an incredibly difficult season. Living far from family support and trying to navigate the challenges of a new baby, she found herself in a dark place.

"The first three months, I was seeing a really dark world. I was trying to figure out, how am I going to raise this kid?"

Without parents nearby and with limited support, those early months felt overwhelming.

But then she remembered something important: she loved being outdoors.

"I love hiking. Why can't I go back to it?"

That simple thought changed everything.

With encouragement from friends, she began taking her son on walks, then longer walks, and eventually hikes.

"They told me, 'Just bring your baby with you, and we'll figure it out.'"

Sometimes all it takes is one supportive community to remind us that we don't have to do motherhood alone.

Adventure Doesn't Have to Be Big

One of the things we love most about Tilly's perspective is that adventure doesn't have to mean epic mountain summits or all-day excursions.

For her, getting outside is less about the destination and more about being present.

"You can do anything you want. Even just go for a walk, pick up little rocks and leaves, and feel that pure happiness."

In a world that constantly encourages us to do more, Tilly's message is beautifully simple: slow down.

Nature gives parents and children permission to step away from schedules, screens, and expectations.

"When you're in nature with your kids, you learn how to slow down and not worry about what's going on behind you. Just enjoy the moment and have fun."

The Confidence to Try

When I asked Tilly where her confidence comes from, she admitted that confidence wasn't something she started with.

Like many moms, she learned through experience.

She learned by showing up.

By trying.

By making mistakes.

By trying again.

And that's exactly what she hopes other parents will do.

"I did it, so you can do it."

Not every family outing has to be a ten-hour hike.

"It doesn't have to be a ten-hour hike. It can be a ten-minute walk down the street to recharge yourself, relax, and spend quality time with your little ones."

Those small moments matter.

Sometimes they become the memories our children carry forever.

If You Didn't Take a Photo...

Of course, no conversation with Tilly would be complete without talking about photography.

As a content creator, she loves documenting her family's adventures and encouraging others to do the same.

And she shared one of our favourite lines from the interview:

"If you go on a hike and you didn't take photos, you didn't go on the hike!"

While she says it with a laugh, there's something deeper behind it. Photos help us preserve the memories that can otherwise get lost in the busyness of family life.

Not because every moment needs to be posted online—but because one day, we'll look back and remember just how far we've come.

A Final Reminder for Moms

If there's one thing we took away from our conversation with Tilly, it's this:

You don't need to have it all figured out.

You don't need to be the perfect mom.

You don't need to do what everyone else is doing.

Trust yourself.

Take the walk.

Go outside.

Cry when you need to.

Try again tomorrow.

And most importantly, enjoy the moment.

Because motherhood isn't about getting everything right—it's about growing alongside your children, one adventure at a time.

*All photos courtesy of @majes_tee