Katriona O'Sullivan

She knew that it was sexy and she was good.

But in the next breath, she'd be in the mirror pulling at her fat belly, crying.

criticizing her boobs, being really critical about herself.

And that was the template through which I learned about women's bodies, how she related to her body.

And I think it's a really important message from my book for mothers, particularly of girls, but also boys.

It's not enough just to hide the diet and hide the conversation.

We need to like our bodies, whatever they are, whatever shape or size they are, in order for us to teach our... The kids are picking up on it.

The kids pick up on it.

But also with my mum, and I talk about this, Brendan, I watched my mum then sell her body and like her body was a commodity for men.

And I watched these men take advantage of my mother.

Like my mum didn't have, like we talk about sex work and I know this can be triggering for people listening, but I shouldn't feel ashamed of where I come from.

Like my being abused and hurt as a child wasn't my responsibility.

But I watched my mum become a commodity and she didn't have a choice in that.

She was an addict.

She didn't have a choice.

She had to do that.

But I watched her sell her body.

And I learned also then that bodies were objects for sex, for men particularly, and that men didn't really care.

Like, I watched these men going up and down the stairs in my house and taking my mam's soul.

Like, she never, ever returned from that experience.