Why Conflicting Emotions Actually Make You A Better Mom with Dr. Margo Lowy Artwork

The Sparkle Project

(Formerly Worthy Mother Podcast)

The Sparkle Project is a feminist podcast for moms who are done carrying the weight of motherhood alone and are ready to connect with who they truly are - their sparkle, if you will.

So many of us feel overwhelmed not because we’re failing, but because we’re mothering inside a patriarchal system that expects us to give endlessly, stay quiet, and lose ourselves in the process. This space challenges those outdated expectations and embraces a more empowered, more supported, more self-honoring version of motherhood.

Hosted by Emily Rose MacDonald, a divorced mom of two on her own journey to shine a little brighter, each episode explores the realities of modern motherhood through a feminist lens that values equity, autonomy, mental health, and the humanity of moms.

You’ll hear conversations about identity, mental health, self-care, healing, and the many ways we can reclaim ourselves in a world that often overlooks the needs of mothers.

If you’re a mom who believes we deserve more than survival, and that our culture has to evolve for moms to truly thrive, you’re in the right place.

Welcome to The Sparkle Project.

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@honestlyemilyrose
@thesparkleprojectpod

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The Sparkle Project

Why Conflicting Emotions Actually Make You A Better Mom with Dr. Margo Lowy

August 05, 2025 • Episode 160

We’re diving into one of the most taboo topics in motherhood: maternal ambivalence. In this validating episode, Emily sits down with psychotherapist and author Dr. Margo Lowy, whose book Maternal Ambivalence: The Loving Moments and Bitter Truths of Motherhood opens the door to honest conversations about the full emotional spectrum of mothering. Dr. Lowy explains why the mix of love, frustration, joy, sorrow, and even resentment is not only normal but essential to understanding ourselves as mothers.

You’ll hear powerful insights on:

Why striving for perfection in motherhood sets us up for shame and disconnection
How ambivalence is not indifference, and why that distinction matters deeply
The importance of naming our feelings to access healing and transformation
How maternal guilt differs from maternal shame
What it looks like to truly flow with your mothering experience, messiness and all

Whether you're in the thick of early motherhood, navigating the emotional terrain of adult children, or just beginning to reflect on your own maternal journey, this conversation offers both warmth and wisdom to let you know you're not alone.

🔗 Connect with Dr. Margo Lowy:

Instagram: @drmargolowy
Website: www.drmargolowy.com

✨ Let’s keep the convo going:

Follow Emily on Instagram → @honestlyemilyrose
Follow the podcast on TikTok → @worthymotherpodcast

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