Global Motherhood: A New Book Explores the First Year of Parenthood Around the World

This Mother's Day, PBS News explores the diverse experiences of motherhood around the world. Journalist Abigail Leonard's new book, "Four Mothers," provides an intimate look into the first year of parenthood in Japan, Kenya, Finland, and the United States. Leonard highlights the significant influence of government policies and societal expectations. "The amount of stress mothers felt was impacted by the amount of time they had with their babies in that first year," Leonard explains, contrasting the extended leave in Finland and Japan with the shorter, often unpaid, leave in the US and Kenya. The book also reveals the universal experience of the transition to motherhood, with mothers across cultures expressing similar feelings of disbelief and awe. Leonard's personal experiences as a mother living abroad add a unique layer to her insightful observations, making this a compelling story of global motherhood.