My Books

“…Lowy explores what it means to embrace the full spectrum of feelings that come with raising children—from the deep love and pride to the exhaustion, frustration, and moments of doubt. Through her own personal journey and extensive research, she challenges the societal pressures that demand mothers to be selfless, constantly joyful, and always in control.”

“In her book, [Dr. Margo Lowy] distills maternal ambivalence as a positive, calling it “the essence of mothering”…[Maternal Ambivalence] is one of several recent titles on motherhood by Jewish women that name and claim different ways of being a mom….In her exploration of the various emotions around that ambivalence, Lowy differentiates between feelings of guilt and shame, using case studies from her own practice as well as her experience as a parent of three children.”

“Motherhood’s Dirty Secret? Sometimes It Feels Like Hate… Maternal Ambivalence explores the unspoken truths of motherhood—and how embracing even the darkest emotions can lead to deeper love and connection.”

“In a world where curated versions of motherhood persist and undermine, this book from psychotherapist Margo Lowy is a helpful counterpoint that normalizes and unpacks messier emotions that can make so many people feel like not-good-enough parents.”

This is an engaging and well-written book about a topic that needs to be discussed; that alongside loving feelings are hating ones which together with joy, sadness, anxiety, etc form the mosaic of the real experience of the mother.

This accessible, scholarly book skilfully blends historic and contemporary theories from motherhood studies, and weaves in examples from film to illustrate their resonance in modern times.

Margo Lowy takes on the often taboo but essential aspect of mothering in Maternal Experience. Lowy convincingly demonstrates the normality of ambivalent feelings and how these might become a transformative part of maternal love.