Mothers of the Village ― Why All Moms Need the Support of a Motherhood Community and How to Find It for Yourself

So many mothers feel like something is out of joint, something is missing—and maybe the truth is that we’re all just missing each other.

C. J. Schneider found herself in the middle of a perfect storm after giving birth to her third child and moving to a new neighborhood. Conditions for misery and postpartum depression were ideal: she was isolated, lonely, and exhausted with three young children at home. As she started talking with other mothers, she realized that she was not alone in her experience of feeling alone.

In her unique voice, Schneider intelligently and compassionately offers practical advice on how to create the essential community that mothers need. Given the many examples of communal mothering from the past and around the world, as well as modern examples of communities in which mothers are thriving, the research is clear: since the beginning of womankind, mothering has been a communal effort.

Mothers of the Village affirms that as mothers connect with each other and learn to work with each other, despite the challenges, they may find a piece of themselves that they have felt missing all along.

C. J. Schneider lives in Alberta, Canada, with her husband, three sweet children, a wild imagination, and a distaste for all things laundry. Though she had many adventures before motherhood—exploring and working in Asia, Europe, and Africa—her greatest and most challenging venture has been discovering the wonder of family and building a village of friends and fellow moms. -