I Was Told There’d Be a Village

Finally, a positive and realistic strategy for easing the burden of parenting: Melissa Wirt shows how to build a supportive “village” to transform oppressive, solitary motherhood into a connected—even joyful—endeavor.

Each chapter is structured as a clear and intentional shift from an isolation mindset to a village mindset. It might be as simple as smiling at the mom next to you at story-time or sending a quick text to a friend. But it can be much bigger, eventually growing into a thriving, supportive community. Motherhood shouldn’t be this hard, and it doesn’t have to be. Here, at last, is a roadmap for finding your village. 

• “Having it all doesn't mean doing it all. It's essential to understand that we don't have to navigate this journey of parenthood alone. Melissa Wirt addresses this significant struggle we have as parents — American society making it impossible to have a village—and offers an insightful guide on how to create connection in this context.” 
   
  Eve Rodsky, New York Times Bestselling author of Fair Play
• “This book is a balm for the souls of mothers. Melissa Wirt shows that so many of our modern maternal ailments have a root cause—loneliness—and that the cure is within our grasp. With warmth and wit, she coaches us on how to establish a powerful network of mom friends. Wirt herself feels like a friend of the very best sort. We cheer her on throughout, confident that she is cheering for us.”
   
  Abigail Tucker, New York Times bestselling author of Mom Genes
• "These are stories that bring hope, normalizing the difficulties of our present moment and reminding us of a powerful resource: one another. Wise and actionable, this book is like a big-hearted hug for moms."
  Sheryl Ziegler, PsyD, author of Mommy Burnout
• "Melissa Wirt thinks like me—that living in community makes us happier, healthier and more grounded. Using her experience as a mother, she deftly teaches the art of connection. Encouraging, honest, and just fun to read, I recommend this book to all new moms."
   
  Mary Pipher, New York Times bestselling author of Reviving Ophelia and Women Rowing North