Anger. Rage. Fury. So many parents, especially mothers, tell me they never felt the same white hot anger before they had kids as they do now. A few mums have written to me and said they skipped straight to this chapter, and others have told me they’ve given this one to their partners to read because it gave words to the experience they couldn’t properly describe to get the message through. We cover mental health, theories around maternal anger, making amends with our kids after an outburst, and take a new look at anger through the lens of opportunity. I recognise this episode is to be released when many parents are in lockdown and do not have the same support systems and tools for self-regulation available as when this book was originally written. Take the bits that resonate, and leave the bits that don’t. Enjoy. 

*** 

Anna Cusack is a Motherhood Revolutionist, author, podcaster, postpartum doula, Certified Motherhood Studies Practitioner and mum.

Disclaimer: Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented in this audiobook, it must not be treated as a substitute for medical or psychological consultation. Always consult a qualified, supportive practitioner if you are concerned about your health and safety, or the health and safety of your children. Neither the author nor the publisher can be held responsible for any claim arising from the use or misuse of suggestions made in this book, and are not liable for any person’s failure to access or implement individual professional and/or medical advice. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. All permission requests are to be directed to the publisher using the contact form at www.annacusack.com.au.

This episode looks at feelings of overwhelm in motherhood. It is the longest chapter by far and rightly so, the sheer size and weight of the load mothers carry within our families and society is really intense. It can look as though the mums around us are managing fine, so we feel like failures in some way for struggling, but the reality is that the majority of mothers are not coping. Here’s the situation and some ideas on what we can do to go about changing it.

Anna Cusack is a Motherhood Revolutionist, author, podcaster, postpartum doula, Certified Motherhood Studies Practitioner and mum.

Disclaimer: Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented in this audiobook, it must not be treated as a substitute for medical or psychological consultation. Always consult a qualified, supportive practitioner if you are concerned about your health and safety, or the health and safety of your children. Neither the author nor the publisher can be held responsible for any claim arising from the use or misuse of suggestions made in this book, and are not liable for any person’s failure to access or implement individual professional and/or medical advice.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. All permission requests are to be directed to the publisher using the contact form at www.annacusack.com.au.

This episode looks at loneliness. Whether it’s feeling physically isolated or emotionally alone in a crowded room, early motherhood is a really paradoxical experience. It’s pretty common have very little time away from our babies, but also to feel really lonely, even without lockdowns. This is a social issue, even though it feels like a personal one. Enjoy.

Anna Cusack is a Motherhood Revolutionist, author, podcaster, postpartum doula, Certified Motherhood Studies Practitioner and mum.

Disclaimer: Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented in this audiobook, it must not be treated as a substitute for medical or psychological consultation. Always consult a qualified, supportive practitioner if you are concerned about your health and safety, or the health and safety of your children. Neither the author nor the publisher can be held responsible for any claim arising from the use or misuse of suggestions made in this book, and are not liable for any person’s failure to access or implement individual professional and/or medical advice.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. All permission requests are to be directed to the publisher using the contact form at www.annacusack.com.au.

This episode looks at fear. No sidestepping this one - it’s a pretty scary time in world history to have kids really isn’t it? We talk a bit more on our brain’s survival skills as we practice parenting, as well as covering climate, coronavirus, post-natal anxiety, unwanted harm thoughts and more.

Anna Cusack is a Motherhood Revolutionist, author, podcaster, postpartum doula, Certified Motherhood Studies Practitioner and mum.

Disclaimer: Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented in this audiobook, it must not be treated as a substitute for medical or psychological consultation. Always consult a qualified, supportive practitioner if you are concerned about your health and safety, or the health and safety of your children. Neither the author nor the publisher can be held responsible for any claim arising from the use or misuse of suggestions made in this book, and are not liable for any person’s failure to access or implement individual professional and/or medical advice.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. All permission requests are to be directed to the publisher using the contact form at www.annacusack.com.au.

This episode looks at invisibility. After being the centre of attention during pregnancy, biological mothers often get pushed aside after the birth as the baby becomes the star of the show. We talk birth injury, feeding and how “mothering” and “fathering” a child are very different social roles, even in 2021.

Anna Cusack is a Motherhood Revolutionist, author, podcaster, postpartum doula, Certified Motherhood Studies Practitioner and mum.

Disclaimer: Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented in this audiobook, it must not be treated as a substitute for medical or psychological consultation. Always consult a qualified, supportive practitioner if you are concerned about your health and safety, or the health and safety of your children. Neither the author nor the publisher can be held responsible for any claim arising from the use or misuse of suggestions made in this book, and are not liable for any person’s failure to access or implement individual professional and/or medical advice.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. All permission requests are to be directed to the publisher using the contact form at www.annacusack.com.au.

Hello and welcome to part 3 of the “Mama, You’re Not Broken” audiobook, written and read by me, Anna Cusack.

This episode looks at the uncertainty we can feel as mothers. There is so much information, misinformation, solicited and unsolicited advice when it comes to pregnancy, birth and child raising, and it can all feel very messy! In this chapter I explore how your brain is rewiring as you become a mum and why the baby books and experts don’t always have answers you’re looking for.

Anna Cusack is a Motherhood Revolutionist, author, podcaster, postpartum doula, Certified Motherhood Studies Practitioner and mum.

Disclaimer: Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented in this audiobook, it must not be treated as a substitute for medical or psychological consultation. Always consult a qualified, supportive practitioner if you are concerned about your health and safety, or the health and safety of your children. Neither the author nor the publisher can be held responsible for any claim arising from the use or misuse of suggestions made in this book, and are not liable for any person’s failure to access or implement individual professional and/or medical advice.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. All permission requests are to be directed to the publisher using the contact form at www.annacusack.com.au.

Hello and welcome to part 2 of the “Mama, You’re Not Broken” audiobook, written and read by me, Anna Cusack. This episode explores guilt, more specifically, mum guilt. Mum guilt is really intertwined with modern motherhood and so having a strong foundation about how, when and why it operates is really key to be able to access the other nine unspoken emotions of modern motherhood we’ll be going over in this book.

Anna Cusack is a Motherhood Revolutionist, author, podcaster, postpartum doula, Certified Motherhood Studies Practitioner and mum.

Disclaimer: Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented in this audiobook, it must not be treated as a substitute for medical or psychological consultation. Always consult a qualified, supportive practitioner if you are concerned about your health and safety, or the health and safety of your children. Neither the author nor the publisher can be held responsible for any claim arising from the use or misuse of suggestions made in this book, and are not liable for any person’s failure to access or implement individual professional and/or medical advice.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. All permission requests are to be directed to the publisher using the contact form at www.annacusack.com.au.

My entire audiobook is coming to you, live and free, right here! 

Get your print copy, dive into sources and further reading, browse my blog, join my Lighthouse Mama membership or become a patron of the podcast, all at www.annacusack.com.au 

I’d love to connect on socials too - you can find me @annacusackpostpartum on Instagram and Facebook. 

This, from the back cover: 

“What is wrong with me? 

Am I the only one who feels this way? 

I can't keep this up... how are all the other mothers doing this? 

Why did no one tell me it would be like this? 

For too long, the first rule of motherhood has been not to speak about the reality of motherhood. We are warned about the dizzying highs, the moments of heart bursting love, and the depths and despair of exhaustion, yet the in-between bits don’t rate a mention. 

Swirling (and often simultaneous) emotions like fear, overwhelm, anger, guilt, grief and even boredom are all but missing from the conversation completely. Anna Cusack’s "Mama, You’re Not Broken" breaks the silence on these taboo topics, exploring the emotional underbelly and physiological processes of being a mother within a social framework that doesn’t value the work of raising children. 

Part wakeup call and part warm shower (alone), Cusack draws on research and personal experience to shine a light on the ways we can transcend the feelings of inadequacy, isolation and altogether not-enoughness that plague us as modern mothers. This book is an invitation to mothers to move beyond the myth that “this is just the way things are” in order to cultivate a more meaningful and satisfying life than the perfectly pleasant, self-sacrificing version of motherhood we’ve been sold, for ourselves and for our children. 

It’s time to unmask the unspoken emotions of modern motherhood.”

The good girl, good woman, good wife, good worker and good mother narratives are all intertwined - is it any wonder today's mums are struggling? Join me in conversation with Motherhood Studies sociologist Dr. Sophie Brock to unpack the social construction of motherhood. We discuss the inherent interdependence of the mother-child relationship, the flawed argument behind maternal self-sacrifice and how mothers and the practitioners who work with them can begin to get unstuck and effect change in their lives and the broader social landscape that is motherhood.

You can connect with Dr Sophie via

Podcast host Anna Cusack is a Motherhood Revolutionist.

We all hear about "evidence based" health advice, professional practice and baby care, but what does that even mean? Join Dr. Renee White and I as we cut through the crap around research, biases and books that aren't what they're cracked up to be. We discuss the intersection between not-so-scientific sources, social media and mamas desperately seeking solutions, and how postpartum nutrition is both a new site of exploration and ideological contention and an ancient artform in the practice of nurturing mothers in their early postpartum. 

You can connect with Dr Renee on Instagram @fillyourcup_ And on the web www.ifillyourcup.com 

Anna Cusack is a Motherhood Revolutionist, author, podcaster, postpartum doula, exercise physiologist and mother. 

You can find her online and become a patron of the podcast for $5/month at www.annacusack.com.au/podcast  

Order Anna’s book here: www.annacusack.com.au/book/ 

On Facebook at www.facebook.com/annacusackpostpartum/ 

On insta @annacusackpostpartum 

On clubhouse at annacusack 

On YouTube at youtube.com/channel/UC0ejqfsLQneApXlLI9ZkdXQ 

And listen to her meditations on the Insight Timer meditation app