The Oprah Winfrey Show: The Podcast Special: A Mother's Controversial Confession
Dec 9, 2025
In this revealing discussion, Ayelet Waldman, a thought-provoking writer and mother of four, stands by her controversial claim from her New York Times essay that she loves her husband more than her children. She dives into the struggles of balancing motherhood, marriage, and lost intimacy post-children. Roland Warren, president of the National Fatherhood Initiative, shares insights on how men’s perspectives differ on family roles, highlighting the importance of prioritizing the marital relationship for a healthy family dynamic.
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Marriage As Primary Relationship
- Ayelet Waldman argues her primary romantic love is for her husband, not her children, which she says preserves their marriage and passion.
- She frames this choice as restoring balance after motherhood shifted romantic focus to kids.
Reinvest In Your Marriage Regularly
- Prioritize your romantic relationship by deliberately giving time and attention back to your partner through dates and communication.
- Reinvesting in the marriage helps prevent drift, resentment, and loss of intimacy according to panel discussion.
The 'Slow Burn' After Giving Up Ambition
- Oprah and guests identify a 'slow burn' anger or low-level depression when women surrender ambition to full-time mothering.
- That emotional shift can reduce sexual desire and reframe children as primary emotional objects.
