A review by bobkat
Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities, and Occasional Moments of Grace by Ayelet Waldman

4.0

I listened to this on audiobook, and was very engaged. Mothers (and mothers-to-be) suffer a great deal of disapproval -- and even outright attacks -- from others, especially other women (with or without children). Waldman very honestly discusses the expectations mothers have and how these expectations are impossible to fulfill (versus those of being a "good father": be reasonably present and supportive of mom and children). She delves into very personal material, such as the devastating choice to terminate a pregnancy of a child with a rare trisomy. She has taken a lot of flack for an essay about sex after children because she stated that she loved her husband more than her children. All very interesting. I think it's important to realize the ridiculous pressure on women who have children and make an effort to reduce it -- or at least MYOB.