When Mom Struggles (with guest Janelle Hanchett)
b'Moms aren\\u2019t supposed to struggle; we\\u2019re supposed to be benevolent goddesses of wisdom and Hamburger Helper. Our families (kids and yes, our partners too) have an invested need in our seeming safe and together at all times- and so we feel obligated to provide that.\\n\\xa0But are we then further contributing to the myth of Mom as infallible, perfect, able to handle it all?\\n\\xa0When things get tough, and the facade gets too hard to keep up, should we let our kids in? Or is that burdening them? And what happens when there\\u2019s things we really can\\u2019t share?\\n\\xa0We discuss struggles and the way back with guest Janelle Hanchett, author of the new book I\\u2019m Just Happy to Be Here: A Memoir of Renegade Mothering. Janelle\\u2019s book explores motherhood from what she calls \\u201ca place of deep imperfection,\\u201d telling the story of her descent into alcoholism after having children, her separation from them, and their eventual reuniting. Janelle knows from struggle, and here\\u2019s one way she suggests we might address tough moments with our kids:\\n\\u201cThis is why I\\u2019m struggling. And here\\u2019s what I\\u2019m doing to take care of myself. And you don\\u2019t have to worry, because this is what we\\u2019re going to do to get through it. And I\\u2019m not perfect. And I apologize to you for screwing up. And I\\u2019m going to try to do better in the future.\\u201d\\nI\\u2019m Just Happy to Be Here asks: does motherhood really turn us into better versions of ourselves? And what happens if that doesn\\u2019t happen? Even if addiction and recovery aren\\u2019t part of your motherhood story, we think you\\u2019ll really love Janelle\\u2019s book.\\nHere\\u2019s links to some of the other resources we discuss in this episode:\\n\\n* Brene Brown\\u2019s TED Talk on the power of vulnerability\\n* Paige Nolan and her work honoring the truth of women\\u2019s lives\\n* Serena Williams\\u2019 Instagram feed, where she talks openly about her struggles with postpartum depression\\n\\xa0\\nHere\\u2019s our takeaway: we mothers don\\u2019t always have to compound our struggles by keeping them secret at all costs. It\\u2019s okay for us not to be okay sometimes.\\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices'