Why is this subject important in the world?
We’re just starting to get to a place where moms feel safe to speak candidly about the hardships in motherhood (it’s not everything Instagram makes it seem to be) — but there’s still a long way to go. I’m trying to pave the path. I’m hoping to inspire change. I want mothers to feel validated. It’s okay to acknowledge motherhood is hard — it doesn’t discount that we love our babies.
What is the pressing issue, right and how are you addressing it?
Maternal mental health is a key topic in my book, Welcome to the Jungle. One in seven women in the US will experience postpartum depression after giving birth. And yet, there are so few resources and so little professional support available. Why? We need this to change. I address this by sharing my story and experience with postpartum depression and PTSD from pregnancy. I discuss the pressure modern mothers feel and how despite all of the trials and tribulations of previous generations, the Millennial generation has been studied to be the most depressed group of mothers to date. Society isn’t built for the modern mom, it’s certainly not built for the modern family.
Anneliese Lawton Biography
What is your background in this subject?
Does having three kids make me a parenting expert? The truth is, this book is written from the heart of a mom who’s seen some stuff while trying to create her family. It includes two high-risk pregnancies, raising babies while navigating traumatic health issues (a rare tumor wrapped around my facial nerves), overcoming postpartum depression, and cleaning poopsplosions off every gosh darn surface in my house.
What is something that most people don’t know about you?
Oof, good question. I’m kind of an open book. Most people (except for my family) don’t know that I hate being splashed with water. It causes me to panic and makes me really grumpy.
What are your passions outside of your career?
I’ve recently started to really get into meditation and manifesting. I don’t spend as much time on it as I’d like, but being able to ground myself, connect with my thoughts, and find a peaceful moment in the day has done brilliant things for my mental health. It’s something I can explore a bit more now that the book is complete!
Are there any social causes that you believe in and support?
Social inclusion and involvement improve the ability, opportunity, and dignity of those disadvantaged based on their identity. I’m also a big supporter of women’s rights, mental health, and maternal mental health.
What is next for you?
That’s up to the universe, I guess! My fall schedule is starting to fill up with speaking appearances. One day I hope to write another book. But for now, I’m aiming to meet Glennon Doyle in some capacity. She has inspired me so much and made such an impact on my life. To be on her podcast and discuss my story and how it aligns with hers would be a dream come true.
Welcome to the Jungle (A Frantic Journey of Motherhood and Self-Discovery)
Tell me about your book
Getting lost in motherhood feels easy, but understanding why is not easy. In Welcome to the Jungle, I take readers on an unfiltered journey of self-discovery. While navigating motherhood and facing the unexpected: back-to-back high-risk pregnancies, postpartum depression, and a rare tumor, I awakened (and it wasn’t from my kids). From Phat Farm shoes and blue eyeshadow to chunky highlights and awkward first love, Welcome to the Jungle pinpoints the moments in my life where I truly lost myself and understood the power motherhood holds in finally being found. Filled with unfiltered thoughts and perspectives on womanhood, Welcome to the Jungle isn’t just another parenting book on the highs and lows of motherhood; it will spur you to have a conversation with yourself you never knew you needed to have. Maternal Mental Health
Reading Slump? Here are 5 Tips to get back into Reading(Opens in a new browser tab)
Where can people buy the book?
It’s currently available for pre-sale on my publisher’s website: https://pandamoniumpublishing.com/product/welcome-to-the-jungle-a-frantic-journey-of-motherhood-and-self-discovery/
Come October 1, it will be available in 14 countries, including Barnes & Noble, Chapters, Indigo, Coles, Amazon, independent bookstores, and major retailers.
Thank you so much! Please let me know if there’s anything else you need, and I’d love to see a link once it’s live.
