It is pervasive: The Good Mother Myth

Unlearning Our Bad Ideas About How to Be a Good Mom

by Nancy Reddy

I know that before I became a parent I imagined myself as endlessly patient, loving, giving and more. Then, when my second child was born, I looked at her and thought “I haven’t made any mistakes with you yet.” All of which is to say that moms seem to be held to very high standards and in the real world these can be hard to achieve, let alone, maintain.

But…what actually makes for a good mother? (Reddy sees this mom as having been portrayed largely as white in the past.) There have been many theories, some of which she debunks. She comments on theorists of parenthood including Bowlby and Spock among others.

Reddy also talks about her own experiences and what it felt like to become a new parent. I think that these sections of the book will resonate deeply with readers.

As a professional, I often facilitated groups. One of the magical things about a group is that members suddenly feel less alone and more understood. I think that this is what Reddy hopes, in part, that readers will take from this book. They are not alone in trying to figure out parenting and their own needs.

Readers should note that Reddy is not without a political bent.

Recommended to those who want to understand more about being a parent.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 18 March 2025

From the Publisher