What Do I Want to Be When They Grow Up?

Helpful, inspiring guide for mothers seeking to flourish and succeed after their kids grow up In What Do I Want to Be When They Grow Up? (And Other Thoughts from a 40-Something Mom), renowned parenting influencer Karen Johnson provides a fun, easy-to-understand, and inspiring guide for mothers currently experiencing an empty nest, or who see one on the horizon, and are looking to lead their best, most fulfilling lives and feel comfortable that they're not alone in their struggles. This book draws upon stories and experiences from Johnson and mothers around her, helping readers seek out new passions, including new career paths, to avoid feeling as if they are solely defined by motherhood. In this book, Johnson explores topics including: Taking risks, putting yourself out there, getting stronger mentally and physically, and fostering positive relationships Navigating the wondrously weird world of perimenopause and aging bodies with confidence, knowledge, and grace Working through the very real emotions of guilt, anxiety, failure, and shame that often accompany this transitory period in mothers' lives What Do I Want to Be When They Grow Up? (And Other Thoughts from a 40-Something Mom) earns a well deserved spot on the bookshelves of all mothers seeking to develop individualism, mindfulness, and genuine feelings of contentment and happiness as they turn the page to the next chapter of their lives.

Prologue ix Chapter 1: What Do I Want to Be When They Grow Up? 1 Chapter 2: Guilt 11 Chapter 3: You Can’t Do It All, So Quit Trying 17 Chapter 4: When Mothers Are Ghosts 25 Chapter 5: How Much Are SAHMs Actually Worth? 29 Chapter 6: The Default Parenting Ferris Wheel 35 Chapter 7: That Day I Hiked 14 Miles and Braced for a Hip Replacement (But Also Realized Something about Me as a Mom) 41 Chapter 8: “Hi, I’m Sweating!” (WTF Is Happening to My Body?) 49 Chapter 9: On Aging and Beauty Culture (So, I Guess I Have a Turkey Neck Now…? Whatever) 57 Chapter 10: On Friendships 63 Chapter 11: The Comparison Trap 69 Chapter 12: The Water Challenge (and How We Need to Reframe “Success”) 77 Chapter 13: Get Thee to a Therapist! 81 Chapter 14: Of Course We’re Pissed Off 89 Chapter 15: Anxiety, Perfectionism, + a Crippling Fear of Failure = a Toxic Cocktail that Does Not Mix with Motherhood 95 Chapter 16: Learning to Get Out of My Own Way 103 Chapter 17: Nobody Talks About the Loneliness 109 Chapter 18: How Resentment and the “Who Has It Harder” Game Nearly Killed My Marriage, and the Daily Phone Call That Probably Saved It 119 Chapter 19: Lessons for My Kids (and for Myself) as We All Grow Up 127 Chapter 20: The Death of Martyrdom 135 Chapter 21: “Everything Is Fine,” “I Don’t Care What Other People Think,” and Other Lies We Tell 141 Chapter 22: How I “Lost Myself” but Found the Pieces and Put Myself Back Together 151 Chapter 23: How Did I Get Here? (The Story of Our Gladiator Turtles, Medically Fragile Dog, and One Dead Plant) 159 Chapter 24: The Many Forms of Motherhood Grief 165 Chapter 25: Always Awkward, Never Cool 171 Chapter 26: Halfway There (and Livin’ on a Prayer) 177 Chapter 27: Make Me a Promise 185 Chapter 28: I’m a Total Fraud (by the Way) 193 Chapter 29: We Can Do Hard Things (and Let Me Tell You How I Know) 197 Chapter 30: So, What AM I Going to Be When They Grow Up? 203 Epilogue 207 Acknowledgments 209 About the Author 211