Customer Reviews

Diary of a Mother: Parenting Stories and Other Stuff

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This wife, this mother, this author has not one but three fingers on the pulse of life because the pulse of life for her is powerful... definitely a three finger requirement.

In this book, Christine Louise Hohlbaum allows us to witness the loving horror that is called being married with children.

For instance, a take-charge, means-business two-year old pulls down her pants and pees on the Library floor as a Mom who desperately tries to cling to a modicum of normalcy quickly browses the rack of new paperbacks.

Or the same Mom suspects she has bad breath from forgetting to brush her teeth that frantic morning and tests her suspicion by blowing on her eight-month old child and closely monitoring his reaction.

These are only a couple of glimpses into that surreal world of child rearing revealed by Ms. Hohlbaum. There are many more.

Ms. Hohlbaum describes the horrors and frustrations with so much humor that you find yourself laughing out loud. And through it all, and ever apparent, is the love that makes it all worth while.

I, personally, am single. I have no children. I own 4 plants and they don't cause any trouble. And yet I enjoyed this book immensely. It showed me the bittersweet other side.

This is a book for every single (or not) one of us.

Vera E. Chazen

Christine Hohlbaum's stories about motherhood run the gamut from hilarious to poignant, and they each hold a special thought or lesson for the reader to take away. This Mother's diary is a great read for mothers and a revelation for fathers. A must read for both. I truly enjoyed it.

Christine Hohlbaum's, Diary of a Mother, is a must-read for all mothers and mothers-to-be. Prepare to sit back, relax and enjoy the parenting humor that flows throughout Ms Hohlbaum's book. My personal favorites were, Stop! In the name of the law! and Desperata, and of course, To Erma with love. I can't leave out another favorite, "Thirty-five things I've seen". Last, but not least, the epilogue, where Ms Hohlbaum daydreams into the future where her children are now a bit older and off doing there own thing with friends and she sits back and wonders just where the years have gone.

I am so looking forward to this author's next book. A big "thumbs up" to you, Christine!

As a mother, I know the madness we can experience. Christine has complied a collection of short stories of motherhood and the madness we go through. It tells of the ups and downs, the good's and bad's of being a full time mother. Whether you're a new mother or a seasoned one, this book is for you. The reader will find they'll never feel alone again and will strongly relate to the author.

Each story has a different approach to the hairiness of being a mother. Some will make you smile, others cry and constantly laughing. Author Christine Hohlbaum is the Erma Bombeck of the 21st century, only she adds spice and tenderness to her stories. "Diary of a Mother" is written with such love, and throughout the reader knows how much Christine loves her children and loves being a mother.

From boardroom to nursery, Christine has done it all. However, she doesn't claim to be an expert at motherhood, but after you read this book you will agree she's doing pretty well. Not only is she a writer with a story to tell but a comedian as well. She dispels the myth that being a mother stops you from achieving your dreams and goals in life.

I suggest each mother rush out and buy a copy today. Moreover, if you know someone whose pregnant this book would make a wonderful gift to show her you care. If you're a skeptic of the challenges of a mother, this book is without a doubt for you. "Diary of a Mother" is a very fast read and can be finished in a day, while balancing 2 kids on your knees. Hat's off to this talented woman who tells readers they too, can be a mother and stay sane.

Young mothers will feel an immediate bond with this lovely author as she meets daily real-life challenges with humor, courage and grace. Of course, you may not totally agree with the way she has handled every situation. In much the same way, you won't totally agree with the way that you handle every situation. With children, it is a constant "think fast!" test.

Ms. Hohlbaum's honest look at the realities of parenting today is witty, painless, and fun. There is a chapter dedicated to Erma Bombeck. The writing here is reminiscent of this beloved author, and I am really looking forward to Ms. Hohlbaum's next book.

There is no way to prepare for the facts of Motherhood. Sure, we know intellectually, what it will do our careers, social lives, and marriages. We know what a lofty calling, and a moral challenge that the protection and training of our children is. We know what important hostages to civilization young mothers become.

But the `Devil is in the Details", and there is no way to prepare for these - or maybe, now, there is? Buy a copy of "Diary of a Mother: Parenting Stories and Other Stuff", for every young mother you know. She will still be reading it when all of her other baby shower gifts are long-gone.

Diary of a Mother: Parenting Stories and Other Stuff is as its name
implies, and a great deal more. It is an intimate snapshot of life after
marriage, of hope and humiliation standing side by side and flipping
coins to see which will get their way with us today, and of our changing
roles within the social structure that is the most bittersweet blessing
of all: Family. Christine Hohlbaum is a loyal friend and consort to
anyone who has had to replace cuss words with code words, found their
bodies in need of gym time over junk food, or simply realized one day
that they are over the age past which we were told never to trust anyone.

From the first two words of this book, the reader knows - alright,
probably doesn't /know/, but feels so instinctively and intimately that
there's no real need to differentiate - that this is less a simple
collection of anecdotes or folk wisdom than it is a close, personal
companion and guide accompanying us through the many trials awaiting the
would-be parent. Christine Hohlbaum speaks to her reader. Every
observation and comes across as if it were being told solely then and
there, for only the reader to know. Indicative of a talent for emotion
and inflection that is all too often lost within the print medium, this
sets Hohlbaum apart as having a truly rare and valued gift, toward which
all authors should aspire.

Diary of a Mother recounts the true-life adventures of, well, it's
pretty much as the name implies. What the name may not imply, however,
is the depth and breadth with which these twenty-seven tales of trial and
triumph flow. From the brief, dignified moments when children and
husband alike give our unsung hero a reason to be proud of the
masterpiece she maintains, to the gritty turbulent times, into which we
can only plunge, cringing all the way, like changing so many diapers if
only in anticipation of the cleanliness that follows, however briefly.

Mom or dad, parent or preteen, there are connections to be made in this
book, and more than a few have your name on them. This is a work that
speaks to us all, for somewhere between the ages of 26 and 33, we all
get older, only now we needn't feel as if we're getting there alone. I
not only enjoyed these stories, but found myself wanting more. When the
next book by Christine Hohlbaum hits the stands, I'll be the first in
line for it.

R. John Callahan is an author and activist with roots in Minneapolis,
but more often than not is wandering somewhere through America in search
of its stories. He has published two works of fiction and dozens of
interviews, and hopes one day to write the Great American Anti-Novel, as
he figures there'll be little competition for that.

An enjoyable read; the stories are well-written and a perfect length for a little reality check in between a mom's busy day. I especially liked it because the setting is familiar ground to me (both in regards to raising little kids and in the geographic locale).

In a collection of 27 witty essays, the author captures the hilarity, chaos, exhaustion, and exhilaration of young motherhood. An ear for the ironic, an eye for the beautiful, and an unflinching generosity in sharing her own humanity make this book a pleasure to read. Thanks, Christine!

'Diary of a Mother' is a vivid journey through the life of a mother. While most of the stories will have you grinning from ear to ear and shaking your head in despair or approval, there are quite a few incidents which touch your soul and teach you how important proper parenting is for your kids as well as yourself!

Christine Hohlbaum has provided readers worldwide with a companion for moms, a guide for would-be moms and a must-have addition to your bookshelf to cheer you up at any hour.

I really enjoyed this book! Diary of a Mother is a true to life, captivating read that grabbed my attention with the first paragraph. As a mother myself, I know that the bathroom becomes your only sanctuary! This well written collection of short stories came across the pages, as if the author was speaking directly to me. I liked Mrs. Hohlbaum's descriptive writing style, the pace of her stories and the healthy blend of humor in the midst of chaos. I believe that this book should be made into a sitcom!
My favorite chapter was "Henny, Penny, by butt is falling". I, too, have realized that "things" on my body have changed with age and that I am truly growing older!
Diary of a Mother is a winner and a must read for mothers everywhere. From one author to another, "You go, girl!"