MODERN ATHENAS Episode 6: Expecting Adam by Martha Beck, a discussion of expectations, connection and joy

MODERN ATHENAS

Expecting Adam is the journey of Martha Beck and the pregnancy and birth of her son, Adam, who has Down Syndrome. The book opens with Martha taking the reader back to the start of her pregnancy, when she was a PhD student at Harvard. The story winds its way through the triumphs and travails of her pregnancy, including when she received the news of Adam’s condition, and concludes with Adam’s birth. Throughout the book, Martha weaves in stories about Adam, painting an intimate portrait of her son and the way he sees the world. Martha also brings to light the issues of family, hope, destiny, and expectations.
INDEX
0:00:00-0:01:52 Intro and Background of the Book
0:01:53-0:14:10 Surviving Harvard: Imposter Syndrome
0:14:11-0:20:21 Sibyl: The Value of Friendship
0:20:22-0:26:40 Coping with Unexpected Life Changes
0:26:41-0:30:51 Balancing Work-Life Expectations
0:30:52-0:33:27 Asking for Help
0:33:28-0:38:04 The Decision to Keep Adam
0:38:05-0:39:53 Mothering
0:39:54-0:41:50 Being the Parent Your Child Needs
0:41:51-0:45:26 It’s the Little Things in Life
0:45:27-0:49:04 Being Good Enough
0:49:05-0:53:09 Connecting with Others Who Know Pain
0:53:10-0:55:59 Stoicism
0:56:00-0:58:45 Angels in Life
0:58:46-1:01:07 Conclusion
1:01:08-1:02:03 Outro and Next Episode
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