Health and Wellness Blog

This is an ode to the mom squad: a network of moms, both in-person and virtual, that can be relied upon for nearly anything. My own network of mom friends comforted me in my fourth trimester. They pulled me through the landmines of the terrible twos. Now, they're showing me the hilarity of living with a "three-nager." Happy Mother's Day!

Mohsin, me and our beloved mom squad member & kiddo in Rogue Valley Park, photo by author

Having a mom squad is wildly helpful — from the mundane text reminders (it's pajama day at daycare, skip the getting-dressed battle) to the downright heroic (finding supplies of Children's Advil during a global pandemic). To my own mom squad, and to all the other supportive mom networks out there, thank you for helping us thrive.

Literary Mom Squad

I've elected myself captain of your literary mom squad and curated a new list of books that exemplifies the many moods of motherhood. These books will make you cry undignified tears of nostalgia, spark a little rage at the imbalance of family dynamics, or make you laugh so hard you pee a little (because most of us still need pelvic floor physio). Enjoy!

Send Me Into the Woods Alone: Essays on Motherhood by Erin Pepler

Erin Pepler wrote a collection of essays that are hilarious and heartfelt, spanning from the time from pregnancy/birth to beating your kids at board games. I, too, was a "sobbing vomiting bridge troll" when I was pregnant, and I'm currently doing everything I can'to weasel my way into Erin Pepler's mom squad (yes, Erin, I'm available for a glass of wine anytime). For you feminist moms, check out the essay "I want to be a park dad" and imagine a world where  loosely supervising your kids in a public space results in the world thinking you're perfect.

Screaming On The Inside: The Unsustainability of American Motherhood by Jessica Grose

Herein lies your gut-check. It's also your reminder to check in on your mom squad to ensure they are actually okay even if they say they're fine. This book helped me confront the unrealistic expectations I had for myself based on what I had internalized from history and popular culture. I'd  like to blame perfectly curated TikTok videos and pandemic stressors for my feelings of inadequacy, but really, being a mom is just hard. 

Arrival Stories: Women Share Their Experiences of Becoming Mothers edited by Amy Schumer and Christy Turlington Brown

This is a fantastic collection of essays about the different ways women become mothers, including natural conception, medical intervention and adoption. This book made me mindful that not every mother becomes a mom the same way, and we shouldn't make assumptions that may prove hurtful or insensitive.

I want to place a large emphasis on the emotional toll this book may take. Personally, author Emma Hansen's experience of still birth will live in my memory forever. Her essay is made particularly powerful in audiobook format because Hansen narrates it herself. Also, it has been expanded into a full length book. 

I'll Show Myself Out: Essays on Midlife & Motherhood by Jessi Klein

I read Jessi Klein's first book, "You'll Grow Out of It," on a beach in Tofino, British Columbia, and I loved it. At the time I wasn't sure if I loved it because of where I was reading it or because of the quality of the book. With this collection of essays I am now sure that it's Klein's writing, which is both humiliatingly honest and hilarious. The librarian in me loved the essay about reading the same book six million times to your child. If Klein was a part of my mom squad, I'd wager she would support my knee-jerk instinct to burn my kid's copy of "Touch and Feel Canada."

My Body Created A Human: A Love Story by Emma Ahlqvist

I'm a big fan of graphic novels, so here is my new, standout graphic novel about motherhood. This book is honest, relatively short and simple, but it packs a punch. It nails you in the heart with the weirdness of motherhood, including the irrational thoughts that can creep in. I read this book on a 30-minute train ride with my kid. It made me nostalgic for the days when he was a tiny newborn compared to the now 40-pound preschooler who insists on a pillow wall when we watch movies together. 

Did I miss any of your favourites? Which books do would you recommend to mom squad members? Let me know in the comments.