Julie Davidson didn’t set out to write a book, but she did, and now her mission is to "lower the bar for mothers." She says this only half-jokingly. Her book, "From Conception to Confusion," is a collection of funny and honest stories that focus on the trials and errors of parenting.
Although Davidson is clearly a committed, impassioned mother of two sons, she is also quick to share truthful gems like "having a C-section was a control freak's worst nightmare" and "it’s ironic how you can earn money, experience traveling the world and have a great education but you still have no idea what to do with something that weighs less than nine pounds."
Davidson’s writing is fresh and easy to digest. This is important to Davidson.
"The book is a collection of entries – snippets – you can read it cover to cover or pick it up and read parts of it," she says. "People are busy and don’t always have time to read. I get it."
Published by the women-owned Momosa Publishing, "From Conception to Confusion" is Davidson’s first book.
The majority of the content is what most moms experience, but Davidson puts a witty and heartfelt spin on it. "I swear I was sitting on the baby’s head during the last two months (of pregnancy," she writes.
She also recalls a heartbreaking miscarriage and confesses her challenges during her early days of breastfeeding, referring to her sister-in-law, who came to her rescue, as the "Nipple Whisperer."
Davidson, who is African American, was adopted in the late 1960s by "a family of white hippies with five boys." Hence, she also writes of the immense joy she experienced in seeing her newborn son, who shared her resemblance.
But mostly, Davidson’s writing serves as a connector to mothers from all walks of life. Her stories remind us that the mom gig is not a straight path – often a perplexing maze – but that we're in this together.
"Regardless of where you fall on the political spectrum, women actually have more in common than less in common," says Davidson. "Sometimes we have to share our truths and pull back our layers to realize this."
Julie Davidson will read excerpts from her book "From Conception to Confusion," on Thursday, May 11 at 6 p.m. at Barnes & Noble, Mayfair. The event is free.
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
