PARENTING

Mothers Are Made: How One Mom Overcame Perfectionism, Self-Doubt, Loneliness, and Anxiety and Became a Better and Happier Parent

by Danielle Sherman-Lazar
Alcove. Apr. 2025. 272p. ISBN 9798892420365. pap. $19.99. CHILD REARING
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An encounter with her inexplicably tearful child was a wake-up call for Sherman-Lazar (It’s Okay To Not Be Okay), who realized at that moment that motherhood bore no resemblance to her expectations that things would be easier. Rewinding to both her childhood and her painful past, she reflects on her struggles with eating and substance use disorders and suicidal thoughts. She also faced many trials: infertility and then a diagnosis that led to the early, complicated birth of one of her children, breastfeeding issues, and coping with a child in the NICU. Her book, however, notes that parenting, with its difficulties and joys, was also what motivated her to gain and maintain her recovery.
VERDICT This book will prove relatable to the many parents who have faced mental illness, along with the everyday challenges of parenting that include body changes, the perfectionist-inducing list of demands society pushes on moms, and the inconveniences of powering through on sick days or experiencing shame as a child throws a tantrum on the floor in a public space.
Reviewed by Julia M. Reffner , Feb 01, 2025
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