I’m not sure you need to “defend” any mothers — I’m not attacking them. But I think you are trying to point out that some women don’t realize that they won’t like motherhood? Is that what you mean?

Your last sentence is exactly what I wrote in this piece. I don’t feel sorry for mothers (compassion, yes, but not sympathy, except in specific cases), and I am angry at our society that hyper-romanticizes motherhood, brainwashes us with idyllic maternal propaganda, and then does little to nothing to support mothers, leaving them in some of the situations you outlined here. We should be much more honest about motherhood and its costs and much more open to women’s choices to opt out, if they so choose. But all of that is just the tip of the iceberg — this is another article in itself!

Thank you for your thoughts. ❤