Mother's Day Moments, a Good Book, and a Giveaway!

About ten years ago on Mother's Day I was single and kid-less, casually sitting in Border's café sipping my diet coke (I really wanted to write "latte" - it sets the scene so much better...but, that would be a big fat lie...I don't do coffee, in any form) reading a book. I remember glancing around the room, wondering about the other customers and I was intrigued by one woman, who seemed quietly thrilled. She had her feet curled up underneath her, sitting comfortably and reading in a big cushy leather chair. Her expression on her face was pure contented bliss. I wondered about her “story”. Remembering that it was Mother’s Day, I imagined that she had requested one simple mother’s day gift – an afternoon all to herself, without kids, to do whatever her heart desired. The irony of wanting to spend Mother’s Day childless was not lost on me – yet I surmised, that perhaps, that would be the perfect mother’s day gift.

So now, ten years later, I am married and the mother of two wonderful little boys and today I have been given the perfect gift. I am sitting, solo, in Borders, in that same café, and I am loving it!

And since today is Mother’s Day, I wanted to tell you about a wonderful mom book that I recently finished and loved! Amy Wilson, author of When Did I Get Like This? The Screamer, The Worrier, The Dinosaur-Chicken-Nugget Buyer & Other Mothers I Swore I’d Never Be is my new best friend!  Ok…not really. I have never even met the woman (unless you consider a friendly exchange on her blog as "meeting") but after reading her book I felt like we could be friends. Her book faces the challenges of being a mom, head-on. She is not afraid to admit her shortcomings and find the horror and humor in them. If you have ever felt that you are teetering on the brink of insanity because of the expectations of motherhood, Amy lets you know that you are not alone. As I read, I found myself relating to her stories and feeling like, “Yeah! She gets it!...She gets ME!”  Amy writes, after telling about watching her little girl Maggie eat Teddy Grahams that had fallen into the sandbox,

“A good mother would not let her toddler eat sandy Teddy Grahams. Why, a good mother would not let her toddler eat Teddy Grahams at all. A good mother bring blanched green beans in a citrus broth, enough for the whole sandbox to share, and she would have used her portable steam sanitizer on the communal shovel before her daughter teethed on it. There is always a way to fall short, and so there is always a corner of my brain reverberating: you are a failure.”

And I thought – “Yep – Exactly, Exactly!  Except for the blanched green beans in citrus broth, I have SO been there!” And, that was only page five! The goodness continues throughout! This book is a wonderfully funny and honest story of modern motherhood!

I loved this book so much that I am giving a copy away! First, please know that no one has asked me to read or review the book…I just really enjoyed it and want to pass it on. Also, no one is paying me to do this – in fact I am shelling out my own dinero (from all the $ I make as a SAHM) to buy a copy and ship it to the winner.

Why, you ask?

I do have one simple ulterior motive. I am considering writing a book about motherhood and I would like input from other moms. I put together a 10 question survey and I am hoping that you will fill it out. Anyone who fills out the survey (and includes their name and email address) will be put into a drawing to win Amy Wilson’s book When Did I Get Like This?  Please fill out the survey by Sunday, May 16.  I will announce the winner on Monday, May 17th.

Click here to take survey

Thanks SO Much!!!!!!! 

And, Happy Mother's Day!