A guide to reclaim your Self as a mother—realize why it’s hard, reassess boundaries, recognize archetypes, and revolutionize how you parent and partner

“A lifeline for any mother ready to stop repeating patterns and start reclaiming her power.” —Shefali Tsabary, PhD, New York Times bestselling author

It’s no secret that the transition to motherhood can be difficult. We’re fed myths that we should know how to be mothers, that it should be effortless, that we’ll parent harmoniously with our partners… when the reality is anything but. The Motherhood Myth offers the profound support that mothers so desperately need—not just an explanation of the challenges but a nuanced understanding of why we’re experiencing them and, most crucially, how we can navigate through them.

Vanessa Bennett, a therapist and mother, has sat with countless clients navigating the same pain points she faced. Motherhood is an initiation into a new way of being, but most of us have lost touch with the myths, stories, and ancestral knowledge that once guided us through this radical shift in identity. The Motherhood Myth draws on depth psychology to support us through this transition by:

• Exploring the patriarchal social and cultural forces that impact parenting today
• Introducing key archetypes, along with their golden and shadow qualities
• Illuminating the importance of initiation as we shift from one way of being to another… and how this is missing for many women today
• Sharing stories that illustrate archetypes in action—from the goddess Kali to the tale of Demeter—and how we can see ourselves in these myths
• Asking provocative questions about intimacy, consent, and connection
• Creating shifts in our lives to claim our sovereignty and identity as Mother

In each chapter, Bennett shares relatable personal or client stories as well as practical tools to help us discover and embody an unshakable sense of Self. She also provides skills and scripts to increase capacity for conflict, vulnerability, and discomfort. As Bennett explains, “I want to shout from the rooftops that life is not meant to be simply ‘gotten through’ or endured.” This guide can help you “navigate not just the initial shift into parenthood but also the continual evolution with more ease, authenticity, and self-compassion.”