The Good Mother Myth is a compilation of essays from women who do not fit the stereotype of "the good mother" that populates the internet. I think "the good mother" is probably a slightly different specter for everyone, but for me she takes the form of an Anthropologie-garbed woman who definitely had lost her baby weight in the first year, who had an unmedicated vaginal birth, who exclusively breastfed and never let her baby's lips touch a drop of formula, who feeds her child vegetables with every meal and snack, who keeps a beautiful home, who stays at home, who is already pregnant with number 2, who creates beautiful handmade crafts and gives them to friends -- heck, who actually manages to wrap gifts (I am notoriously awful at this and tend to just hand people things). Anyway, as you can see, the good mother myth is dangerous and permeates motherhood, at least for self-esteem challenged people like myself. I loved reading these essays from women who express their own experience, because when I am being honest with myself, I realize that there is not a single woman who believes she is fulfilling her own good mother myth. Not to say there are women who don't think they are good mothers, but I've never heard anyone say, "I'm perfectly satisfied with myself as a mother." We all fall short in our own ways.

This is deviating from a book review into a passionate rambling on this book, so let me wrap things up by saying that while some of the essays were way outside my experience and a few were even shocking to me, it was interesting to read so many different perspectives. It was good to know "the good mother" haunts others as well as myself and that despite what it sometimes looks like when I show up to church and see everyone dressed to the nines or walk inside someone's spotless house where their well-behaved child takes her three-hour nap, we all have struggles and merits.

Collection of essays about how motherhood is difficult. Doesn't really stand the test of time and it gets tedious after a while. There are some poignant moments that are worth reading but overall there are better books on the subject.

As a mom it is so good to read a book that rings true. Often you feel inadequate when compared with social media. Why am i not more patient, kind, loving and so on. Reading these felt so real. I could have probably written some of these things myself. To see that I am not the only one struggling with all these thoughts and feelings as a mom is awesome. All moms should read