Bookstore shelves are loaded with guides for future and current parents, and most of these books become bestsellers. No wonder – it is difficult to imagine people more lost and in need of support in the development of new competences than expectant and new parents.
All the more, we recommend you an unusual publication today. “Moms for Mum” is the result of a crazy project in which over 1,200 women – moms and experts in their fields – took part. A two-volume, reliable guide for young parents was created, a real compendium of knowledge about pregnancy and motherhood. We find here 250 chapters dealing with the most important issues in the field of child health and development, the course of pregnancy and childbirth or preparation for the role of a mother, as well as educational, legal, psychological and organizational issues. The book does not avoid difficult topics such as miscarriage or the birth of a child with a disability. There are also lighter ones, dedicated to playing, traveling or arranging a children’s room. The texts are short, substantive and specific, their authors are recognized doctors, pharmacists, midwives, doules, lactation advisers, dietitians and lawyers. All topics are supported by the life experience of over a thousand mothers who consulted individual issues on a Facebook group, shared their stories, good practices and knowledge. There is no assessment or indication of the only right way of motherhood – in the guide we will rather find presentations of various paths and methods from which mothers can choose the most appropriate one for themselves. Of course, the book is dominated by a female perspective, but there is also a chapter showing the paternal point of view, written by the only dad in the group. The whole is interwoven with personal stories of moms – some are funny, some are touching, and all are inspiring and supportive.
The “Parent in the City” Foundation also participates in the project: together with Agnieszka Krzyżak-Pitura we are the authors of four chapters (about traveling with a child, breastfeeding in public places and culture open to the parent).
Barbara Falenta is the originator and coordinator of the project “Moms for Mum”. She bravely embraced all topics, mobilized and encouraged the authors, and tightened the whole thing, which – with such a large number of collaborators – must have been quite a challenge. The book is well thought out, accessible and stylistically very coherent (big applause for the editorial team). According to Basia’s account, the idea for a guide written by mothers was born during her maternity leave and matured during various meetings and trainings, including the Entrepreneurial Mums’ Club. We are all the more pleased with its implementation and effect.
What additionally makes this project unique? That he belies the popular belief that a mother is a wolf. The book was largely written during discussions in the Facebook group “We Write a Book”: for the most part, these were content-related and cultural conversations. Each of the group members had the opportunity to co-decide about the book and its content. Even discussions on usually controversial topics took place in a friendly atmosphere. We also discussed the artwork together and chose the cover design. A community of supportive mothers arose around the book. This group has enormous potential and can do a lot more.
The book is intended primarily for young mothers (“Dear future Mother, after reading this book you will gain knowledge and confidence that YOU CAN COUNT!”), but also to fathers (“Dear future Dad, (…) You will feel that you are prepared for a new role “), as well as for all other people who need knowledge in the field of broadly understood parenting. We highly recommend it.
You can buy the book HERE.
Joanna Barczuk