THE MOTHER LOAD

A humorous look at the challenges of being a mother today.

Popular author and blogger Ethington here shares glimpses into her life as a mother, deliberately providing unvarnished views. “Honesty has always fueled connection for me,” she writes. “Being honest with others makes it harder to lie to myself.” She’s bluntly and humorously candid about her life as a mother of three kids (two teenagers and an 11-year-old), describing how moms might daydream about how great it would be to regain their “pre-baby mind,” even though such a thing is impossible. Once a mother, the role is relentless, full of mental struggles, to-do lists, and both pleasant and unpleasant surprises. Ethington tells stories of comical irritation with online videos of “perfect” moms who make their own baby food and baby clothes while remaining camera-worthy glamorous and lecturing their followers to “just try harder.” “By letting go of this ‘just try harder’ mentality,” she writes, “I guarantee you’ll find out what kind of mother you are and find out what kind of mother your kid needs.” She recalls the shock of homeschooling during the Covid-19 pandemic, wryly pointing out, “We love our little cherubs, but suddenly they were here. All. The. Time.” The entire work is refreshingly direct and personal, and Ethington capitalizes on this tone by offering practical steps to reduce the wear-and-tear of “mom brain,” like remembering to take breaks from parenting and to connect with one’s partner, urging her readers to recall some part of who they were before motherhood (“What brings us joy outside of our little people?” she asks. “Because believe it or not, they do grow up”). Reading this funny, heartfelt book, parents will feel like they’ve found a sympathetic friend.

A fun, frenetic, and compassionate guide to surviving motherhood.