WHY HAVE KIDS?
A New Mom Explores the Truth About
Parenting and Happiness
by Jessica Valenti
Deciding to become a mother should be a well thought out decision. The stress that society places in the parenting roles and which decisions we as mothers make are never easy questions to answer. But with all the demands, issues like “Mommy Guilt” or even worse, “Mommy Wars” why do some women even decide to have children? Author Jessica Valenti takes on these questions in her new book “Why Have Kids which became available September 4th, 2012. Jessica Valenti tackles controversial questions and with brutal honesty answers them how we can bring the joys back in parenting and take away societies expectations on us.
Available in print & in digital copy for your favorite E-Reader, “This is a book about how the American ideal of parenting doesn’t match the reality of our lives, and how that incompatibility is hurting parents and children,” says Valenti. “The truth about parenting is that the reality of our lives needs to be enough. Seeking out an ideal that most of us can never reach is making us, and our kids, miserable.” The pursuit of perfection in pregnancy and parenting is giving American mothers a guilt complex and taking the joy out of parenthood. Valenti reveals the disconnect between parents’ hopes and the day-to-day reality of raising children and argues that while debating whether or not to breastfeed means we care about parenting, we really should really focus on raising our children as a community exercise. Forming communities of action rather than communities of judgment will help mothers and parents support each other.”
Join the twitter discussion by using the hashtag: #whyhavekids?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jessica Valenti is the author of three previous books, including The Purity Myth: How America’s Obsession with Virginity is Hurting Young Women. She is also the founder of Feministing.com, which the Columbia Journalism Review called “head and shoulders above almost any writing on women’s issues in mainstream media.” Jessica – called one of the top 100 inspiring women in the world by the Guardian – speaks at universities and organizations in the U.S. and abroad about feminism, activism, and media. She lives with her family in Boston, but remains a New Yorker at heart.
You can find out more about the author by visiting her site at http://jessicavalenti.com/
WHY HAVE KIDS? A New Mom Explores the Truth about Parenting and Happiness
by Jessica Valenti
On Sale: September 4, 2012· Amazon/New Harvest· 208 pages
$23.00 Hardcover · ISBN: 978-0-8050-9412-1
$9.99 Digital List Price· ASIN: B008L4KT6W
A provocative and intimate exploration of modern parenthood by “a gutsy young third wave feminist” – The New York Times
Disclosure: This post was made possible by Mom Spark Media. Thoughts are my own. I received a copy of Why Have Kids? and compensation for my time investment and work on this campaign.
Jennifer Williams says
My sister and I both at young ages knew one thing, for her it was that she never wanted to be a mother, for me it was that I wanted nothing more. We respect each others decision. This is a great review, I need to read this book. I agree that there is too much pressure on parenting today and in being the perfect mom.
Coupons for Your Family says
this looks like a great book! Being a mother is not easy even if you are not trying to be “perfect”
The *New* Classy (@TheNewClassy) says
Society does sometimes put to many expectations on people. Many are expected to be super mom who just can’t be that {and that is okay}. Many are also asked constantly about when they are going to have kids – and they may not want, or not be able to, have kids. Thanks for sharing – this book sounds interesting!
Dawn
http://www.cheapisthenewclassy.com
Karina says
This books sounds very interesting! I always knew that I wanted to be a mom and I don’t regret any single moment!
xo
Sarah Muennix says
Sounds like an interesting book!