Last Updated on: 19th March 2024, 06:43 pm
Laura Rachelle Taylor, an award-winning writer, unravels the complexities and seldom-discussed trials of motherhood in her poignant book, A Mum Like This. Beyond the picturesque veneer of motherhood lie challenges such as contradictory counsel, intrusions from well-meaning but overbearing individuals, dated societal norms, and the struggle with postnatal depletion left unaddressed.
Structured as a 52-week memoir that interweaves poetry with prose, the book chronicles the initial postpartum year through weekly diary entries and poems, encapsulating the ebb and flow of emotions inherent in new motherhood. It was during this transformative era that Laura was diagnosed with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), a critical but often overlooked endocrine disorder that had stealthily influenced her life for years.
With candour, Taylor shares the debilitating effects of PMDD, including a meningioma (brain tumour) and severe cystic breast pain that drastically limited her mobility. She reflects on the destructive tendencies spurred by her then-undiagnosed condition, which wreaked havoc on her personal life and relationships during episodes of hormonal turmoil. Through her words, Laura sheds light on her confrontation with “the PMDD monster,” documenting her path to diagnosis and the subsequent revelations of hope amidst the disorder’s turmoil.
Authored primarily while nurturing her baby in a shed during home renovations, Taylor strips motherhood down to its core, rejecting the societal impulse for material accumulation in favour of a serene, nature-oriented parenting philosophy. Her journey through nature, library visits, and the forging of significant bonds in her community of Northwich, Cheshire, offers a serene take on the maternal experience.
A Mum Like This strikes a chord with a vast spectrum of mothers who traverse similar paths, offering comfort and a sense of belonging in the often complex world of parenthood and PMDD. Taylor’s memoir extends a reassuring hand to new parents and PMDD sufferers, assuring them of the validity and commonality of their experiences.
The book will be available in paperback on Amazon from 19th March 2024. To follow Laura Rachelle’s literary endeavours and personal journey, connect with her on Instagram: @laurarachellewriter.
