The Fairytale of Motherhood

 
"The Smiling Mask" illuminates the fairytale of motherhood as the three authors embark on a spiritual journey, first creating life and falling in love with their unborn children, giving birth, embracing their fears and expectations of motherhood, believing in the gift of their unlikely survival and writing and speaking to create a new community of family where healing and hope can begin to surface for generations to come.
 
The fairytale was created with each conception, but moving forward these women never expected the fear, isolation, social pressure and loss of self that would arrive without warning.  The real fairytale is about losing yourself, and finding yourself, suffering the loss of a child and forever holding them in your heart, friendships that are tested and bonds that never break, being there for your friends and spouses in their darkest hours, believing in God or a Higher Power and only receiving what you can handle, believing that there are angels among us, the importance of community and human kindness, standing up for yourself when someone does not, believing in your gifts, the power of positive thinking, and having the courage to demand help when you feel there is no hope left.
 
~ CARLA O'REILLY, co-author of "The Smiling Mask: Truths about Postpartum Depression and Parenthood"