Lies We Tell Mothers

Suzy K. Quinn reveals the truth behind the lies we tell mothers, one sleepless night at a time. Suzy and Demi were carefree twenty-somethings. They had fun! They didn't have responsibilities! And then they decided to have a baby. Goodbye lazy weekends, hello sleepless nights, arguments and an addiction to industrial-strength hot chocolate. In the midst of this major life change, Suzy discovered that most parenting advice should be taken with a pinch of salt-- or ten. For example: #1 Lie: Just go with your mothers' instinct. But what if your instinct is telling you to hide under the stairs? #10 Lie: Your new baby will tell you what it needs. Not if it can't talk. #23 Lie: You should never bribe your children. You will ALWAYS bribe your children. Follow Suzy on the ultimate make-over from nervous-wreck new mother to happy family. In this hilarious and refreshingly honest account for parents who prefer the realistic to the utopian, Suzy debunks the myths and takes us all along for the (bumpy) ride.

Featuring interviews with hundreds of moms and candid stories from author Claudine Wolk’s own experiences as a mother, It Gets Easier! . . . and Other Lies We Tell New Mothers employs a healthy mix of humor, honesty, and insider strategies to give new and expecting moms a “leg up” on the challenging task of first-time motherhood. This fun, frank, and prescriptive guide strives to make motherhood easier by addressing issues such as: “The Talk” you need to have with your husband before you give birth; what you really need to know about labor and delivery; the importance of a baby schedule (no matter what anyone else says); the 6 Baby Commandments that can foster good eating and sleeping habits; 5 new mom mantras that will help keep you sane; body image after giving birth; and how to keep housework to a minimum. Complete with resources for further exploration and a helpful glossary, this funny, irreverent book will help ease every new mothers’ frustrations by reminding them that they are not alone and providing tangible, easy-to-follow tips for parenting success.

Nobody tells the truth-- motherhood is hard! Wolk gives every new mom reality-based suggestions, with a lot of humor.

There is no question that being a mother is challenging, but this fun, frank, and prescriptive guide tries to do the impossible and make new motherhood easier. Featuring interviews with hundreds of moms and candid stories from author Claudine Wolk's own experiences as a mother, It Gets Easier!...and Other Lies We Tell New Mothers mixes humor, honesty, and insider strategies that will give new moms a "leg-up." This upbeat and entertaining book drives home the point that new moms are not alone and that there are things they can do to make motherhood a little more controllable and lot more enjoyable. It addresses such issues as: * "The Talk" you need to have with your husband before you give birth * what you really need to know about labor and delivery * the importance of a baby schedule (no matter what anyone else says) * the 6 Baby Commandments that can foster good eating and sleeping habits * 5 new mom mantras that will help keep you sane * body image after giving birth * how to keep housework to a minimum Complete with resources for further exploration and a helpful glossary, this funny, irreverent book will help ease every new mother's frustration.

An exploration of social media–imposed pressure on new mothers: How the supposed safe havens of online mommy groups have become rife with aggression and groupthink. Many mothers today turn to social media for parenting advice, joining online mothers’ groups on Facebook and elsewhere. But the communities they find in these supposed safe havens can be rife with aggression, peer pressure, and groupthink—insisting that only certain practices are “best,” “healthiest,” “safest” (and mandatory). In this book, Jessica Clements and Kari Nixon debunk the myth of “optimal motherhood”—the idea that there is only one right answer to parenting dilemmas, and that optimal mothers must pursue perfection. In fact, Clements and Nixon write, parenting choices are not binaries, and the scientific findings touted by mommy groups are neither clear-cut nor prescriptive. Clements and Nixon trace contemporary ideas of optimal motherhood to the nineteenth-century “Cult of True Womanhood,” which viewed women in terms of purity and dignity. Both mothers themselves, they joined a variety of Facebook mothers’ groups to explore what goes on in online mommy wars. They examine debates within these groups over CDC recommendations about alcohol during pregnancy, birth plans that don’t go according to plan, breastfeeding vs. formula, co-sleeping and “crying it out,” and “tweaking” pregnancy test kits to discern pregnancy as early as possible. Clements and Nixon argue for an empowered motherhood, freed from the impossible standards of the optimal.

Healing Begins with Awareness Are you trapped in the maze of your mother's expectations, forever chasing the approval and affection that always seem out of reach? "Lemon Moms: A Guide to Understand and Survive Maternal Narcissism" is your guide to finding the exit and stepping into the light of self-love and acceptance. You've been conditioned to neglect your own needs, to seek validation from others, and to constantly put yourself last. You may find yourself drawn into harmful relationships, repeating patterns of self-sabotage, and struggling with feelings of inadequacy and emptiness. You are not alone. The author, a fellow survivor of a narcissistic mother, walks with you on this journey of discovery and healing. She offers not just empathy and support but also practical strategies to help you reclaim your life. This book is your roadmap to understanding the true nature of your relationship with your mother and breaking free from the cycle of emotional manipulation and guilt. Lemon Moms: A Guide to Understand and Survive Maternal Narcissism equips you with the tools to: - Defuse the drama in your interactions - Establish boundaries that are respected - Counteract gaslighting and manipulation - Navigate emotional outbursts and silent treatments - Respond to hurtful comments and put-downs - Understand and heal from hurtful family dynamics - Strategize conversations for positive outcomes - Recognize and heal trauma signs With actionable steps at the end of each chapter (or use the Companion Workbook), this book is your guide to understanding why your mother behaves as she does and how you can change your response. You can't change your mother, but you can change how you interact with her. You are not to blame. You didn't create the problem, and you can't cure it or control it, and you are worthy of love and respect. Why wait? Begin your journey to healing by getting this book and empowering yourself today!

The Mother-Daughter Relationship Makeover combines a compelling mother and daughter memoir with self-help and a formula for readers to explore their own mother-daughter history, understand and ease their conflicts, and rediscover their appreciation and love. Bestselling author Leslie Glass and her daughter, award-winning documentarian Lindsey Glass, offer a brand-new kind of interactive self-help book that combines actionable information, compelling storytelling, and writing prompts that are guaranteed to bring awareness, understanding, and compassion to mothers and daughters everywhere. It is a book that promises to heal your relationship and keep it strong, offering a positive pathway to peace and serenity no matter how far apart you feel you are. Leslie and Lindsey have lived through their own traumas and devastating ups and downs in their relationship. They’ve turned their experiences into a successful platform for helping others and share them here in this book. They use their own tumultuous story, told from their respective points of view, to help mothers and daughters understand that even if you go off track, go to war, part ways for years, you can still find your way back to friendship, understanding, and love. For the first time, Leslie and Lindsey will share their secret sauce for healing, broken down into four steps: •Revealing Your Back Story •Exploring Your Emotional and Personality Styles •Understanding Your Conflicts and Triggers •Learning the Tools to Restore the Love