Maternal Ambivalence

“In Maternal Ambivalence, Dr. Lowy explores the unspoken experiences of motherhood, relieving us all of the myth of the ‘perfect mother.’ She has translated her personal and professional experiences of being a parent and a psychotherapist into an examination of the paradoxical loving and not-so-loving feelings that we often recognize in ourselves: anger, shame, guilt, and even moments of hatred. Far from being ‘bad,’ Lowy offers a thought-provoking, empowering point of view: that these feelings are normal, and also that understanding and naming them helps us to develop a language that strengthens our love and maternal bonds. Mothers, fathers, grandparents, and caretakers will identify with the moving, real-life stories from Dr. Lowy’s patients, her own accounts of raising children, as well as her insightful interpretations of the myths and media in our culture. She compels us to ask ourselves: how can we learn from these contradictory feelings? Acknowledging our ambivalence, she demonstrates movingly throughout, helps us to reach self-awareness and acceptance, and to be the mother our child needs us to be.” – Serena Wieder, PhD, Clinical Psychologist, Emeritus Clinical Director of the Profectum Foundation, Co-Author of the DIR Model
“In a world where curated versions of motherhood persist and undermine, this book from psychotherapist Margo Lowy is a helpful counterpoint that normalizes and unpacks messier emotions that can make so many people feel like not-good-enough parents.” – Kara Baskin, The Boston Globe
“In her book, [Dr. Margo Lowy] distills maternal ambivalence as a positive, calling it “the essence of mothering”…[Maternal Ambivalence] is one of several recent titles on motherhood by Jewish women that name and claim different ways of being a mom….In her exploration of the various emotions around that ambivalence, Lowy differentiates between feelings of guilt and shame, using case studies from her own practice as well as her experience as a parent of three children.” – Judy Bolton-Fasman, Hadassah
“Mothers are supposed to be caring, happy and loving all day, every day. But that’s simply not the case. It’s a concept that Margo Lowy challenges in her powerful new book, Maternal Ambivalence, inviting readers into the complex emotional terrain that many mothers navigate but few openly discuss.… By acknowledging the difficulties alongside the joys, Lowy’s exploration offers a more nuanced understanding that many find validating and liberating.” – Jessica Abelsohn, Australian Jewish News

Dr. Margo Lowy is a psychotherapist specializing in mothering. She completed her doctorate at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, in 2017, with her research focusing on maternal ambivalence. Dr. Lowy is the author of The Maternal Experience: Encounters with Ambivalence and Love, an academic book on maternal ambivalence. She has presented on this subject at universities and media outlets in the United States, Australia, and Israel. Dr. Lowy is a contributor to Psychology Today and previously advised the founder of the Australian Jewish Fertility Network (AJFN). She is a mother of three and resides in New York City with her husband.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.