The Monster Within : The Hidden Side of Motherhood

Mixed feelings about motherhood—uncertainty over having a child, fears of pregnancy and childbirth, or negative thoughts about one’s own children—are not just hard to discuss, they are a powerful social taboo. In this beautifully written book, Barbara Almond brings this troubling issue to light. She uncovers the roots of ambivalence, tells how it manifests in lives of women and their children, and describes a spectrum of maternal behavior—from normal feelings to highly disturbed mothering. In a society where perfection in parenting is the unattainable ideal, this compassionate book also shows how women can affect positive change in their lives. The Ubiquity Of Maternal Ambivalence -- Motherlove: The Power Of Maternal Desire -- The Subtle Ambivalence Of The Too-good Mother -- Before The Beginning: Women's Fears Of Monstrous Births -- Women's Reproductive Fears: More Clinical Examples -- Rachel's Story: Internalized Ambivalence And The Dangers Of Hidden Guilt -- Whose Fault Is It? The Externalization Of Ambivalence -- When Fears Are Realized -- From The Child's Point Of View -- Vampyric Mothering: From Stage Moms To Invasive Moms -- The Darkest Side Of Motherhood: Child Murder -- What Happens Later: The Fate Of Maternal Ambivalence -- What's A Mother To Do? Barbara Almond. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 251-254) And Index. Mixed feelings about motherhood, uncertainty over having a child, fears of pregnancy and childbirth, or negative thoughts about one's own children, are not just hard to discuss, they are a powerful social taboo. In this book, the author brings this issue to light. She uncovers the roots of ambivalence, tells how it manifests in lives of women and their children, and describes a spectrum of maternal behavior, from normal feelings to highly disturbed mothering. In a society where perfection in parenting is the unattainable ideal, this book also shows how women can affect positive change in their lives Whether it is uncertainty over having a child, fears of pregnancy and childbirth, or negative thoughts about one's own children, mixed feelings about motherhood are not just hard to discuss, they are a powerful social taboo. In this beautifully written book, Barbara Almond draws on her extensive clinical experience to bring this highly troubling issue to light. In a compelling portrait of the hidden side of contemporary motherhood, she finds that ambivalence of varying degrees is a ubiquitous phenomenon, yet one that too often causes anxiety, guilt, and depression. Weaving together case histor Mixed feelings about motherhood - uncertainty over having a child, fears of pregnancy and childbirth, or negative thoughts about one's own children - are not just hard to discuss, they are a powerful social taboo. This title uncovers the roots of ambivalence, and tells how it manifests in lives of women and their children.