E13: Motherhood, Marriage, and the Modern Dilemma with Dr. Molly Millwood (Part I)

In the wake of motherhood, women are facing a new, modern dilemma. Becoming a mother affects so much of who we are - psychologically, emotionally, physically, and professionally. By listening to today’s show, be prepared to understand how our well-being as new mothers and the well-being of our relationships impact our identities.

In today’s episode, we are joined by the esteemed Dr. Molly Millwood - a mother to two boys and a clinical psychologist and licensed psychotherapist with an advanced specialization in women's mental health, intimate relationships, and marital therapy. She's also the author of one of our favorite books, To Have and To Hold: Motherhood, Marriage, & the Modern Dilemma, which serves up a blend of her personal narrative, a plethora of scientific research, and real-life stories from Molly’s clinical practice, which provides a much-needed lifeline to new mothers everywhere.

In today’s episode, Molly dives deep into many topics facing mothers today, including guilt, shame, mourning life before baby, and navigating marriage after welcoming a baby. We have some real talk around:

♥️ What the "modern dilemma" is and why Molly believes mothering might just be harder now than it has ever been

♥️ The double-edged sword of social media for new mothers, the "mask of motherhood" and performative vulnerability

♥️ The challenges that our intimate partnerships face when a baby arrives, how parenting widens the gender gap and is often hardest for people who've strived for equality in their relationships

♥️ Practical tips around how to put a hard stop to martyrdom and begin prioritizing ourselves

We hope you love this episode and feel less alone, more heard and a heck of a lot more normal!

Links:

• Molly's Book

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