The hottest Motherhood Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Culture Topics

Are books and babies compatible?

The Common Reader • 3933 implied HN points • 12 Feb 26
📚 Literature Motherhood
  1. Many novels steer clear of honest, physical depictions of pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding, so motherhood is often underrepresented or awkwardly handled in literature.
  2. Children in canonical fiction are frequently used as symbolic plot devices to explore bigger themes like law, power, or nationhood, rather than being shown as real, lived lives; male writers especially tend to select motherhood elements that serve those larger narratives.
  3. Social changes — falling birth rates, more only children, and a cultural ambivalence toward kids — have led to fewer and lonelier child characters in modern stories, with only a few contemporary writers giving detailed, sympathetic portrayals of childhood and parenting.

Should a Woman Have Nine Children? Or None?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 338 implied HN points • 06 Mar 26
🎭️ Culture Motherhood
  1. Hannah Neeleman, the face of Ballerina Farm, is an influential social-media mom who at 35 now has nine children and sells food and lifestyle products online.
  2. She presents a polished, media-savvy image—using produced videos, ballet aesthetics, and product plugs—so her domestic life often doubles as marketing.
  3. Her large family and Mormon, Utah persona make her a polarizing figure, admired by some and criticized by others, and that tension fuels bigger questions about women’s choices and cultural expectations.

What I Went Through to Meet My Daughter

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 3932 implied HN points • 19 Jul 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Motherhood
  1. Many women experience unexplained infertility and feel lost in their treatment options. It can be frustrating when doctors can't find clear reasons for fertility issues.
  2. IVF is a popular option for those facing infertility, but it might not work for everyone and can be tough both physically and financially. It's a process that doesn't always solve the underlying health problems.
  3. Some women seek alternative clinics that focus on understanding and treating their specific issues instead of just providing standard treatments. This can offer a glimmer of hope for those feeling stuck.

Proud Flesh

The Audacity. • 3380 implied HN points • 12 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Motherhood
  1. The post is about an essay titled "Proud Flesh" by Catherine Gray, an emerging writer from Mississippi.
  2. Catherine Gray's work explores themes of motherhood, loverhood, and healing from sexual trauma.
  3. The essay "Proud Flesh" was published on audacity.substack.com for paid subscribers.
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The Mary Pages, by Sally Read

The Common Reader • 921 implied HN points • 08 Aug 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Motherhood
  1. The author explores her deep interest in the Virgin Mary, showing how it has shaped her views on culture and spirituality. She reflects on different art representations of Mary and their meanings.
  2. The book discusses motherhood in a unique way, pointing out the strong bond between mothers and their children. It emphasizes how this love can reveal a glimpse of divine love.
  3. Through her journey from atheism to faith, the author shares personal stories that challenge traditional views about Mary and femininity, inviting readers to see deeper meanings in her experiences.

Pretty White Moms in Their Pretty White Houses

Culture Study • 7258 implied HN points • 27 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Motherhood
  1. Momfluencers monetize their maternal identity on social media through sponsored content, affiliate links, and brand partnerships.
  2. Momfluencer culture perpetuates reductive and exclusionary ideals of motherhood rooted in gender, race, and class.
  3. Aestheticized motherhood by Cool and Trad Moms offers an illusion of certainty and personhood through visual representation.

What is a "Mother"?

Bodies get in the way... • 432 implied HN points • 13 May 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Motherhood
  1. The definition of 'mother' involves a woman in relation to her child or children.
  2. Pregnancy brings many changes and adaptations in a woman's body for nurturing the baby.
  3. Surrogacy raises complex ethical and health issues for both the surrogate mother and the baby.

Not For Sale

Bodies get in the way... • 353 implied HN points • 30 Jul 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Motherhood
  1. Mothers for Mother advocates against surrogacy, highlighting that it can exploit vulnerable women and separate babies from their mothers.
  2. The bond between a mother and baby is crucial for a baby's emotional and cognitive development, with surrogacy potentially disrupting this connection.
  3. Surrogacy poses ethical and physiological risks, and laws regarding surrogacy vary widely across different countries.

Holding Your Own Basket

The Reclamation Era • 99 implied HN points • 08 Apr 24
🎭️ Culture Motherhood
  1. It's okay to enjoy your own happiness without sharing it with others. Your moments of joy can be just for you.
  2. Talking about your day can help you feel valued and connected, but it's important to check if it truly brings you closer to others.
  3. Learning to appreciate your own achievements and holding your own 'basket' can lead to a more fulfilling life. You don't always have to prove your worth to others.

Happy Mother's Day, Dear Writing Moms

Kristina God's Online Writing Club • 439 implied HN points • 14 May 23
📚 Literature Motherhood
  1. Writing mothers balance many responsibilities, often finding time to write in between their daily tasks and caring for their children. They use whatever tools are available to express their creativity, showing great dedication.
  2. The experiences of motherhood deeply influence their writing, adding emotion and authenticity to their stories. Their children’s lives and milestones inspire the narratives they create.
  3. Despite the challenges of balancing writing and motherhood, these women find strength and fulfillment in both roles. Their struggles shape their writing, making it more relatable and impactful for readers.

The smartest mom in Jane Austen

The Austen Connection • 294 implied HN points • 14 May 23
📚 Literature Motherhood
  1. This post discusses the wisdom of Mrs. Morland in Austen's Northanger Abbey on Mother's Day.
  2. The author shares insights on motherly wisdom from a minor character in Jane Austen's works.
  3. There is an offer for a 7-day free trial to read the full post on The Austen Connection.

What Can Our Pelvic Floor Teach us About Motherhood?

Are You Okay? • 279 implied HN points • 15 May 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Motherhood
  1. Strengthening our 'core' goes beyond a flat tummy; it involves building strength in deep pelvic muscles.
  2. Pelvic floor muscles help control waste elimination; squeezing narrows passages, relaxing widens them.
  3. Approximately 1 in 3 women experience pelvic floor dysfunction, and various exercises and therapies can help strengthen these muscles.

Learning how to ask for more

Men Yell at Me • 221 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Motherhood
  1. Learning how to ask for more in relationships is important for personal growth and fulfillment.
  2. It can be empowering for women to challenge societal norms and ask for more in their lives.
  3. Exploring and understanding one's needs and desires can lead to healthier and more satisfying experiences, especially in intimate relationships.

Catch up with The Shift Bookclub Live with Jean Kwok

The Shift With Sam Baker • 39 implied HN points • 18 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture Motherhood
  1. The Shift Bookclub Live with Jean Kwok covers topics like being an immigrant, motherhood, unexpected divorce, and beauty standards.
  2. The conversation ranged from growing up in a Chinese family to the concept of 'leftover women' to ballroom dancing and Icelandic volcanoes.
  3. The next bookclub live event will feature Nina Stibbe discussing 'Went to London, Took the Dog,' covering topics like menopause, midlife separation, and more.

A Single Mom’s Manifesto for Mother’s Day

Men Yell at Me • 288 implied HN points • 13 May 23
🎭️ Culture Motherhood
  1. Mother's Day is not just about gifts and recognition, but has deeper historical significance related to community care and activism.
  2. The original spirit of Mother's Day focused on pacifism, progress, community care, and support for mothers, led by women like Ann Jarvis, Julia Ward Howe, and Anna Jarvis.
  3. There is a need to shift focus towards advocating for maternal mental health care, medical knowledge, childcare, and policies supporting mothers' well-being, rather than relying on symbolic gestures.

Have You Heard This Annoying Expression?

The Reclamation Era • 39 implied HN points • 15 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Motherhood
  1. The phrase 'taking a selfish' is seen as a demeaning way to describe women taking care of themselves. It makes self-care sound bad or wrong.
  2. Women often shrink their choices to trendy terms instead of proudly pursuing what makes them happy. This reflects societal pressures and expectations.
  3. It's important to recognize that self-care decisions shouldn't be labeled as selfish, especially when men rarely face the same judgement for doing things they enjoy.

Maiden, Mother, Bitch

The Reclamation Era • 19 implied HN points • 17 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Motherhood
  1. Aging can be challenging in a culture that values youth and beauty. It's important to embrace the changes that come with growing older.
  2. The journey through motherhood brings different emotions and challenges at each stage. It's okay to feel frustrated or annoyed sometimes.
  3. Self-reflection can lead to personal growth and gratitude. Learning to appreciate where you are in life can bring unexpected rewards.

Ireland says NO to abolishing mothers

Reactionary Feminist • 33 implied HN points • 09 Mar 24
🌍 World Politics Motherhood
  1. The Irish people rejected a proposal to remove explicit mention of mothers in the constitution during a recent vote.
  2. There is a growing resistance against the push for absolute gender sameness and the erasure of women's sexed nature.
  3. The women's movement is evolving to address new blind spots and emphasize the distinctiveness of mothers and the importance of women's lived realities.

Kill The Mother

Reactionary Feminist • 26 implied HN points • 17 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Motherhood
  1. The article discusses the concept of 'killing the mother' as a psychoanalytic fantasy related to Oedipal complex.
  2. There is a trend of intense hostility towards women, especially mothers, in contemporary culture.
  3. Expressions of rage and fantasies of annihilating the mother are evident in various cultural aspects, leading to questions about the origins and implications of this phenomenon.