Mojo Mom on BoMoms and Manic Mommies

Last week Erica Noonan named Mojo Mom a "Book We Like" on the BoMoms.com website for Boston Moms. In her review, she brought up one of the more provocative points I make in the new book, namely my view that motherhood is not the most important job in the world. Not because it's not important, but because motherhood is not a job, it's a relationship.

[I blogged about this back in January 2007, The biggest mistake Moms can make, and adapted it for the new book.]

The BoMoms.com comment boards lit up as readers grappled with that idea. It's a point that does push people's buttons at first but I hope readers will take it in the spirit it is intended. Motherhood is rewarding but not in the same way a paid job is rewarding. When you apply a career-ladder model to motherhood you set yourself up for disappointment by expecting something motherhood cannot deliver.

Being a Mom is a lot more like being an artist or a monk, making a beautiful sand mandala each day that is swept clean each evening. There is great joy and meaning in that, but not always tangible results or reward to demonstrate our accomplishments.


I had a chance to talk about these issues further with Erin Martin Kane on the Manic Mommies podcast this week, so I hope you'll listen to the show!