Motherhood Diaries - Laura Byrne
This Mother's Day, ToniMay is honored to celebrate the boundless love of mothers with our exquisite limited edition collection, featuring timeless pieces inspired by the enduring symbol of infinity. We sat down with our founder, Laura Byrne, to delve into her personal journey through motherhood, the joys and challenges, and the profound meaning behind this year's special collection.
Laura Byrne on the Beautiful Chaos of Motherhood
Laura, jewellery designer, podcaster, and TV host, shares her most important role: mum to Marlie, Lola, and now baby Poppy.
Motherhood, the third time around, has brought a new sense of calm and confidence.
"Having my third baby has been all of the love, with none of the stress or anxiety I felt before," she reflects. "I know I can do motherhood. I can be a good mum."
With that comes a deeper appreciation for how fleeting this season is, embracing the chaos, and the beauty, in every moment.
Falling in Love with the Role
For Laura, the profound love for motherhood wasn't an immediate, overwhelming pull but a journey of discovery and deep connection.
"I think it came as a surprise to me how much I love being a mum," Laura shares. "I always knew I wanted to be a mum, but I don't think I had that huge pull that a lot of women talk about... I became a mum and I fell in love with being a mum through the role."
Laura describes the moment her oldest, Marlie May, entered the world as a transition into "the coolest job." This evolving love for her children and the joy of watching them grow is what inspired her to expand her family.
Q&A with Laura Byrne
HOW HAS YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH MOTHERHOOD EVOLVED WITH EACH CHILD?
With Marlie and Lola now six and five, I felt like I’d moved into a different phase of motherhood. People kept asking, “Are you sure you want a third? You’re going back to nappies, back to the trenches.”
And it’s true, in a way, I chose to go back there. But there’s been something really beautiful about having a baby again after that gap.
This time, it’s given me perspective. I really understand how fast this season of motherhood goes.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE CHALLENGES OF MOTHERHOOD, SUCH AS 'MUM GUILT'?
I don’t think there’s a mum out there who wouldn’t say motherhood is hard at times. It’s the hardest job in the world, but also the most fulfilling. It stretches you and tests you in ways you never imagined.
One of the things I feel most challenged by, and also most proud of, is the patience it teaches you. And when you fall short of that, the mum guilt is real.
But when I take a step back and look at the kind of parent I am, I think… I’m doing better than I thought.
Actually, you’re doing a pretty good job.
WHAT MAKES THE TONIMAY MOTHER'S DAY COLLECTION, PARTICULARLY THE INFINITY SYMBOL, SO SPECIAL TO YOU?
This year’s limited edition Mother’s Day necklace is timeless and deeply meaningful. The infinity symbol captures the essence of motherhood, a love that expands in ways you could never have imagined.
It’s a love unlike anything else. Constant, unbreakable, and never-ending, no matter where they go, how old they are, or what they do.
There’s nothing quite like it. And that, to me, is what makes it so special.
"It is a love that you have never experienced before, there's nothing that compares to it, and the sense that it is this never-ending love... there is nothing that can break that."
- Laura Byrne
