In this valuable, brutally honest guide, the broadcaster argues that a supposedly joyful time is often steeped in drudgery and social isolation“It’s a bloody weird experience, maternity leave, and it’s OK to acknowledge that,” Emma Barnett writes in Maternity Service, her short, no-nonsense guide to surviving this curious – and relatively recent – phenomenon that can feel, in the thick of it, like a temporary exile from the outside world. For many new mothers, the abrupt severance from their professional lives and previous identities can leave them flailing in a strange and destabilising limbo where it seems almost taboo to voice any feelings of dislocation, in case these come across as a lack of maternal devotion.Barnett proposes that the whole business should be rebranded – rather than “maternity leave”, which suggests a nice relaxing break, it should be styled “maternity service”, with all the latter term’s connotations of a military tour of duty. Words such as “duty” and “servic...
Emma Barnett's "Maternity Service" argues that maternity leave is often a difficult and isolating experience, reframing it as a "maternity service" akin to a military tour of duty. The book offers practical advice on navigating the challenges of early motherhood, emphasizing the importance of routine, connection with other mothers, and honesty about struggles. Barnett credits previous writers like Rachel Cusk for paving the way for candid discussions about the realities of motherhood.
