Dear Scarlet: The Story of My Postpartum Depression is a visual letter from Teresa Wong to her daughter about her struggle with postpartum depression. Following a difficult birth, Wong finds herself physically and emotionally exhausted. Instead of the "joys of motherhood", she instead finds herself overwhelmed with anxiety and guilt about not being able to provide for all her daughter’s needs. The book recounts Wong’s story from the birth of her daughter to her eventual diagnosis and gradual recovery. Wong’s simple and charming art style lightens an otherwise heavy recollection of some of the most difficult months of her life. She effectively uses humorous diagrams and clever metaphors to express the complex feelings she experienced with postpartum depression. My favorite page is a reproduction of the airline safety guidelines for parents. As a child, I remember being surprised by the exact images. It was the first time I realized that caring for your loved ones requires you to first care for yourself.
Dear Scarlet is a worthwhile short read that provides a nuanced perspective of motherhood in a refreshing contrast to many idealized depictions in popular media. Even with her experience and newfound support, Wong shares in the postscript that she again struggled with postpartum depression following the birth of her second child. Wong reassures readers that motherhood comes with many challenges and that it is important to acknowledge them.
