The Mother's Voice

Book excerpt: Following her diagnosis with breast cancer, clinical psychologist and noted family therapist Kathy Weingarten became acutely aware of deeply ingrained cultural messages about mothering that were limiting her ability to share emotional intimacy with her children under crisis conditions. She began to question popular beliefs about what makes a "good mother," and to rethink the meanings of maternal self-disclosure and hierarchy within the family. Reworking the story of her motherhood, and her relationship to her own mother's story, Weingarten forged a new authenticity in her relationship with her son and daughter. Accessible to general readers, and excellent for client assignment, the book will inform and inspire professionals and students in family therapy, clinical psychology, and women's studies. The paperback edition features a new preface describing the author's continuing professional, theoretical, and personal transformations.