We Got This: Solo Mom Stories of Grit, Heart, and Humor by Marika Lindholm
Moms rock. I know that, you know that, your mom probably knows that, but it doesn’t hurt to let her know every now and then. Seriously, next time you call up your mom—whether that happens daily, once a week or once a month—tell her that she rocks.
We Got This: Solo Mom Stories of Grit, Heart, and Humor (She Writes Press) is a new collection of writing by single moms who rock twice as hard by virtue of raising children all by themselves.
There are an astonishing seventy-five total essays, poems, confessions and more in this book from mothers who elected to have children independently (Robin Silbergleid’s “An Open Letter to Our Sperm Donor” reflects on the gift of life), those who didn’t (Kathleen Laccinole’s essay “Raising a Boy without a Man” touches on the difficulty of navigating a different gender space without a partner to handle gendered conversations) and all those strong single mothers who aren’t celebrated enough.
We Got This isn’t all indie voices, however—while it’s packed with revealing, honest accounts from women of all backgrounds, there are a number of famous voices in the mix. Amy Poehler talks about the dissolution of her marriage in “My Books on Divorce” while legendary feminist writer Audre Lorde’s poem “Now That I Am Forever with Child” features prominently.
Each of these passages was hand-selected by the book’s editors, Marika Lindholm, Cheryl Dumesnil, Domenica Ruta and Katherine Shonk. Lindholm is the founder of Empowering Solo Moms Everywhere, a website dedicated to bringing single mothers together and providing helpful resources for moms who could use an assist.
“Too often, single mothers are voiceless or misrepresented in a sea of stereotypes, accusations, and shame. My coeditors—Cheryl, Domenica, and Katie—and I take great pride in sharing poems, essays, and quotes that reflect the diversity of single motherhood while affirming the collective challenges and rewards of parenting alone,” says Lindholm.
She adds that she wants readers to remember that “Solo doesn’t mean alone.”
We Got This is an inspiring and life-affirming collection that everybody should read, because after all, even if you aren’t a mother yourself, we all come from mothers, and we should be grateful every day for the sacrifices that they have made to bring us into the world.
This book is a love letter to the moms going it alone—though, as Lindholm said, they’re not alone. Even outside of their personal support structures (which could include the vast Empowering Single Moms network), being bonded in motherhood with all the incredible voices in this book, they are in great company.
We Got This is now available for purchase.
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