The 7 Stages of Motherhood urges women to reflect on the seismic shifts they undergo at each stage of their children's lives and to focus on their own evolution. Only by doing so, says Murphy, can we give children the best of ourselves. Many new moms assume that once things "get back to normal", they'll jump right back on their pre-baby path. But there's no going back, according to Murphy, and that's actually good news. Each stage of motherhood has its own challenges and opportunities. Motherhood forces us to hone muscles we never knew we had; to question our choices and goals; to reshape our relationships with family, friends, and our spouses; and, most important, to rethink who we are and where we're going. There's as much circling, sliding, falling back as there is surging ahead. Writing with wit, warmth, and unfailing empathy about the challenges mothers face at each stage, Murphy shows moms how to make the most of their lives as they raise their children.