“You really should have kids.” Hurtling toward 40—and still single and longing for children of her own—Kathleen doesn’t need to be reminded that time is running out for her to turn her dreams for a family into reality. So she starts to consider a Plan B: becoming a single parent. But can she do it all on her own? And does she really want to? If only I could try it out, she thinks. For wouldn’t an internship as a single mommy help her make major life decisions? And then….
In an open, thoughtful, and sometimes hilarious memoir, Kathleen shares what she learns while caring for her 15-month-old nephew, Jake, while his parents travel. With Jake, she experiences the realities of single parenthood, including a taste of the loving affection she craves, fierce tantrums that test her best aunting skills, moments of bliss amidst exploding poopy diapers and ongoing sleep deprivation, and ah-hahs that have her questioning whether she has wasted her life.
And that’s just the start of her journey. Back at home, she unpacks and examines the societal baggage that led her to believe a woman’s only true value is as a mother. Empowered by her experience, research, and introspection, she learns to embrace the different paths women choose, including the one she ultimately chooses for herself.
“A superbly written account of a woman looking at, and discovering, motherhood. A FINALIST and highly recommended!” — The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Available in ebook and paperback.
Order on Barnes & Noble.
Ask your local bookshop to order through IndieBound (Ingram).
Print ISBN: 978-0-578-34665-6 • Ebook ISBN: 978-0-578-34666-3
Order on Amazon.
Print ISBN: 978-1-7373048-1-4 • Ebook ISBN: 978-1-7373048-0-7
Borrow from your local library!
- Ebook available through hoopla
- Request the paperback from your librarian
KATHLEEN GUTHRIE WOODS: Author
For information about readings, interviews, and book club appearances (discussion questions, virtual author Q&A), please email kwoods (at) kathleen-ink (dot) com.
Appearances
I am proud to be one of The Twenty Percenters.
It’s so fun to celebrate your wins with your peers — and give a shout-out to where you got your start! UCLA Extension Writers’ Program Success Story (2023).
On “Coffee Talk with Cathy” Alessandra (Yes I Can Living), hear the story about how I learned my memoir was on Katie Couric’s list of “37 Life-Changing Books You Won’t Be Able to Put Down.” Watch our talk here on Facebook.
Cheryl Holling interviewed me for Episode 51 of her podcast, “19Stories: from Fear to Hope.”
Discussion + audience Q&A in support of San Francisco’s independent BookShop West Portal.
3-Part MiniView with Crazy Amazing Humans. Watch on Instagram and Facebook. #crazyamazinghumans #crazyamazinghumanspodcast @crazyamazinghumans
on #OMTimes network
Reviews from the international childless community:
“‘The Mother of All Dilemmas’ Explores Cultural Conditioning and ‘Choices’” by Pamela M. Tsigdinos, author of Silent Sorority
“We Have a New Book, Drumroll, Please…” by Sarah Chamberlin for Infertility Honesty
“The next time someone suggests to you ‘Why not have a baby on your own?’…” by Jody Day, Founder of Gateway Women
“Kathleen presents an insightful account of weighing up different routes to parenthood, as well as examining societal pressures for women around the role of motherhood, and offers a great insight into how to let your dream of parenthood go and then build a positive life around that decision. It’s empowering to hear about other people’s successful Plan B stories, and Kathleen’s book fortunately has a happy ending–just not involving a cliched miracle baby.” —The NoMo Book Club review
“This book…offers information and solace to a great many single, childless women struggling to move forward either with pursuing the hope of solo parenthood or making peace with not doing so. This is the first time I’ve seen the dilemma of whether to have a baby, or not, as a single woman so well-articulated, and Guthrie Woods has done future generations of women facing this difficult choice a great service with her painstaking honesty and emotional generosity.” —Jody Day, psychotherapist, author of “Living the Life Unexpected: 12 Weeks to Your Plan B for a Meaningful and Fulfilling Future Without Children,” and founder of Gateway Women
“Kathleen Guthrie Woods takes readers on a journey of hope, determination, and resilience, ultimately to discover what matters most. If you’ve ever heard the phrase ‘You should have a baby,’ you should definitely read this book.” —Melanie Notkin, founder, SAVVY AUNTIE®, and author of “Otherhood: Modern Women Finding a New Kind of Happiness”
Early reviews on Goodreads:
“Guthrie Woods gifts the world with her personal journey, one that will touch the hearts and minds of many, and, for some, be the voice in the wilderness they’d been searching for. “
“Funny and introspective, thoughtful and courageous.”
“The true beauty of the book is that she adeptly weaves in her compassion and empathy for women in ALL circumstances, with AND without children. She bravely looks at all sides of this multi-faceted issue of “to be or not to be” a mother with humor, candor, and deep insight.”
One of Aspire Magazine‘s “Top 10 Inspiring Books”
Purchase The Mother of All Dilemmas in paperback or ebook from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or through your local bookshop.
San Francisco’s BookShop West Portal.
Bookworks in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Oliver & Friends Bookshop in Belgrade Lakes, Maine.