Review: 5 Days to Mindful Motherhood by Susie Fishleder

After struggles with postpartum depression and having an infant at home, I wanted to make changes and be more mindful in my approach to motherhood. The task seemed impossible because when you have an infant demanding all of your attention how are you supposed to have time for self-care.

Susie Fishleder

Susie Fishleder is an academic researcher, female and spiritual activist, and yoga teacher. I was drawn to her approach of looking at motherhood in the context of society and feminism and also from the spiritual level. This combination appeals to my own academic leanings and search for a more mindful and spiritual life.

Fishleder’s course, I thought, would best fit what I was looking for and the time I could make available. The program is five days and each day includes a five-minute video discussion and a five-minute audio meditation plus a workbook of journaling prompts. The course is advertised to teach “5 new aspects of how to apply spiritual lessons to your experience of mothering.” These aspects include releasing your ego, healing your inner child, being present, cultivating gratitude, and self-study.

In less than a week I could be more calm, confident, and mindful in my mothering. What was there to lose? A $48 investment and about an hour of my time. Deal.

Description from Fishleder’s website

How it went

My biggest fear in signing up for this course is that I wouldn’t have the time to invest. I get overwhelmed by my children; they are awake when I am awake; they follow me everywhere I go; and if I get a moment of peace I usually need to work or want to sit quietly alone.

I purchased the program May 11 and I finished it June 21. That is a little longer than I expected it to take. I didn’t get to start on the course until I went out of town for work in late May. I got through three days just because I was away from my kids and could actually concentrate. I am not sure how to interpret this regarding my motherhood journey. I am more mindful about it when I am away from it?

The video lessons guide you through the content of the workbook and introduce questions for you to consider regarding that day’s topic. The discussion was well organized and asked poignant questions. I made a couple of realizations about myself early on.

The meditations introduced mantras related to that day’s topic. I found the meditations were appropriate and well matched to the discussion. I struggle with meditation though and found that the mantras themselves were a little too long for me to internalize and repeat without forgetting what I was thinking or saying.

My thoughts

The discussions, questions, and course organization were easy to follow and work through. She made several points that I haven’t considered before and prompted me to explore my journey a little deeper.

Fishleder’s voice is welcoming and friendly, making the meditations calming and the discussions feel like a chat with a friend. She doesn’t come at you with judgement but a “hey, I got you” attitude. She has an effective pace and her insights are well placed and described. After introducing her insights, she would provide encouragement. This combination MADE the course.

The one drawback from this course is that any time was almost too much time. I know that is counter to the point of this course. I should be learning to better experience my time while mothering, but I can’t yet. It took me over a month to complete an hour’s worth of coursework and often I would just answer the questions with a sentence and move on. Check. I have done it. I was trying to get through the course to have it done, much like I often feel while mothering. I go through the motions to get it done, without experiencing or being mindful in those moments.

The course is worth it but I think its value is in having the resources to return to. Just like yoga, this is a practice. My understanding of myself and each moment will change and this course provides the ongoing opportunity to reevaluate.

I do wish these lessons transformed my motherhood experience and were absorbed faster, but even writing this has required me to check in with myself and my experience. So, in many respects these lessons are starting to sink in, but I just have to commit to the practice and give myself time and grace—perhaps that was its purpose and what motherhood is all about.

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