MotherTalk Blog Tour- MOMFIDENCE!

Welcome to the third stop on the MotherTalk Blog Tour for "Momfidence!: An Oreo Cookie Never Killed Anyone and Other Secrets of Happier Parenting" by Paula Spencer.

What?! Someone else has dared to write a book about happier parenting? No! Say it isn't so! Aren't we all supposed to be focused on the negative aspects of our lives as parents? You know the routine, where experts and much of the media lead mothers to a corner, tell us to sit down and encourage us to wring our hands and look worried? They tell us we are hapless victims of a raw deal. That maternal is really matern-hell.
Paula Spencer takes notice of this trend as well when she asks, "Ever notice that good-mothering messages always focus on the Dark Side?"

We are so glad other authors are stepping forward to write about the happier parts of parenting; demonstrating that when we ease up on ourselves, laugh at ourselves (and yes, even occasionally laugh at our kids!) we are more confident. Or in this case, Momfident!

In this world where we are practically zombies due to our harried schedules and keeping up with the rat race which has become our routine, isn't it time we all stopped the Mompetition and recommended the good stuff? The stuff that makes us feel like we are walking into the light? (Not in a going to The Other Side way, but in a way where we feel like we aren't lost anymore.) This is the reason we agreed to read Paula's book.

So let us move our collective ass over. There is plenty of room on the shelf for another authorist!

Paula's light hearted and laugh-out-loud look at parenting is a welcome pleasure. It jumps out and tells us this mom thing isn't always easy, so let's have some fun with it by realizing that everyone is doing something crazy. The way she throws her anecdotes into the chapters is really the way our lives are; constantly interrupted by life itself, kids popping in and out. Doing what kids do-fun, sad,annoying, dangerous, poignant.

We found ourselves giggling (and sometimes distracting others with our giggles) as we recalled vivid images of our own experiences. The chapter that includes "The annals of Things I Can't Believe I Just Said" conjured up the memory of this lovely utterance yelled as mother and son were walking back from a neighborhood park and said son went over to play with a neighbors sports equipment, "Leave his balls alone! You can play with your own when we get back to the house!" (If you guess who said it, Devra or Aviva, there will be a prize!)

Is this book going to be appreciated by everyone? Of course not. We have no doubt that Paula has made statements that might offend or horrify some readers. But, that too is part of what makes this book so real and so applicable to being a mom. Truth is, we will all make decisions to say or do what we feel is best. Momfidence is making our own decisions even though we might horrify, and even disgust, those around us. You know what we all can do? Build a bridge and get over it!

We feel that Paula's vivid descriptions of her own parenting experiences allow the reader to picture exactly what she is talking about, and they actually work as an illustration of our book, Mommy Guilt. Paula allows the reader to "see" what life can look like if you apply the Mommy-guilt Free Philosophy. We love that! The two books compliment each other, so naturally we two compliment (Mompliment?!) Paula on her wonderful book!

Feel free to share with us your own entries in the "Annals of Things I Can't Believe I just said." We're sure Paula will enjoy them too!