As a psychologist who supports expectant and new parents, I was elated to interview Nancy Reddy, whose book The Good Mother Myth was released on January 21st. We talked about the meaning of this myth, how it hurts mothers, and the role the patriarchy plays.
When I felt like I had no idea what my new baby needed where were my maternal instincts? JF: What you described captures what I see time and again in my psychotherapy practice. Mothers who internalize false expectations that caring for their baby should come naturally.
We depend on mothers to provide an enormous amount of unpaid and undervalued labor, and we expect them to do it all without complaint because they love their kids so much. Folbre has argued for incorporating the value of breastmilk into the GDP, which I find inspiring! Imagine if we could think of all those hours spent nursing and pumping not as wasted, nonproductive time but a vital contribution to the economy!
JF: As a mother yourself, what advice do you have for other mothers? I believe in building community and asking for help. Juli Fraga, Psy. Juli Fraga.
The Birth of Motherhood. Key points Pressure to prioritize our kids over ourselves can hurt our confidence. Asking for help is the superpower we all need to embrace. Juli Fraga JF : What is the "good mother myth? About the Author. More from Juli Fraga. More from Psychology Today.
