Why are women expected to love pregnancy and new motherhood without exception or complaint? Erin Pepler, author of the collection of essays "Send Me Into the Woods Alone," discusses the stigma that still persists around mothers expressing difficulty and displeasure with their lives—and how reading and writing about motherhood has improved her own life.

Erin Pepler is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in Today’s Parent, ParentsCanada, SavvyMom, Romper, Scary Mommy, MoneySense, Broadview Magazine and more.

Erin and Amy discuss:

Why pregnancy is "objectively weird"
Why women are expected to downplay their pain and suffering particularly as new mothers
How anxiety can shape us as parents... and when it's time to take a closer look

Here's where you can find Erin:

erinpepler.com
@erinpepler on Instagram and Twitter
@erinpeplerwriter on Facebook
Buy SEND ME INTO THE WOODS ALONE: https://bookshop.org/a/12099/9781988784892

We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website:

https://www.whatfreshhellpodcast.com/p/promo-codes/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fresh Take: Erin Pepler