Not What I Had in Mind: A Motherhood Origin Story

by Laura Diaz Freeland

Overview

This story is for every mother who has ever thought (or whispered or screamed), "This is not what I had in mind."

It's for the scared, anxious, stressed, overwhelmed or hopeless mom. It's for every mother whose circumstances have ever made her feel alone, and it's for every mother who would like the heavy stuff to be just a little lighter.

Not What I Had in Mind chronicles the traumatic births and early life of the tiniest set of twins. Told from the perspective of a grieving mother stumbling through the ups and (mostly) downs of 224 days in the neonatal intensive care unit, this story is a moving tribute to the resilience of mothers everywhere.

This harrowing and occasionally hilarious tale is about the miseries and the miracles of motherhood and the bond shared between mothers when reality shatters our expectations.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940185924297
Publisher:	Laura Freeland
Publication date:	11/07/2023
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Sales rank:	869,410
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Laura Diaz Freeland is that mom who makes her own oat milk. She is an author and blogger at Laurahere.com, and she publishes a weekly newsletter called This is Not Advice where she approaches aspects of motherhood she knows almost nothing about with a posture of learning and a sense of humor.

Laura’s twin daughters were born more than 17 weeks prematurely—on the cusp of viability. Her debut memoir Not What I Had in Mind: A Motherhood Origin Story chronicles her daughters’ births and fight for life, and how a season riddled with grief, fear, mental illness, and resentment revealed the endless empathy found in motherhood.

With a background in marketing and creative writing, Laura's work has been featured on numerous platforms, including Coffe and Crumbs, Her View From Home, Elephant Journal, Summit Church, and Children's HopeChest. Her writing explores themes of motherhood, food, language, and periviability often drawing from her own experiences as a mother, wife, and survivor.

She is an adrenaline-chasing half marathoner and an active member of the Orlando Health Foundation’s Cultivation Team. Through her writing and her social media presence, she hopes to inspire others to find the courage and strength to overcome their challenges and tell their stories.

Her debut book, Lindy the Penguin, sold 5 copies in 1991—4 of which were purchased by her parents—but she decided to stick to the writing thing anyway.

Editorial Reviews

Although Laura's story is not one many of us can relate to, as far as the details go, it does what all good stories do—connects us. Laura writes with intensity and depth that will break you heart wide open and softness and humor that will fill you with hope. Not What I Had in Mind will leave you with greater appreciation for your own origin story and deep gratitude for every gut-wrenching and glorious detail.

GoodReads - Asha Junot

Don't be fooled by the seriousness of the subjects matter: this story about premature birth is held aloft by Diaz's signature humor, intelligence, and wit. It's not every writer who can take an experience so terrible and turn it incandescent. This is an incredible book, one about family, love, language, and all the ways motherhood will change you, whether you're ready for it or not.

GoodReads - Emily Lackey

"Not What I Had in Mind" provides an entirely new meaning to the phrase "a mother's love." Laura and her twins will take you on an emotional journey where their strength, courage, and faith are thoroughly tested. You will cry, laugh, and cry again. While this is a challenging read emotionally, I strongly recommend this book.

GoodRead - Cindy Ichikawa