MATERNAL HOPE

An anthology of true-life stories about the realities of motherhood and parenting.

In their debut nonfiction collaboration, Seigle (a consultant, mentor, speaker, and facilitator) and Stevens (a sales leader at a tech company) present a collection of motherhood stories aimed at readers who aren’t looking for easy answers but nonetheless want hope; “you’re looking for connection,” they perceptively write. “And above all, you’re looking for proof that you’re not alone.” The entries tackle a wide array of parenthood challenges, from infertility to miscarriage to infant death, adoption, surrogacy, and even the decision not to have kids at all. Seigle contributes a chapter about how dazed and unprepared she was for having her first child and the whirlwind the first six weeks can represent: “I don’t remember much,” she writes, “which I think is partly due to my selective memory shielding me from the mental and physical pain I felt.” Christine Nguyen reflects on her decision not to have children, despite the expectations of society and her own family culture, noting that if she had a dollar for every time she justified her choice, she “would probably now be the owner of a huge Versailles-like estate that houses all the street dogs of many nations.” Erin Koelliker writes about her supportive doctor, “essentially is the ob-gyn of your dreams: personable and warm, professional and smart, and always quick to laugh or give you a hug.” Readers will feel precisely the same way about this collection—here are real people, relating their actual experiences in often painful but always unswervingly honest detail. Virtually anyone facing the daunting prospect of having a baby (or not having one, or losing one) will find words of wisdom in these pages.

A warm and inviting exploration of the many facets of procreation.