Customer Reviews

Cheerfully Childless: The Humor Book for Those Who Hesitate to Procreate

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Hubby and I have chosen not to have children and you'd think we'd pledged an alliance with Satan or something! Both of our families have had no problem chastizing us for our very personal decision. Many arguments have ensued over the years for us being the butt of jokes or snide comments on our "selfishness" for not wanting kids. (Hmm, somehow I think actually weighing something as life changing as having children over just jumping into reproduction because it's expected of us makes me think we're NOT being selfish) Cheerfully Childless makes you realize you're not alone and that there are plenty of people out there like us who love children but just don't want our own. There are many funny cartoons and some AWESOME one liners that I've since used and instantly shut up nosey and insensitive people with their remarks. If you have chosen to stay a family of two and want a good reassurance that you're not as self centered as everyone with children says you are, this is the book for you! ;-)

This is a humor book, after all, so it may not be the earth-shattering book that helps you make that crucial decision. That said, I found kernels of truth in the humor that rang true with my feelings on the subject. And there are some parts of the small book that are serious. For instance, on the topic of not having grandchildren someday, I appreciated the following: "Listen - if you even hint that you'd like to babysit a small child - someone young enough to be your grandchild - the parents will have them ensconced in your back bedroom quicker than a fully loaded diaper falls off a toddler. Children are out there by the hundred waiting to bond with someone who will buy them gifts. In later years they'll think fondly of you and visit you almost as often as their real relatives. Maybe more." Right now, I thoroughly enjoy my nieces and nephews and my friends' children. And I enjoy giving them back. This made me realize that the same will be true when I am older. There will always be an abundance of children in the world that need love and attention and encouragement. Notes on the author in back include that she has dabbled in stand-up comedy. This book reads as a stand-up routine, which I enjoyed.

I won't go into all the reasons why I bought this book (I think the title says it all). The sample pages were cute and funny and I thought this would be a light-hearted read. What I got was a light - very light - read.

The font size is HUGE! Had the font been in a normal sized book font, it would be about 25 pages instead of 76 pages. The cartoons and jokes were not very thought-provoking; some were just really bad puns. Though I am sure the illustrator is as accomplished as her bio suggests, I can't say that I enjoyed them in this book. The final poem the author writes at the end - no wonder she doesn't need children since it sounded like a fourth grader wrote it.

I know, I'm being harsh but I'm honest. Is it an awful book? No, it does have some funny parts to it. Was it worth the price? Absolutely NOT. Considering I read this in under an hour and there are not many memorable passages I'd want to read later, I would have been better off buying a latte and enjoying this read in the bookstore. If you want to buy this book as a gift for another non-parent, then I can see justifying the price. Besides that, check out "Baby Not On Board" - a much more intelligent read.

With illustrations by Loretta Gomez, this is a lighthearted reminder of both the benefits & valid reasons for deciding to refrain from reproduction.

There is a "child-free movement" afoot, in case you haven't noticed, & so far, CHEERFULLY CHILDLESS is the least whiny & most funny book to cross my desk.

In the chapter on Are You the Parenting Type?, there are cartoons illustrating Ellen Metter's succinct questions that start with: "Parenting may not be for you if..."

Salted through this lively monologue are charmingly annotated pictures depicting the stiff competition to having children that pets, toys & lifestyles give.

Because this is a book of humor, I don't want to give away any more punch lines than I absolutely must in order to give a brava review, so I'll ask you only a few questions whose answers you'll find within its pages:

What do dinosaurs & mothers have in common?
What's a pregnant pause?
What's the skinny in baby talk?
Who is a gifted child?
Who do you take your biological clock to when it's broken?

For the answers & many truths written in wry jest, do pick up a copy of CHEERFULLY CHILDLESS! It will make amusing politically correct gifts, & we surely need some humor in these PC times, even for those who chose children!

This book had my husband and I laughing hysterically! Buy this book if you want some great jokes, funny insights. But, if you're looking for something to help make a decision... this isn't the book for you.

One would think, these days, that hundreds of books addressing this issue would be out there. The subject hits home for untold millions of us. But there's a strange sort of taboo about it, and the touchiness of the politics in choosing to not have children very likely scares off both writers and readers.
So a humorous approach is ideal. Ms Metter never ridicules parents; nor does she sanctify the intentional non-parent. She simply provides a current of humor - much of it in Q&A form - to underscore the differences between the two.
Best of all are Loretta Gomez' illustrations. There's an odd and appealing duality in her style, an almost childlike aspect blended with real sophistication.
CHEERFULLY won't leave you rolling on the carpet and gasping for air between guffaws. But it's a charming and funny treatment whose time has most definitely come.

I didn't find this book very humorous, and definitely not very substantial. It is an easy read - the typing is large and there are only 70-something pages. The book makes a few humorous points about the joys of being childfree, but is an overall letdown and left me thinking, "Is that it??" If you're looking for something that will keep you laughing, read Adrianne Frost's "I Hate Other People's Kids."

This was not NEARLY as funny as I was expecting. Baby Not on Board is a much more entertaining read. The artwork is not that great, either. I wouldn't recommend this. I give it 2 stars because there are some good ones in the book, but not too many. Save your cash.

A lighthearted examination of a serious subject: Should you have kids or not? Ellen lets us know it's perfectly okay to be childfree -- it doesn't mean we're inherently selfish or that we hate kids, it just means that for various reasons we don't want any of our own. Many people will see themselves in her hilarious "self test" with entries such as, "Parenting may not be for you if you think of two or more children gathered in one place as a mob" and "Parenting may not be for you if you refer to the Maternal Instinct as 'you know, that myth.'" Bravo!

Cheerfully Childless came out at a time when it wasn't trendy to say you didn't want to have children. (Anyone up for a little revolution?) If you're someone that's being harassed by well-meaning family members and friends for choosing not to have children, then buy it - it's not only amusing, it will reinforce the fact that you've made the right decision.

Sure it's a light read, but it doesn't profess to be anything else.