The Mother Dance: How Children Change Your Life

Writingfromherdualperspectiveaspsychologistandmother，Dr.HarrietLernerputsthespotlightonhowawomanischangedwhenshebecomesamother.Enlivenedwithpersonaltalesandvividcaseexamplesthatrunthegamutfromthehilarioustotheheart-wrenching.TheMotherDancespellsoutwhathappenstoawomanwhentwobecomethree...andfour.Weseewhyhernewlifeissodifferentfromhis-andhowchildreninevitablyhelpustodiscoverthingsaboutourselvesandourpartnersthatwewouldotherwiseneverknow.Lernershowsushowkidscallonustogrowupandarethebestteachersoflife'smostprofoundspirituallessons.Frombirthtotheemptynest，Lerner'sownexperiencehastaughtherthebasiclessonsofmotherhood:thatwearenotincontrolofwhathappenstoourchildren;thatmostofwhatweworryaboutdoesn'thappen(thoughbadthingshappenthatwefailtoanticipate);andthatourchildrenwillloveuswithallofourimperfectionsifwecandothesameforthem.Lernerhelpsustodistinguishwhatwecanchange(andhowtodoit)，andwhenweneedtosurrendertothefactthatourlives-andourchildren's-maynotgoasweexpectorplan.