Motherhood Meets Me is a heartfelt memoir about the struggle and the pain of infertility, and one couple’s triumphant journey toward parenthood.
Motherhood Meets Me is a heartfelt memoir about the struggle and the pain of infertility, and one couple’s triumphant journey toward parenthood.
Motherhood Meets Me is a personal story of the struggle to have a family and fulfill the dream of raising children.
Erica accounts the many heartbreaking moments she endured in hopes of becoming a mother and living the life with her husband that she always dreamed of.
This memoir is a story of hardship, but also perseverance and resiliency. This personal account can serve as a hopeful guide to not only those experiencing a similar situation but family members and friends hoping to better understand the perils of infertility.
“Nothing was simple and nothing was easy. Mental torture and abuse overcame me and I wondered how all of this would play out. My mind knew it wasn’t good, but my heart was like a sunflower bending toward the light.”
Erica Walther Schlaefer lives in Rochester, NY with her husband AJ, 3 children, and a Golden Retriever named Beatrice. She has been an aspiring writer since elementary school creating countless short stories and poems.
Later in life she began writing pieces for work-related topics and moved onto blogging. In 2007 Erica started a personal blog documenting her story of infertility and becoming an adoptive mother.
The online journals turned into a blog being read by many people looking for guidance and understanding.
Erica’s writing continued to progress, and she decided to write a memoir inspired by the blog posts logging her journey to motherhood.
Erica’s blog was the first step towards starting the national 501 c(3) non-profit, Parenthood for Me, Inc. (PFM). She began writing about her journey towards adoption and that led into telling their story of infertility and the many obstacles they faced along the way.
The mission of Parenthood for Me is to provide financial and emotional support for those starting families through adoption or medical intervention.
Parenthood for Me was founded in 2009 and began awarding grants in 2010. They have helped families complete adoptions and undergo procedures such as in vitro fertilization. PFM has been a source of support and education for countless people struggling to have a family and realize their dreams of parenthood.
I met Erica for the first time in 2009. Instantly, I could sense her passion to help build families. Working to bring awareness and resolution to others, all while on her own personal journey, speaks directly to her character. I watched in awe as she worked tirelessly to build a platform for others to feel safe to share their stories and foster hope for a brighter tomorrow. A fearless leader, Erica is not only an adoption advocate but a reputable community leader always working to bring people together.
Abbey Celeste
Anyone struggling to start a family will relate to Erica's honest and emotional telling of her experience. Her story is one of heartbreak, resilience and, ultimately, gratitude. This journey inspired her to help others longing to become parents, turning her into inspiration as well.
Julie Phillip
People who experience infertility often suffer in silence. This book gives a voice to their stories. Told with poise, clarity and great honesty, Erica helps usher you into the complicated and devastating world of infertility and adoption. This is a must-read for everyone.
Becky Ferrigno
A memoir about the beauty and the triumph of becoming a mother after years of the pain of infertility. It is a story of the grief and struggles one goes through when learning that having a baby will not be easy and may never happen at all.
Currently, we are only shipping in the US.
The book is not available in a digital format.
I have wanted to be a published author for most of my life. Thank you to the Unbound Press for helping me make this dream become a reality.
My first book is a memoir that I began writing 12 years ago while finding myself experiencing some challenging things in life. I am excited to share my story with the readers and hope to gain connection and understanding through the telling of my personal journey to motherhood.
Excerpt 1
Infertility is a silent disease- one that many discredit as an ailment of the mind and one’s outlook instead of a medical failing of the body.
There are several infertility diagnoses such as endometriosis that are quite serious and do need severe medical treatment.
Infertility is a disease that may not kill but can disintegrate your spirit.
Excerpt 2
I forgot how much emphasis is placed on what is supposed to be the next step after marriage: children.
There were more comments about having babies than about the extremely important act of entering into marriage for a lifetime.
I understand that as a society, love, marriage, and baby is the straight and narrow, the way in which things are expected to evolve.
And no one meant any harm. But it pisses me off. What an expectation to place on women (and men).
Give the happy couple a chance to understand the commitment of marriage. Lay it on the line, give advice. It’s hard work. Then hopefully, if they want, children will come.
Excerpt 3
Suddenly I found myself faced with many difficult decisions. I wasn’t really “young” anymore at 27, but I certainly didn’t expect to be facing such grown-up problems.
I was in an infantile marriage, a newer career, just purchased our “family” house and the road map to our future came to a blinding dead end.
Pregnancy, children, a family may never happen.
Excerpt 4
Damn, if this whole experience wasn’t completely soul-crushing. I was literally heartbroken. And not just once but multiple times. What I felt during all of this was my truth.
I don’t know what others in similar situations have actually felt. But, what I hope now as I always hoped since starting to write my thoughts and experiences in an online journal is that my truth made someone else feel like they weren’t alone.
Excerpt 1
Infertility is a silent disease- one that many discredit as an ailment of the mind and one’s outlook instead of a medical failing of the body.
There are several infertility diagnoses such as endometriosis that are quite serious and do need severe medical treatment.
Infertility is a disease that may not kill but can disintegrate your spirit.
Excerpt 2
I forgot how much emphasis is placed on what is supposed to be the next step after marriage: children.
There were more comments about having babies than about the extremely important act of entering into marriage for a lifetime.
I understand that as a society, love, marriage, and baby is the straight and narrow, the way in which things are expected to evolve.
And no one meant any harm. But it pisses me off. What an expectation to place on women (and men).
Give the happy couple a chance to understand the commitment of marriage. Lay it on the line, give advice. It’s hard work. Then hopefully, if they want, children will come.
Excerpt 3
Suddenly I found myself faced with many difficult decisions. I wasn’t really “young” anymore at 27, but I certainly didn’t expect to be facing such grown-up problems.
I was in an infantile marriage, a newer career, just purchased our “family” house and the road map to our future came to a blinding dead end.
Pregnancy, children, a family may never happen.
Excerpt 4
Damn, if this whole experience wasn’t completely soul-crushing. I was literally heartbroken. And not just once but multiple times. What I felt during all of this was my truth.
I don’t know what others in similar situations have actually felt. But, what I hope now as I always hoped since starting to write my thoughts and experiences in an online journal is that my truth made someone else feel like they weren’t alone.
Erica is available for book signings, interviews & speaker engagements.
Contact her for details using the form below.
