The Myth of the Perfect Mom: From Postpartum Perfection to Everyday Joy

Let go of impossible standards and embrace a more joyful, authentic postpartum experience with this self-help guide for new moms.

Are you tired of feeling like you have to "do it all" as a mom? Do you ever think, "Life was easier before kids" or "Why is this transition so hard?" After becoming a mother, priorities change, self-compassion changes, ambition changes...everything changes. And on top of all of these dramatic life shifts, and the exhaustion of parenthood, mothers are expected to climb the Mount Everest of adulthood: be the best mom, the happiest mom, the most perfect mom.

But perfection is impossible to achieve. The good news? You don't have to be everything for everyone. The Myth of the Perfect Mom breaks down the harmful myths surrounding what it takes to be a great mom, and nine other "myths" that weigh new mothers down in postpartum. Erin Schlozman, therapist and owner of 4th Trimester Wellness, provides compassionate, practical guidance for creating a postpartum life rooted in connection, grace, and self-acceptance.

The Myth of the Perfect Mom places the spotlight on the new mom's emotional and psychological wellbeing and development, because motherhood is as much about the birth of a mom as it is about the baby.

Schlozman addresses ten different myths of being a perfect mom, including:

• Your birth should have been executed perfectly.
• Moms should feel bonded to their babies immediately.
• Postpartum bodies are ugly.
• You're either ambitious, or a good mom, but you can't be both.

The Myth of the Perfect Mom gives mothers the permission and the guidance to move past outdated ideals, be kind to themselves, and stop trying to be perfect, so that they can parent in the way that is most authentic to them.

Author: Erin Schlozman
Publisher: Alcove Press
Published: 04/07/2026
Pages: 304
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.80lbs
Size: 8.36h x 5.60w x 1.27d
ISBN: 9798892424233

About the Author
Erin Schlozman is a licensed clinical professional counselor working primarily in the perinatal and postpartum space. She has worked in a variety of settings over the last fifteen years: in private practice, in community mental health, with Postpartum Support International's clinical team, and as a consultant to some of the biggest corporations in the US. In addition to her patient work, she's built an online community of over 150k and counting through her social media, Substack, and podcast, I Love My Baby And...