Conflicting Feelings (Ambivalence) in Motherhood

In this episode of MamaThrive, I have the privilege of being joined by Margo Lowy, the author of "The Maternal Experience: Encounters with Ambivalence and Love”. She is interested in disrupting taboos and reframing and opening the conversation about mothering and ambivalence and our conversation in this episode does just that! Margo shares her wisdom around how maternal ambivalence - the experience of conflicting emotions - is not only a normal part of our human experience but something that can be transformational when a woman is able to give herself permission to embrace the full complexity of her feelings in motherhood. Together we dive into what makes it challenging for mother’s to acknowledge feelings such a hatred, anger or resentment towards their children, and what practices and strategies may be useful to help change this - and why it is so important. If you find yourself experiencing fear, resistance and/or shame in some of what you experience in motherhood, then this episode may be just for you. We peel back the layers of expectations placed on mothers and welcome a new paradigm that sees mother’s as “good enough” - welcoming every part of their experience as mamas.  I’d love to hear your experience of this episode, please feel free to drop a comment below with any of your thoughts and share the link with anyone whom you think might benefit from giving this episode a listen! As always, we continue this conversation over on Instagram. Come join us there.  Resources:  Website Instagram About Margo Lowy Margo Lowy is a psychotherapist with an interest in mothering and women’s reproductive health. She completed her doctorate and research masters at the UNSW in Sydney investigating the fields of maternal ambivalence and infertility with her first book titled "The Maternal Experience: Encounters with Ambivalence and Love” - based on her PhD (published by Routledge in 2021). She has a second book, a more conversational book on maternal ambivalence, that will be published by Post Hill Press early 2025. She is interested in disrupting taboos and reframing and opening the conversation about mothering