When I saw the title of this graphic novel by Irene Olmo, I Don’t Want to Be a Mom I assumed a few things. The first, due to the cover (which I thought was a young girl who did not want to grow up to be a mom), was that she was a trans man. But then I thought she was a lesbian and had some wrong idea they do not become mothers. Or even that she was asexual, had a bad mother herself, or she wouldn’t as a kid and/or teen, but the “right one” would come along and/or become a single mom and couldn’t imagine another path and why was she so silly in the first place. And so on and so on. It never occurred to me that she was a cisgender, straight female who decided she never wanted to be a mother. Because that was her choice. 
Brava Irene! Brava! Way to stand up for yourself! Way to tell society we are fulfilled as a person, as a woman, if we decide not to become a mother. Thank you for telling the other side of the story. You stood up to “expectations” and “what it means to be a woman” prejudices. And thank you for writing one of the most beautiful books about being strong as you are and there are no “You Should” rules or “Black and White” answers to being a woman I’ve seen.
Focusing on the Not Wanting to Be a Mother in the midst of family, friends, and especially society telling you how wrong, how bad, how selfish, even cruel you are for deciding not to bring another child into this world, we follow one woman’s journey to self-love. And she gives us: It’s okay not to be a mother. Both sides are represented, but she is truly pushing the “nope” side (stinky diapers, lack of freedom, the world is overpopulated, do we want to bring unwanted children into the world).
She can be snarky and sarcastic (especially when she’s talking to women who “pop the question” and answers with things like “she’s unable and they tried for years” and “we do it all the time and nothing”) and is straightforward in her journey to this self-discovery. Which actually started back in high school with a friend getting pregnant and a school debate about abortion (which is only given a few pages but sets the journey in motion). I do not believe she is trying to make a “one true wayism” statement, but it was her way. You might not be comfortable trying to shame those who shame her. Or yelling at your family. But you are right in your choice of Yes or NO. Olmo is my heroine for braving this path for many women by telling her story. You’ll laugh, cry, and maybe think about your own choices and those of others.
There is female nudity and language but I don’t feel it is to shock, but to move the story along. The story is well illustrated in a softer tone. You can judge the book by the cover in many ways when it comes to the art. Read via an online reader copy. Due mid-November 2023. Translated by Kendra Boileau.
