By 

Shaz “oi-you!” (Naples, FL USA) –

  

  

Everyone told me how fantastic having kids would be. Personally, I reflect they were tiresome to lure me into the “mommy club” by not telling me the rest of the tale. While having babies is exciting and defenitely one of life’s undisputed miracles, there is an aspect of it that changes you perpetually. You have to give up a lot of selfish behavior (in that, I mean things that aren’t in and of themselves selfish in nature, just things you normally do for yourself: i.e. taking a long, hot bath or having a bit of a lie down whenever you feel like it)and in the process, you lose a bit of yourself. Thank goodness Vicki Iovine and her gaggle of girlfriends have returned to tell me that I’m not alone! It’s incredible: you reflect that passing a certain “stage” (i.e. teething, potty training)is a relief, but in the process, you start to feel your purpose slip away as your kids grow more and more independent. You start to reflect, now what? I’ve been raising my kids for X amount of years, and I’ve lost who I am. Wasn’t I supposed to just slip right back into the fabulous career woman role with small to no turbulence?!? Vicki is right by our side to lend her shoulder and support, and to tell us (I don’t know before we even realize it) that life keeps changing- you never pass a “stage” and get relative cool in your life. She uses the anaolgy of a leaky rowboat. You can either weep about the fact that you’re up to your knees in fill up, or you can grab that bucket and bail the boat out, something you’ll have to do over again and over again as eventually, the rowboat fills up over again. Vicki helps us to see the humor in motherhood, and the unique role we play as women, but not in some drippy, “I found this book in the self help section” way. Every piece of advice is peppered with humor. Vicki clarifies how to focus at work when things at home are chaotic, that we should get over the romantic myth of “date nights”, and how to turn to your veteran girlfriends for help through what she calls “mommy adolescence”. A must for every mom.

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By 

G. Lavelle “lavellebg” (Puyallup, WA USA) –

  

This book is written for the Mommy who has finally place all the kids in school, and now wants to reclaim a part of her ancient self. Although I still have small ones at home, I found it reassuring that these “stages” parents go through with the kids don’t last long, so we might as well delight in them. At the same time, we need to remember that “we are the only ones who know how much soul-searching time we need to keep functioning as the locomotives that pull the family teach.” I reflect a Mother can never hear enough that the days are long but the years are small, and that taking care of yourself must be a priority if we’re to make it all glide and stand a chance of enjoying our families and ourselves.

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Ms. Iovine has a fantastic knack for hitting the nail of motherhood right on the head. This book is a real look at what most of us moms are going through- loving our family, but wondering when we will have time for ourselves, and why we are so suprised that everyone’s needs are life met, but somehow, not our own. I felt this book not only spoke to my struggles at life a mom, wife, carpooler, volunteer and holding a job, but certainly made me feel as if I were not alone on this treadmill. The best advice she gives is to look forward, and that we will never be the release girls we once were, so it is time to make a new identity and take care of ourselves, so we can delight in our lives NOW and in the future. Thank You for a fantastic book!

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