Celebrating Motherhood: Real Stories from Real Moms
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
It is no coincidence that, all over the world, mother’s day is celebrated in the spring, when nature awakens from her long winter sleep. The trees are filled with new life, the earth is warmed by the rays of the sun, and the weather, gradually, gets milder. In this in-between season, the connection between the Earth and motherhood is more obvious than ever. This is how Mother Nature becomes a great teacher as we navigate parenting, one of the most beautiful and, at the same time, challenging tasks of life.
Becoming a mom is a radical, powerful change. It is also really hard. New moms go through a lot, taking on a task that is lifelong, challenging, and battered by judgments and ideals of perfection. As motherhood takes such hard work, it should be recognized and celebrated every day. This month of May, we want to dedicate a selection of titles to all the amazing mothers out there.
“Life doesn’t come with a manual, it comes with a mother.””
CALM for Moms
By Denise Marek
Published by Familius
World Rights Available
Motherhood is stressful, but international award-winning speaker and worry management expert Denise Marek is here to tell you that you can stress less by learning to worry wisely! With her proven CALM method, a four-step process that has helped many individuals and organizations around the world connect with their inner peace, overcome their fears, and take the risks that are essential for success, mothers can tackle the stress of parenting. Whether you suffer from chronic worry about finances, family difficulties, your children's happiness, or even your teen getting home late, the CALM process can teach you how to handle it all.
Brave New Mom
By Jessie Everts
Published by Wise Ink Creative Publishing
World Rights Available
Brave New Mom brings a mindfulness-based approach to new parenthood that encourages self-exploration, self-compassion, self-care, and connection. It incorporates findings from research on postpartum mental health, practices for feeling your best after having a baby, and a warm and compassionate voice for and with new mothers everywhere. This book gives new moms permission to see, feel, and celebrate their bravery and their amazing abilities; to take time to care for themselves; and to gather the support they need. Brave New Mom is for all moms. It includes practical tools for dealing with the difficult emotions, thoughts, issues, and situations that arise in new motherhood, so new moms feel more prepared, supported, and empowered to embrace their own strengths and abilities.
Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts
By Karen Kleiman
Illustrated By Molly McIntyre
Published by Familius
Rights sold: Korean, Russian, Turkish, Vietnamese, Romanian, Chinese (Simplified), Spanish, Slovak
Over 90 percent of new mothers will have scary, intrusive thoughts about their baby and themselves. What if I drop him? What if I snap and hurt my baby? Mothering is so hard—I don't know if I really want to do this anymore. Gosh, I'm so terrible for thinking that! Yet for too many mothers, those thoughts remain secret, hidden away in a place of shame that can quickly grow into anxiety, postpartum depression, and even self-harm. But here's the good news: you CAN feel better!
What about US?
By Karen Kleiman
Illustrated by Molly McIntyre
Published by Familius
Rights sold: Slovak
The demands of a new baby can test a couple's relationship like nothing else! When we factor in sleep deprivation, hormonal changes, depression and anxiety, and different personalities, life with a newborn can feel a bit CRAZY. Couples tend to misinterpret this rough patch as a sign that something is wrong with the relationship, but when couples take steps toward open communication and safeguard their relationship, they can face everything new parenthood throws at them together. From the team behind the bestselling Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts comes a new guidebook of short essays, comics, and quick journal prompts about the stressful newborn stage, the struggles that so many new parents face, and the skills you need to tap into your strength as a couple.
Mommy Ever After
By Rebecca Fox Starr
Illustrated by Sara Ugolotti
Published by Familius
Rights sold: Romanian
A daughter grows from a tiny infant to a young girl, and the years bring all the natural changes and accompanying emotions. Some emotions are big and scary. But the one constant in the little girl's life is her mother and her magical stories. These stories stories teach her about her uniqueness, about her kindness, and about her power to face the inevitable darkness in life. But when she's on her own, away from her mother, can she share her light? It's never too early to teach children how to recognize and accept emotions like fear, sadness, and loneliness. Through gorgeous illustrations of the real and fantasy worlds in which children always coexist, Mommy Ever After explores the difficult idea that we won't always be happy, but we can always be brave and we can always be kind.
Mommy's Love
By Anastasiya Galkina
Illustrated by Ekaterina Ladatko
Published by Familius
World Rights Available
As time goes by, you should know: Mommy's love will only grow. This tender poem reinforces the message that no matter a child's strengths or weaknesses, whether they succeed or fail, Mommy's love never falters. With adorable art showcasing a variety of family scenarios that will be familiar to any parent, Mommy’s Love makes it clear that a mother's love is unconditional. If you're strong… or if you're not, you're the dearest one she's got.
My Single Mom
By Claudia Harrington
Published by Looking Glass Library
(imprint of ABDO)
World Rights Available
My Single Mom is the story of a normal day in Kenneth’s life. When classmate Lenny visits his home, he discovers Kenneth lives with just his mom. Who checks his homework? The after-school leader, Annie! Who makes his dinner? Mom! Who tucks him in at night? Mom! Lenny realizes love makes a family.
