Ups and Downs

This lovely story, which depicts a mother who has Bipolar Disorder, illustrates what family life looks like for children living with such a mother. The book is told from the perspective of a little girl who, with a little brother, lives with their mother and describes their home life.

The little girl highlights that her mother is great and talented in language and singing, and there’s no doubt about her love for her children which is shown through lots of kisses and cuddles. However, their family life is different from many other families. The mother experiences UPs and DOWNs at any time. When her mother is UP, she is full of energy. For example, she sometimes sings opera while doing the laundry or plays the piano during the night. When she is DOWN, she is tired and sad, sometimes sleeping in bed for the whole day. As a result, the children sometimes solve problems or cook by themselves.

The mother does many things that are not appropriate, but, because of her Bipolar Disorder, are beyond her control. Despite her mental illness, she always loves her children.

The author, Nancy MacNairn, shares this autobiographical story based on her own experiences of living with a person with Bipolar Disorder. This picture book highlights the struggles but also presents the love between the girl and her mother. Before reading this book, I had little knowledge of this mental illness and what family life could be like for family members. The illustrator, Doruntina Beqiraj, uses bright illustrations to show the mother’s UPs and greyness to show the DOWNs. This book uses gentle and vivid words, illustrations, and plain language to tell a beautiful story. I believe all readers can gain knowledge and understanding about this disease.

I loved Ups and Downs because it presents a diverse portrait of being a mother. It tells a lovely story that shows that, even with Bipolar Disorder, the mother is still wonderful and always loves her children who also understand her situation. This book helps readers break down the “perfect mother” stereotype, showing that love is the most important thing between a mother and her children.