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New perspectives on the role of the modern mom
REVIEWS BY JULIE HALE No doubt about it, the traditional role of mother has changed in recent decades. Balancing marriage and work with the responsibilities of raising children, today's typical mom has plenty on her plate. Pulling everything off without seriously stressing out is practically a magic act. Frazzled mothers are sure to find inspiration, humor and empathy in the timely titles below. With their irreverent attitudes toward contemporary motherhood, these terrific reads are a great way for weary moms to relax and reboot. The parental pressure-cooker
Sippy Cups contains fun yet practical set pieces on choosing a babysitter, losing baby weight and traveling with children, as well as chapters on annoying stuff moms are sure to encounter. In an essay titled "Women Who Love Their Babies Too Much," the author riffs on mothers who are so "hyperfocused" on their kids, they create websites in their honor (which, of course, they compulsively update), while in "Little Brainiacs," she vents about the pressure put on parents to raise precocious kids. "Sorry," Wilder-Taylor says, "but no matter how much reading and talking to your belly in Chinese you do, your child is not going to pop out speaking Mandarin." This little volume is perfect for spreading some joy on Mother's Day.
By Stefanie Wilder-Taylor Simon & Schuster, $12.95 240 pages ISBN 1416915060
Drawing the line
Londergan kicks things off with a word of warning for new moms: "There is literally no limit to the life your kids will want you to give up—so you'd better draw the line in the sand now." A little self-indulgence every now and again is OK, says Londergan—in fact, it's absolutely critical. She encourages new mothers to pamper themselves, cultivate friends and hobbies, and have fulfilling romantic lives, all without feeling guilty. Each chapter of the book covers a different stage of motherhood, moving from pre- to post-pregnancy and beyond, with advice on topics like how to pick a preschool, how to monitor a child's Internet use, and how to simply say "no" to that darling daughter or super son. Londergan writes with cheek and humor, dispensing practical, no-nonsense advice in a fizzy, fast-paced fashion that will make harried mothers smile.
By Betty Londergan Adams Media, $12.95 224 pages ISBN 1593375026
Cleaning house
In "Drudges and Celebrities: The New Housekeeping," an ironic examination of Martha Stewart and the packaging of the perfect household, Flanagan writes, "almost any project Stewart cooks up is less daunting than the one it is meant to replace: keeping a family together, under one roof, home." Throughout the book, she mourns the passing of traditional domesticity, wherein "the measure of a home was found in the woman who ran it." A frequent contributor to The Atlantic Monthly and The New Yorker, Flanagan is herself a mother and a wife, and she brings experience and intimacy to these essays. Flustered mothers and frustrated wives will find just what they need here: a little camaraderie.
By Caitlin Flanagan Little, Brown, $22.95 288 pages ISBN 0316736872
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Stefanie Wilder-Taylor has appeared on Comedy Central and "Evening at the Improv," and her sharp wit takes center stage in Sippy Cups Are Not for Chardonnay and Other Things I Had to Learn as a New Mom. A collection of short, smart essays inspired by Wilder-Taylor's experiences as a novice parent, the book is full of her hilarious observations on the joys and complexities of motherhood.
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Independent woman versus proud parent—which will it be? Proving the two roles don't have to exist in opposition, I'm Too Sexy for My Volvo: A Mom's Guide to Staying Fabulous by Betty Londergan is full of great tips on how women can retain their identities in the face of motherhood. Londergan has a spirited style and a sassy attitude, and she offers some great ideas for mothers who are struggling to find private time and maintain a sense of self.
Crackling with the author's edgy wit and wisdom, Caitlin Flanagan's To Hell with All That: Loving and Loathing Our Inner Housewife is a collection of essays examining the key trends, issues and stereotypes surrounding today's wives and mothers. Through reports on topics like nannies, white weddings and the demands of housekeeping, she traces the evolution of the maternal role in American society. Contrasting the past—specifically the 1950s—with the present, she provides unique insights into the domestic arts and how our culture's perception of them has changed.