To Have and To Hold: Motherhood, Marriage, and the Modern Dilemma

Psychologist Millwood combines her experiences as a mother, the stories of her clients, and professional expertise to consider the challenging transition to motherhood. Despite the plethora of parenting books, Millwood found little regarding the complex emotions new mothers face and the strain parenthood places on a marriage. Without intentionally limiting her audience, Miller is predisposed to write about heterosexual, committed couples because most women become mothers in that context. Furthermore, many gender differences in our culture impact motherhood. With the addition of children in the home, women's worlds are changed more than men's, and couples tend to sink into gender stereotypes. Society sets expectations that make it difficult for women to admit mothering isn't easy. Parents receive little support; parental leave is often unpaid, and the close-knit community and extended family of the past have disintegrated.