Episode 18: Being There - The First Three Years Don’t Come With A Redo Button, by Erica Komisar
On this episode of 'Other People's Parenting' hosted by mother daughter duo Karen Quinn (New York Times best selling author of The Ivy Chronicles , founder of Habit Coach and Testing Mom) and Schuyler Hurwitz (amateur parent) - we discuss the importance of maternal presence during the critical formative years of a child's life, as posed by Erica Commissar's book, "Being There: Why Prioritizing Motherhood in the First Three Years Matters."
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FULL episode on YouTube. Link below.
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FULL episode on YouTube. Link below. 〰️
Being There - Why Prioritizing Motherhood in the First Three Years Matters, by Erica Komisar, LCSW
The First Three Years Don’t Come With a Redo Button
We talk through our opposite opinions of the content, particularly regarding the implications of a mother's absence and the societal pressures surrounding motherhood and career aspirations. The conversation covers balancing professional obligations with the emotional and developmental needs of children, emphasizing that while some aspects of the book resonate, others warrant scrutiny due to their potential to induce guilt in working mothers. We advocate for a more inclusive perspective that recognizes the nature of parenting and the varied circumstances that families encounter.
This book focuses on the compelling argument that a mother's presence during the formative years of infancy is paramount to the emotional and psychological development of the child. Throughout our discussion, we dissect the author's assertions, noting that while one of us finds profound resonance in the author's perspective, the other perceives an overtly prescriptive stance that may not universally apply. The conversation covers the delicate balance between maternal employment and child-rearing, ultimately questioning the societal implications of the author's thesis.