Me and Roz (The Wild Robot): A Reflection on Motherhood’s Beautiful, Unexpected Journey

I didn’t have grand expectations when I sat down with my son, Brayden, to watch The Wild Robot.

Honestly, I was just looking forward to some snuggles and quality mother-son time. But before I knew it, I found myself bonding with ROZZUM Unit 7134 (Roz), a robotic assistant, over our shared journeys to motherhood. 

In Peter Brown’s story, Roz crash-lands in a forest and becomes the unlikely caregiver to an orphaned gosling named Brightbill. Thrust into uncharted territory, she must help her “adopted” son survive and grow before the harshness of winter sets in. 

To my surprise, Roz’s story mirrored my own in deeply personal and unexpected ways. Before becoming a mother, I was a lot like Roz—a career professional programmed for efficiency, analyzing data, and focused on getting things done. 

In Paris boardrooms, I could confidently hold my ground, speaking the language of business fluently while keeping my emotions carefully in check. Like Roz's original programming, my corporate identity thrived on logic and control. Neither of us seemed “built” for motherhood. But life had bigger plans. Through our unconventional journeys, both Roz and I discovered a capacity for love that transcended our original “design.”

Like me, Roz’s motherhood story begins in a place I know all too well: not fitting the mold. She isn’t a traditional mother, nor does she have pre-programmed maternal instincts. Her initial steps into motherhood are deliberate and stoic, much like my early fertility journey and those first chaotic months when my daughter was in the NICU. Like Roz, I eventually learned to improvise, listen with my heart, and figure things out as I went along. 

And, like me, Roz gets the child she is meant to have. Brightbill wasn’t hers biologically. As a different species, he is nothing like Roz. Yet, they develop an unbreakable bond and learn from each other. Even though others judge them for their differences—similar to how I was judged for being a single mother in my 40’s—none of that matters. They create a family on their own terms. 

Roz’s story also highlights the strength in diversity. As she raises Brightbill, she leans on an unexpected “village” of island animals to guide and support her. This mirrors my own belief that motherhood is rarely a solo endeavor. In my journey, that village has included friends, family, mentors, and even strangers whose kindness carried me through tough times. The communities we build—often from the most surprising sources—are what make us stronger.

Motherhood, as Roz’s story demonstrates, demands relentless commitment. Roz sacrifices her body, her time, and her energy to ensure Brightbill’s survival and success. As a single mother, it requires a level of selflessness that can feel like a crushing weight at times, but there’s also profound beauty. As I wrote in Mission Motherhood, this commitment isn’t about perfection—it’s about showing up every single day, even when it’s hard.

Roz’s journey ultimately leads to the bittersweet milestone every mother faces: letting go. Watching Brightbill spread his wings and fly into the world is both heartbreaking and hopeful. It’s a reminder that our children are meant to grow beyond us. In my book, Mission Motherhood, I reflect on how it’s important to let go—both in big and small ways—so our children can become who they’re meant to be.  

I think I’ll revisit The Wild Robot from time to time as a poignant reminder of how motherhood has transformed me. Like Roz, we don’t always follow the conventional path. Our journeys may look different—perhaps even breaking the mold—but they are no less real or beautiful. Motherhood rewrites our programming, challenges us to embrace the unexpected, and reminds us that love, above all, is the most extraordinary force of all.

To my fellow “robotic” career women who are feeling a nagging ache to become mothers but don’t see a path forward, I wrote my book for you. I hope you’ll check out my book “Mission: Motherhood, Writing a New Fairy Tale of Love and Family” coming out on May 6th!