Practical Parenting editor dishes the dirt on the realities of motherhood.

Mara Lee felt completely unprepared when she had her first child. As a new mother she had moments of joy and happiness, but she also felt extreme levels of frustration, stress and hopelessness. And she felt cheated, because no one had told her just how hard motherhood can be.

Somewhere between the idea of an easy, joyous motherhood, and the harsh reality of postnatal depression, lies a place that many women visit, but few dare to talk about. A place where having a baby makes you feel alienated, ill-equipped and fearful that you’re doing the wrong thing.

Fast-forward 10 years and Mara Lee is editor of Practical Parenting and a well-known and respected parenting commentator, with two beautiful children she couldn’t live without. But she hasn’t forgotten the extreme struggles of that first year, and now that she knows the truth? She wants to share a few things with the rest of us, so we can face motherhood clear-sighted and prepared, with our rose-coloured glasses firmly on our head!

In Staying Mum: What your mum forgot to tell you and you best friends never dared!, Mara has written a funny, honest and entertaining account of her first year of motherhood, where she’s not afraid to delve into everything, the good, the bad, and yes, the ugly. She reassures new mums that they’re not alone, while at the same time highlighting just how amazing all our mums really are.

Dotted throughout with expert advice and seriously useful tips, this is the truthful, sympathetic and non-judgemental book every new mother needs to keep her sane during that first year.