The Lie of Perfection: Reaching Maternal Wisdom

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Motherhood is often portrayed as pure joy and unconditional love—but what about the moments of doubt, frustration, or even resentment that many parents quietly experience? In this insightful conversation, Dr. Margo Lowy, psychoanalytic psychotherapist and author of The Maternal Experience: Encounters with Ambivalence and Love, explores the complex and often unspoken reality of maternal ambivalence—the coexistence of love and conflict in the mother-child relationship.

Dr. Lowy sheds light on why ambivalence is not a sign of failure but a natural, even necessary, part of the maternal experience. We discuss how cultural expectations shape maternal identity, what happens when mothers feel silenced in their struggles, and how acknowledging ambivalence can lead to deeper self-understanding and more authentic connection.

This episode offers validation and wisdom for mothers, clinicians, and anyone curious about the emotional truths of caregiving and identity.

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