The Silent Side of Motherhood: Recent Episodes
Amy Gencarelli
Far too often, negative feelings surrounding motherhood get swept away, appear socially unacceptable to discuss, or have to be sandwiched between positive caveats of "well I wouldn't change anything for the world". However, research has shown that not everyone feels this way and this may be inhibiting more genuine discussions surrounding all of the emotions and feelings that come with being a mom.
In fact, research shows that up 14% of parents regret having children. Not discussing important data such as this skews the picture of what motherhood looks like and may actually be hurting those who reach motherhood and it is not what the media presents or society portrays, leading to more negative feelings than expected at times. Particularly when ideas of being "selfish" if you do not have kids or having the idea fed to children from a young age that having kids was just "what you do", creates a rhetoric of guilt.
The goal of this podcast was to allow women to speak on motherhood with no caveats and address some of the issues they are facing now which may help others to feel connected and begin to change the narrative of what motherhood "should" look like.
Episode Content:
Episode 1: Discussions with a 2.5 week postpartum mom
Episode 2: Discussions with a woman considering motherhood
Episode 3: Discussions with a mother of adult children
Episode 4: Discussions with a mother of a 10-month-old
Episode 5: Discussion with a woman who decided to remain childless
Information from articles that were referenced within the podcast:
https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2021/08/why-parents-regret-children/619931/
https://www.scarymommy.com/regret-having-children
https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2022/01/maggie-gyllenhaal-lost-daughter/621165/
https://czasopisma.uni.lodz.pl/qualit/article/view/7193/6831
Conversations with an individual who decided to be childfree by choice. The stigma surrounding this and a perspective on "the other side" of life with no children. Activities and relationships that are satisfying and fulfilling without the identify of being a mother. A quoted response to not having children:
"I have never regretted it for one minute"
Discussions include difficulties surrounding new motherhood and its interaction with working within a high level position in a company and her faith-based community.
This episode looks at what it is like once children have grown and how one's identity may shift. Discussion ranges from what the postpartum period was like to current values, activities, and relationships with children.
Discussions with a female in her 30s struggling with the decision to have a child with media influence and shifting values playing into decision making.
A discussion of the growths and challenges a full-time working, partnered, and new mother