The ultimate companion for every mother beginning maternity leave.

To a significant extent, maternity leave is misleadingly named, as it doesn’t actually involve real relief. You are constantly on alert, even when your baby is sleeping. There is nothing comfortable about it. On the other hand, maternity leave is aptly named, as it is a period of abstinence from everything you know: abstinence from the mind, the body, work, and relationships.

When Emma Barnett began her second maternity leave, she realized that, although she had experienced it before, as soon as the first leave ended, the foggy gaze had fallen, and she had immediately forgotten what the experience was like when you are in the midst of it.

This collective forgetfulness leads to well-meaning comments such as "enjoy every minute" and "treasure this unique moment," which do a disservice to women, leaving them unprepared for the more complex reality of being on maternity leave.

In this warmly reassuring, refreshingly honest book, Emma attempts to capture this reality, in real-time during her latest journey. It does not offer advice on sleep, weaning, or helping your baby reach milestones. Instead, this book is a celebration and acknowledgment of the work involved in maternity leave, with its highs and challenges, and its impact on how women feel about our purpose and ourselves.

Kind, funny, clever, reassuring, and radical... This book is a warm cup of tea, a steady hand on your arm, a baton passed with care and compassion... A true gift for mothers and an act of service in itself. This book will change lives.

Pages: 144, Dimensions: 13.5x13.5cm