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Maternity Service
Maternity Service: A Love Letter to Mothers from the Front Line of Maternity Leave | Emma Barnett
2 posts | 1 read
The essential companion for every mother embarking on maternity leave 'In one important sense maternity leave is poorly named, as it involves no actual leave. You are constantly on, even when your offspring is having a nap. There is nothing restful about it. In another sense maternity leave is aptly named, because its a period of leave from all you know: taking leave of ones mind, body, job, and relationships' When Emma Barnett began her second maternity leave, she realized that, despite having been there before, as soon as her first leave finished the rose-tinted lenses had descended and she immediately forgot what the experience was actually like when youre in it. This collective forgetting, which leads to well-meaning comments such as enjoy every minute and treasure this special time, is doing a disservice to women, leaving them unprepared for the more complicated reality of what it means to be on maternity service. In this warmly reassuring, refreshingly honest book, Emma sets out to capture this reality, in real time while on her latest tour of duty. She isnt offering advice on sleep-training or weaning or helping your baby reach milestones. Instead, this book is a celebration and acknowledgement of the work of being on maternity leave, with its soaring highs and challenging lows, and its impact on how women feel about our purpose and ourselves. 'Kind, funny, smart, soothing and radical ... This book is a hot cup of tea, a steadying hand on an arm, a baton passed with care and compassion ... A true gift for mothers, and an act of service in itself. This book will change lives' LUCY JONES, author of Matrescence
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Birdsong28
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Nice little book which has come out at the right moment for me as I am currently on Maternity leave for having twin girls. Given me the hope and support that I needed as I have been struggling some days even though my partner is very supportive this has spoken to me and made me realise that I am not the only struggling as many women don't like to admit it because they feel like they have to be perfect all the time.

TheBookHippie I tell every young mom I‘ve ever mentored there were days that were so hard I thought I was a complete failure and days I actually loathed motherhood. Anytime I say or write this I get all kinds of hatred. I think all emotions need to be said, and felt ..Congratulations on your daughters ! How lovely to have such light enter your worlds. ♥️♥️ I hope the transition out of leave goes well. 4d
Birdsong28 @TheBookHippie Thank you for sharing your experience. It is such a hard time and many people just gloss over the hard bits but I think it's a story that needs to be told as it's better to tell the truth of it so that people realise that the hard times and feelings are valid as when you hear about other people having the same experience you feel better and realise that it's ok and not to be considered shameful to feel this way. 4d
Birdsong28 @TheBookHippie Thank you for the congratulations and thank you for the well wishes on my transition out of leave. 4d
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TheBookHippie @Birdsong28 it‘s so very very important. I was a volunteer Doula for teen moms for 28 years. I told the truth and I maintain it saved lives. I also taught them when it gets too much put the baby in the car seat strap them in and put them in the crib and call me. We had a system. A lot of it sounds a bit wacky /but motherhood is hard. Saying it isn‘t is lying to yourself. IMO. 4d
julesG @TheBookHippie You're a treasure!!! 💕💕 4d
julesG Congratulations on being a new mum to twins! It's certainly double the joy, but also doubly hard. Being a mum, especially being a new mother, is hard. It can feel lonely sometimes. It overwhelmes you sometimes. And I wanted to run away from it all so many times. I'm not going to pretend it gets a lot easier, it gets easier though. They grow, become independent and you get some independence back. But, I've been a mum for 19.66 years now 😉 and ⬇️ 4d
julesG I still worry about them and question decisions I made about my children years ago. That's something I wish I could do without since I can't change the past. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 4d
TheBookHippie @julesG I try. 💜 4d
julesG Give us a shout if you need to vent. 4d
Birdsong28 @TheBookHippie Yes I agree with julesG you are a treasure and thank you for your support with me. 4d
Birdsong28 @julesG Thank you for the congratulations and thank you for your story it helps to know that other people have gone through it and come out the other side. Thank you for the offer to vent it's good to know that there is support out there ❤️. 4d
TrishB Congratulations ♥️ I agree with all that‘s been said so won‘t repeat! Look after yourself. 4d
Birdsong28 @trishb Thank you for the congratulations. Thank you for your support ❤️ 3d
BookmarkTavern Congratulations on the twins! And isn‘t it lovely how books show us how not alone we are? We‘re here for you too here when you need to vent. 💖 3d
Birdsong28 @BookmarkTavern Thank you for the congratulations. Yes it is lovely how books help you, that is the beautiful power of books. Thank you for your support ❤️. 3d
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Birdsong28
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Good. Shows the reality of Maternity leave in a very candid but funny way.

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