Books.org participates in affiliate programs including Bookshop.org and the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no additional cost to you.
Overview
From the celebrated author of The Dance of Anger comes an extraordinary book about mothering and how it transforms us — and all our relationships — inside and out. Written from her dual perspective as a psychologist and a mother, Lerner brings us deeply personal tales that run the gamut from the hilarious to the heart-wrenching. From birth or adoption to the empty nest, The Mother Dance teaches the basic lessons of motherhood: that we are not in control of what happens to our children, that most of what we worry about doesn't happen, and that our children will love us with all our imperfections if we can do the same for them. Here is a gloriously witty and moving book about what it means to dance the mother dance.
"...a look at what mothering feels like from the inside, demonstrating how kids are the best teacher's of life's most profound spiritual lessons...includes personal tales and vivid case studies."
Editorials
Anne Lamott
"What a gift. . . . True, touching, practical, spiritual, sanity-saving, and I laughed out loud with recognition, surprise and gratitude."Mary Pipher
"Lerner writes with charm, precision, and at times almost unbearable honesty. This book shows us the way."Gloria Steinem
"Harriet Lerner pioneers on behalf of women’s whole humanity. Each chapter in The Mother Dance is worth the price of admission."Thomas Moore
"One of the wisest and most honest books on parenting I have read."San Francisco Chronicle
Lerner is a serious writer with a gift for translating scholarly ideas into books that hit a nerve with lay audiences. The Mother Dance is an engaging account of her parenting experiences that will leave many mothers chuckling with recognition. Lerner's reassuring tone and intelligent advice make her book a useful addition to any parent's bookshelf.Library Journal
Lerner reads her own work on motherhood with mixed success. She may characterize motherhood as a dance, but what she describes is more of a rollercoaster ride. She shows parenting as a challenging, confusing, and, at times, exhilarating emotional mix of worry, guilt, and joy. As might be expected, she begins with the experience of pregnancy and ends with the empty-nest syndrome. Throughout, she illustrates her points with stories from bringing up her own two boys. She borrows from friends and others to show the unique relationships between mothers and daughters. Her's is not so much a guide for mothers-to-be as it is splendid reassurance for women in the thick of it. The only weakness is Lerner's measured reading pace. It is too slow and seems stilted--a marked contrast to the lively subject matter.--Jeanne Leader, Everett Community Coll. Lib., WAClare McHugh
The Mother Dance is the most reassuring, gutsy, and entertaining book about being a mother that I have ever read. A real tour de force!— New Woman