Mom Needs a Moment: How to Stop Your Reaction Before It Starts . . . and Become a Calmer, Happier, More Connected Parent

by Cassidy Freitas

A warm and authoritative guide to maternal mental health, offering real solutions, by popular online therapist Dr. Cassidy Freitas.

“Dr. Cassidy helps moms see what’s actually happening underneath the snap and the spiral, and learn practical ways to get steady again.” —Dr. Becky Kennedy, clinical psychologist and New York Times bestselling author of Good Inside

“This book is a lifeline for parents … I couldn’t put it down, and walked away truly feeling like a better parent, and human.” —Kristin Gallant, co-founder of Big Little Feeling

Motherhood is messy. Mom Needs a Moment is for the moms who find themselves losing their temper more than they’d like. Or shutting down when things feel too loud or too much. Or who are tired of snapping, spiraling, or second-guessing themselves ... and want to understand why this keeps happening, and how to change it. Dr. Cassidy invites mothers to see that much of what they carry didn’t start with them, and that they have the power to choose what continues and what ends.

So how do we break the cycle? By finding what Dr. Cassidy calls margins: the spaces we can create (mental, emotional, physical, and relational) that allow us to respond differently. Margins help us catch ourselves in the moment, regulate our nervous systems, and make more intentional choices. They are where we pause, breathe, notice, soften, and shift.

Weaving together stories from her own messy motherhood moments with the tools she’s gathered as a therapist, Dr. Cassidy shows how margins can help you feel less reactive, more connected, and more like yourself again.

Genres: Parenting, Audiobook, Nonfiction, Personal Development

Audible Audio

Published June 16, 2026

About the author

PhD LMFT

Reviews

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book as much as all of the other reviewers. I think there was some very useful information and tools. However, as a mom who works full-time, I don’t have a ton of time to invest in listening to self-help books. I found this book to be overly long and wordy. I almost feel like I could’ve skipped the first five or six chapters to get to the actual point and the tips that were actually helpful. I think it really needed someone to edit it a bit even if it was five or six hours I would’ve been happier than the almost 12 hours of audiobook.

[Brenda Adelsberger · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

To my fellow type a, perfectionist, people pleasing, “rest is earned” type mom, this book will seem like it was written specifically for you.

[Danielle]

After two hours of listening, I felt that there was maybe three minutes of helpful information, so I didn’t feel that it was worthwhile to push on.

[Angela S · Rating 4 out of 5]

“It’s hard to be the partner, daughter, friend, or coworker you used to be when you’re responsible for keeping a tiny human alive.”

Always trying to give myself grace for this chapter of life. Learning how to be less reactionary and this book had some good reminders.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s hard to rate nonfiction books like these? But. I found it very validating and very helpful, and it was what I thought it would be, so… good??

[Kara]

This book is trying to get me to re map my past and I’m just tired of doing that.
Also, the author talks a little too much about herself for my taste. Made it part through chapter one

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this book because I’ve been struggling with navigating returning to work and leaving my amazing little guy behind, but I also knew I was feeling stressed and spread thin with my own mom anxiety as well as the tasks that work added back to my day. I saw Dr. Freitas and her book featured by one of the folks I follow on Instagram, and I knew I had to read this.

This book is a great resource and a powerful read. It left me crying on my commute, laughing at some of the sillier things that resonated, and feeling capable of providing myself some margin after learning more about what that means. Dr. Freitas gives really practical, warm, and supportive advice in the book, and I feel more equipped to handle my stress and build in pause before reacting to things that get me off my game.

I recommend this book to anyone who feels spread a little thin. As a new mom, this book has been incredible.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mom Needs a Moment is such a compassionate, validating, and genuinely incredible book. It has a beautiful blend of professional expertise and relatable, real-life stories that make you feel completely understood. The author is a therapist, but the advice never feels clinical or overwhelming - it feels warm, practical, and encouraging.

Reading this book feels like sitting down with your mom best friend, someone who truly gets what you're going through while also giving you thoughtful, practical tips that actually help. It's comforting, reassuring, and really captures the motherhood experience in such a relatable way.

I honestly think this is a beautiful book for any mom, whether you're navigating the early years or simply needing a reminder to slow down, take a breath, and give yourself some grace.

[Bethany Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Freitas has written such a helpful and relatable book for moms and caregivers! I highly recommend the audiobook version as it was extra special listening to Cassidy read it herself - her voice is approachable and the content is really relatable. She vulnerably shares stories from her own motherhood journey as well as stories from her clinical practice, and these make the information come to life. She shares tangible tips for any parent wanting to address challenging patterns of perfectionism, reactivity, and overwhelm. I appreciate how she helps readers explore the roots of the issue and realistic ways to address these, providing supportive and gentle guidance. I also really loved the thoughtful prompts to reflect and the summaries at the end of the chapters. I plan to recommend this book to many clients in my practice!

[Dr. Kim Van Dusen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mom Needs a Moment is a compassionate, validating, and incredibly practical guide for mothers who want to prevent burnout and respond to their children with more calm and connection. Dr. Cassidy Freitas beautifully blends her expertise as a therapist with relatable stories and actionable tools that help moms better understand what’s happening beneath their reactions. Rather than offering guilt or perfection, she provides hope, self-compassion, and realistic strategies for breaking unhealthy patterns and creating lasting change. Every mother will see herself in these pages and walk away feeling more understood, more empowered, and more equipped to navigate the beautiful messiness of motherhood. I highly recommend this book to every mom—and to anyone who supports mothers.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book, actually. Parenting books are hit or miss, but there were a lot of things about this I found helpful and validating. It also has probably the best basic explanation of IFS I think I’ve ever read. I wish there were more practical tips for finding ways to take advantage of the “margins”—breaths haven’t ever worked for me, and stepping away is impossible with little kids who follow you. I do think there are good things to take away and I found it worth the read, which I don’t usually say about parenting books.

[Laura Petix · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every Grandma, mom, step mom, soon to be mom needs this book on their shelf! I love how Dr. Cassidy has the perfect blend of relatability and clinical insight. This book felt like having a really smart bestie who knew exactly what I needed to hear and said it in a way that just clicked. There’s no such thing as a perfect mom, but when you implement the tips and make the shifts Dr. Cassidy shares to help us prioritize ourselves, you can get pretty darn close!

[Andrea Knox · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully validating book for moms at any stage who are noticing patterns of reactivity, rage, and/or perfectionism. Dr. Cassidy offers gentle and relatable guidance to making positive shifts, providing readers the tools to understand the root of cycles and how to sustainably break them. I love the stories from Dr. Cassidy’s own life and therapy office, and the summaries at the end of each chapter are so helpful to bring it all home.

[Josephine Ampaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're thinking about getting this book, just go ahead and do It and frankly get the audiobook! Her approach to psychoeducation in combination with her lived experience makes you not feel so alone in your experience. Its an important read for parents and those who work with parents! Highly recommend!

[Tayler Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book came at the perfect time for me. Being in the thick of the threeanger stage, still trying to figure out my own motherhood journey, and doing a lot of reflecting lately on what our household needs to thrive, this one really hit home. I think every parent will feel seen by the topics in this book. Highly recommend.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was excellent. Really appreciate the emphasis on creating “margins” in your life to allow for rest and help your reactions to others (esp kids) align with your values. She also had handy “margin notes” at the end of each chapter that I see myself going back to. Highlighted a ton in this one. Highly recommend.

[Susannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Cassidy’s book wonderfully invites women and mothers to be more compassionate and understanding towards themselves. I appreciate how she encourages women to take space and get more support, as well as embrace being authentic and imperfect. This book has so many valuable messages and tools, and will help so many women and mothers.

[Alexis Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a 3.5 and 1.5 year old and boy does this book hit home with feeling understood with my thoughts and emotions. Great book that I recommend to any mom or parent in general to help paint the picture of the mental load of a parent and how to best approach.

[Elizabeth Townsend]

Wanted to love this but got about 120 pages in and couldn’t keep going. Maybe I’ll come back to it someday, and the goal of the book is admirable, but it seems to be repeating itself to fill out a whole book.

[Abby Gruebl · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I found this book extremely relatable and validating, I don’t know that it really gave me anything new or useful to use. It did make me feel less alone in motherhood, but I don’t know that it helped me be able to make any changes like o thought it would.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fellow therapist and mom, this is a great read! Thought provoking and encouraging!

[Analisa Jackson · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot at first and still love the message, but I couldn’t help but notice a chat GPT-esque writing style, which got very repetitive after a while.

[Tessa Ritchie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved listening to dr Cassidy’s podcast when I was postpartum and I was excited when she announced she was coming out with a book. I’ve really enjoyed the mix of personal stories, client stories, practical solutions and research that the book provides. I love that it feels like permission to focus on myself since I can really struggle with “mom guilt.” I wish I had this when I was freshly postpartum, I think it definitely would have made a difference in my experience back then. However I am still using a lot of the material to remind myself of the importance of prioritizing myself. I’ve actually gifted this book to a few newly postpartum friends so hopefully they can benefit from these lessons early on!

[Bhuvaneswaran JB · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good read I would say