Many of you have already been talking about it. And in advance of Mother’s Day, rather than go the expected hearts-and-flowers route, we thought there was no more refreshing subject to share than the recently published book:

“THE MOMMY MYTH: The Idealization of Motherhood and How It Has Undermined Women” by Susan Douglas and Meredith W. Mich’ls Why do we love this book? It’s central thesis, conceived by two noted professors who also label themselves “mothers with an attitude problem,” is that the trend of “the new momism” has foisted upon us a media-fueled ideal of motherhood that is as romanticized as it is unattainable, setting us up to feel forever inadequate, no matter how hard we try to do it all and have it all. Strike a chord?

The authors ascribe their motivation for the book to the fact that, adoring moms that they are (and suckers for all those “good mom” things like black-and-white mobiles and 4-hour drives to soccer matches), they found themselves fed up with the myth that “that there is only a narrowly prescribed way to do motherhood right, and that if you don’t love each and every second of it there’s something wrong with you.”

In their sardonic and very readable style, the authors examine the past 30 years of television, radio, movies, magazines and advertising to show that the bar has been increasingly raised for “the standards of good motherhood while singling out and condemning those we were supposed to see as dreadful mothers” (notably, ahem, working mothers… but really all mothers are targets). Who or what is at fault? Dr. Laura, the evening news, and all those glossy features on perfect celebrity moms… among others.

The solution?

Not surprisingly, they don’t propose that there is a perfect one… aside from suggesting women commune with other women (we like that one) and push back on those voices or institutions most perpetuating these myths.

In that spirit, for this Mother’s Day we invite you to celebrate all that is indeed wonderful about being a mother… but also indulge yourself in the understanding that your “good enough” is probably way better than you might be prone to believe.

Learn more about “The Mommy Myth” on amazon.com

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Sincerely,

Executive Moms