Confessions of the Other Mother, Harlyn Aizley
Confessions of the Other Mother, Harlyn Aizley
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Confessions of the Other Mother
Nonbiological Lesbian Moms Tell All!

Author: Harlyn Aizley

Narrator: Sarah Beth Pfeifer

Unabridged: 7 hr 15 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 09/14/2021


Synopsis

After author Harlyn Aizley gave birth to her daughter, she watched in unanticipated horror as her partner scooped up the baby and said, "I'm your new mommy!" While they both had worked to find the perfect sperm donor, Aizley had spent nine months carrying the baby and hours in labor, so how could her partner claim to be their child's mommy?

Many diapers later, Aizley began to appreciate the complexity of her partner's new role as the other mother. Together, they searched for stories about families like their own, in which a woman has chosen to forgo her own birth experience so that she might support her partner in hers. They found very few. Now, in Confessions of the Other Mother, Aizley has put together an exciting collection of personal stories by women like her partner who are creating new parenting roles, redefining motherhood, and reshaping our view of two-parent families.

This candid peek into a previously unexamined side of lesbian parenting is full of stories that are sometimes humorous, sometimes moving, but at all times celebratory. Each parenting tale sheds light on the many facets of motherhood, offering gay and straight listeners alike a deeper understanding of what it means to love and parent in the twenty-first century.

About Harlyn Aizley

Harlyn Aizley is the author of Buying Dad: One Woman's Search for the Perfect Sperm Donor. Her work has appeared in national journals, magazines, and anthologies and has aired on public radio stations nationwide. Aizley resides in the Boston area with her family, where she works as a writer and teacher.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Beth on March 03, 2008

As much as I wanted to be a mother, I hadn't really considered that I wouldn't be the mother carrying my child - that I would be the "other" mother. This book was a great help when I was suddenly confronted with being the non-birth mom and let me know that I was not alone in this strange position. S......more

Goodreads review by LJ on January 03, 2012

This book was definitely interesting. As a heterosexual woman, it really opened my eyes to how heteronormative society is, both in regards to parenting as well as pretty much everything else. This book shares the stories of women who are trailblazers in a sense, forging a path where there previously......more

Goodreads review by Ashley on December 29, 2015

I got this book suggestion from my friend Audrey and I'm so thankful I did. This book was wonderful and it felt really good to have a little insight from other people in my situation. Re-read: I am so glad that I read this book again now that my son is going to be born in a few short weeks. Reading th......more

Goodreads review by rie on July 12, 2024

Since I’ve realized I was a lesbian, I’ve been back and forth between if I could see myself being a mom or not. the forth seems to be winning by a lot despite my age and this book did NOT help in swaying me away 😭😭😭😭😭 I teared up multiple times! And the fact that this was all before gay marriage was......more

Goodreads review by amira on January 18, 2023

“Could we afford to raise children? Barely. Would we be good parents? Hopefully. Would our children feel burdened by having lesbian parents? A difficult question. But, we asked ourselves, who can predict, or control, what will cause a child to feel different and uncomfortable?” um…this shouldn’t have......more