Ep. 2: Motherless Women

By: Esther Perel

Narrated by: Esther Perel

Length: 36 mins

Publisher's summary

[Contains mature themes] A couple with two small children are at physical and emotional odds in their relationship. One has given herself over entirely to the children, while the other struggles to find her place within the family dynamic. Esther helps them reframe each of their roles in terms of what they uniquely contribute.

Step into the office of renowned relationship therapist and TED Talk sensation Esther Perel, and listen in as she counsels couples in crisis due to infidelity, sexlessness, loss, and disconnection. The result? Astonishing insights on how they can make love work – and takeaways for you on ways to repair and restore your own relationships.

About Esther:

Esther Perel is recognized as one of today’s most insightful and provocative voices on personal and professional relationships. A celebrated psychotherapist who has helmed a private practice in New York City since 1983, she has over three decades of experience navigating the intricacies of love and desire.

©2017 Audible Originals, LLC (P)2017 Audible Originals, LLC

Great stuff!

Esther helps the couple, get out of their own way, so they can get to the point of actually seeing and talking to each other.

Hooked

I'm in awe of Perel's ability to clarify the origins of how one has learned to love. She does it with compassion and her skillful grace in guiding couples to a pathway that leads them back to each other.

An Unintentional Life Changing 30 minutes

I have seen Esther's TED talks and have found her so honest with the perfect balance of logic and emotion when explaining or discussing any topic but this took my breath away. Unexpected to say the least as i downloaded and started listening because the title is fitting for the type of soul searching I have been doing recently. I did not expect to burst into tears upon realizing that this was my story and that my husband and I arent alone, neither of us is right or wrong and that we too have this same "balance" and everything is going to be ok. With 2 little ones and an almost identical experiences in our childhoods and the issues we struggle with as a couple since becoming parents this is really something every couple who are parents should hear. It is easy to listen to so raw and honest and put together so well. I will be listening to EVERYTHING Esther Perel.

Such a lyrical illustration

While episode 1 was a bit of a challenge to listen to, this one was pure enlightenment and pleasure, if sometimes painful pleasure. I am a heterosexual mom with adult kids, and we had a decade of au pairs when kids were young, yet I had little idea of my own needs or desires before kids and absolutely none, zip, zilch after!

I read MIC in 2012 and again recently. It made a lot more sense this time, and this podcast is an excellent illustration of many points from that book.

THANK YOU to the women who shared in this episode.

Same sex couple - finally!

It's such a relief and pleasure to hear couples therapy actually focus on a same-sex couple. Most relationship approaches say the theory applies to all sexual orientations but go on to focus and give examples only of heterosexual couples. I myself am straight but grew up with lesbian moms so have an acute awareness of relationship across the spectrums. Thank you so much for giving space for this lived reality!

Part 2

Even though these audio sessions are short they are definitely worth listening to. Everyone can benefit from learning tips on how to improve our communication and relationship skills. This session is about a living committed FF couple struggling to balance couple needs with young child rearing. The session covers way to express individual love needs and wants.

roles

I enjoyed listening to the session and how the conversation began leaving one person neglected, and by the end undersranding where the neglected came from. Ester gives sone techniques on how to relate and speak differently and encourages the other person to ask for what they want and not expect their partner to just know.

insightful

Very insightful how your personalities actually affect a marriage. Stereo typical gender roles are not a factor in the day-in-day-out "stuff" in our lives.

Very helpful

I have been having a communication issue with my oldest daughter. I raised her and her little sister in a very challenging home. My oldest was my savior. My baby yet also my confidant. I can see how the abuse we all experienced with my ex caused her to be a mom to me at times too. This has lead her to seek the love of older men and now separate herself from me not only through physical distance but also through little communication. It hurts me badly and having this new insight will hopefully help me to bridge the distance through better understanding of her perspective. More mothers and fathers should listen and read your counseling sessions. I have learned a great deal and I am looking forward to a better life with the new insight. Thank you.

Yes

Forgetting gender roles and understanding personality type and childhood conditioning and how that plays in to intimacy. Its not as sinple as "let's just have more sex" helpful for me.