Honest Motherhood - by Libby Ward (Hardcover)

About the Book

"A hilarious and unflinchingly honest memoir from an exhausted mom who learned the hard way that we need to let go of the myth of the perfect mom"-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

An unflinchingly honest and disarmingly funny memoir from an exhausted mom who broke under the pressure to do it all, faced her past, found herself--and learned to let go of perfection and just serve the dang chicken nuggets.

"Libby is shifting the cultural narrative in a way that will echo for generations. Honest Motherhood is a powerful blend of truth-telling and rebellion--a rallying cry for women to stop carrying what was never theirs to hold." --Eve Rodsky, New York Times bestselling author of Fair Play

When Libby Ward became a mother at twenty-six, she thought she was prepared. Determined to give her kids a childhood different from her own, she clung to the world's "shoulds" like her children's future depended on it. That was her first mistake.

A couple years later, with a toddler around her ankle, a needy baby in her arms, and silent rage coursing through her veins, Libby began to unravel. Struggling to manage the unrelenting and often unspoken expectations of mothering, she did what any overfunctioning people-pleaser would do--she wallowed in shame. Then, she tried harder. Self-care! Boundaries! Sleep when the baby sleeps! But as Libby's body and mind began to push back, Libby wondered: Why, with so much information and advice at our fingertips, is motherhood still so impossibly hard?

In Honest Motherhood, Libby candidly shares her journey of unlearning the myth of the ideal mother. She dives headfirst into the experiences many mothers have but few feel safe enough to say out loud--the lack of support, the guilt, the invisibility, the cycles they're breaking, and the fantasies about a hospital stay just to get a flippin' break. Libby untangles her social conditioning from learned trauma responses and discovers that letting go of unrealistic standards, asking for help, and prioritizing herself aren't failures--they're necessities.

Equal parts memoir and manifesto, flush with refreshing takeaways, Honest Motherhood is a rallying cry for moms to let go of perfection, choose themselves, and give their kids what they need most--a mother who is present and whole.

Review Quotes

"Honest Motherhood more than lives up to its title, presenting an unvarnished story of mothering in a culture not fashioned to support women and families in their sacred role of rearing children. An unsparingly truthful Odyssey that takes the reader from the author's parenting joys to the depths her self-loathing and despair, the book ends with a return home to authentic self and to the love which is the birthright of us all. Laced with uproarious humor and leavened with deep insight, Honest Motherhood will entertain, inform, and inspire many on their own journey of healing and self-discovery."--Gabor Maté, MD, New York Times bestselling author of The Myth of Normal

"This book will awaken mothers to their truth and transform how they parent forever. With compassion and clarity, Honest Motherhood reveals that the path to becoming a more present parent begins with becoming a more whole woman."--Dr. Shefali, clinical psychologist and New York Times bestselling author of The Conscious Parent

"If you've ever found yourself hiding in the pantry with a cold cup of coffee, googling 'how to run away from my family but like . . . responsibly, ' this book is for you. Libby Ward has written the motherhood manifesto we didn't know we needed--she isn't here to sell you a Pinterest-perfect life; she's here to sit in the mess with you, laugh until you cry, and remind you that you're not broken--you're just a mom doing her best in a world that forgot to send the manual. Read Honest Motherhood. Highlight it. Shove it into the hands of every mom you know."--Jen Hatmaker, New York Times bestselling author and host of the For the Love podcast

"In Honest Motherhood, with her characteristic humor, creativity and breathtaking candor, Libby Ward recounts the highs and lows of motherhood--the fun, the exhaustion, the opportunities, the difficulties. Her willingness to be vulnerable about relating the hard truths, and her deep insight into her own experience, make this account both compelling and thought-provoking. Anyone who feels as if they're drowning in the impossible expectations of modern parenthood will read her account and feel understood."--Gretchen Rubin, New York Times bestselling author of Secrets of Adulthood

"Libby is shifting the cultural narrative in a way that will echo for generations. Honest Motherhood is a powerful blend of truth-telling and rebellion--a rallying cry for women to stop carrying what was never theirs to hold."--Eve Rodsky, New York Times bestselling author of Fair Play

About the Author

Libby Ward is a writer, speaker, and advocate redefining the motherhood narrative. Through her social media platforms, Libby is known to connect and empower women with honesty, humor, and her relatable voice. She has been featured on the BBC, Good Morning America, and is a member of Reese Witherspoon's inaugural Hello Sunshine Collective. She lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and two children.