Kerry Docherty, co-founder of the Faherty clothing brand, flips conventional wisdom about selfishness in her new memoir, "Selfish: Unlearning, Reclaiming, and Telling the Truth." She argues that prioritizing your own needs does not conflict with being a good parent or partner. Instead, Docherty presents selfishness as a path to authenticity and fulfillment.
The memoir invites readers into Docherty's personal evolution. She chronicles her journey as a woman, business owner, wife, and mother while embracing what she calls "radical honesty." This approach means speaking your truth, even when it challenges family expectations or business relationships. Docherty shares concrete examples of how setting boundaries and making choices that serve her wellbeing ultimately strengthened her family and professional life.
Parenting experts increasingly validate this perspective. Research shows that parents who model self-care and honest communication raise children with healthier boundaries. When mothers and fathers openly pursue their own growth and interests, they demonstrate to their kids that personal fulfillment matters. This combats the toxic myth that good parenting requires complete self-sacrifice.
Docherty's framework particularly resonates with working parents juggling multiple identities. She illustrates how unbridled creativity and personal ambition fed her role as a mother rather than competed with it. Her business success provided her family with stability while giving her the confidence and joy that comes from meaningful work.
The liberation Docherty describes comes from rejecting guilt. She acknowledges societal pressure, especially on mothers, to suppress their own desires. Her memoir challenges this cultural narrative head-on. By naming selfishness as something positive, Docherty reclaims language that women often internalize as shameful.
Parents reading this book will find permission to stop apologizing for their ambitions. Docherty's