By Jamie Maletta
I’m easily persuaded by Instagram recommendations (or should I say “bookstagram?”). You’ll often find my reviews stem from a book I’ve randomly come across via Instagram stories, and honestly, they rarely disappoint.
Ashley Carbonatto’s More Than a Mom is no exception. As many moms will tell you, motherhood can be all-consuming, and often we wake up one day and can’t remember who we are outside of being “a mom.” The sleepless nights, picky eaters, meals, snacks, baths, appointments, more snacks, extra-curricular activities, homework, housework, relationships—the list goes on, and it is a lot. So, what do we do about it?
Ashley’s book reads a little like a blog, a little like a how-to, and provides some actionable steps to maintain your sense of self throughout this beautiful and hectic journey we’ve found ourselves in. She shares her story about stepping away from the corporate world into full-time motherhood, the struggles of taking on this new title, and how we often downplay the title of being “just a mom.”
The second chapter titled “Surviving not Thriving” dives into who we were, are, and that feeling of being “stuck” in this new journey, like we’re coming up short on all fronts. Throughout the book, Ashley walks us through various areas of our lives and how to improve them: from self-doubt and anxiety to unsolicited advice, bettering your relationship with your significant other, making new friends not only in motherhood, but in adulthood too, living with intention, and how to truly find and maintain your sense of self along the way. Ashley approached these topics with personal stories, some humour, and a sense of understanding, with some suggestions and ways of overcoming whatever you’re working through - all of which I find necessary when reading a self-help or motivational book.
Personally, I found the beginning of the book a little heavy on her personal stories and the feeling that I was reading a blog vs a book. However, once I reached the halfway point things picked up, and I found myself wanting to read more and more. The second half of the book felt a little more relatable, with more fun ideas and actionable steps that I could see myself taking and able to envision what those outcomes could look like for me. I felt motivated to make some changes and take some risks in my life and journey to learning who I am outside of motherhood upon finishing this book.
The feeling of optimism and excitement for what the future holds is exactly what I want out of a self-help or motivational book. It’s my favourite genre for this very reason, and Ashley’s More Than a Mom is one that I’ve added to my personal toolbox, and would recommend to any mom wanting something more for herself. We all deserve to be the best versions of ourselves, and taking care of ourselves is taking care of our families and loved ones around us.