The article explores the authorâs experience as a disabled mother during her husband's parental leave. Despite her contributions as an author and caregiver, she grapples with feelings of inadequacy in her role as a mother, often feeling invisible against societal expectations of motherhood. She reflects on the challenges of maintaining her identity beyond motherhood while highlighting the relatable struggles of other mothers regarding identity shifts. Ultimately, she conveys the complex balance between professional success and the desire to be recognized as a mother.
As a disabled woman, my own needy body and dependence on care renders me invisible in the stereotypical portrait of the all-giving and endlessly capable mother.
The common refrain from the group was a shared angst about changing identities, rooted in how the world saw them and how they saw themselves.
While I tried to relate, I was thrilled by the idea that someone would think of me as a mom, even if it crowded out the other parts of me.
Eight years later, I still find myself trying to prove that Iâm a mother, shoehorning my kids into professional conversations.
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