The Making of a Mom

What defines motherhood? Is it the ability to get pregnant and give birth to a child? The feeling of pure, selfless joy that bubbles up as your child discovers his or her world? Or could it be the fierce instinct to create a family—and the courage to keep that family safe at all costs?

Kimberly Severn felt a strong instinct to be a mother. Even amidst the wonder of her first pregnancy, she struggled with intimidating complications that took a toll on her body. As a successful business woman, she was used to being in control, but soon learned that motherhood is also defined by the truth that there is very little you can control when it comes to creating a family.

When Kimberly and her husband decided to adopt their second child, they navigated the adoption process, willing themselves to maintain hope and enthusiasm through a whirlwind of disappointments and surprises. Kimberly tried tirelessly to balance empathy and compassion for their daughter’s forceful birth parents with the safety and health of her family. Her instinct as a mother would take her from the delivery room to the courtroom, constantly looking inward to discover what it really took to be the mom she dreamed of being.

The Making of a Mom is a memoir of what it means to be a mother. It is also a story of self-discovery, as Kimberly explores the joys, pains, and the depth of understanding she gained as she wondered at every twist and turn, “Am I mom enough?”