Customer Reviews

Mom Needs Chocolate: Hugs, Humor and Hope for Surviving Motherhood

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've never been one to laugh easily. Jokes slip off me like jello on a greased dinner plate, but sometimes, just sometimes one hits me smack-dab in my funny-spot. When that happens, watch out. I don't just giggle, I guffaw, snort, wheeze, and at times collapse to the floor. I don't technically roll-on-the-floor-laughing-out-loud, I adopt more of a hunched-over-slapping-the-floor-and-howling technique. Author Debora M. Coty's devotional for frazzled moms - Mom Needs Chocolate - didn't quite take me to the position of prostrate hilarity within it's first few chapters, but it did come very close.

Having been through the trenches of motherhood and come out the other side with two grown children, Coty digs deep and pulls from her personal experiences, shortcomings, and growth. The result is a compilation of frank, and almost embarrassing episodes that illustrate the realities of mothering while pinpointing the areas many of us need work on. The 60 short, devotional chapters are designed to bring joy and spiritual insight into the lives of frazzled moms.

Each of the chapters is short enough to read during the valued reading time each mother cherishes - the five-minute bathroom break. Most entries come in between three and four pages in length including three "Faith in Action" questions for you to ponder throughout the day, or complete formally in a journal if you are able to eke out some personal time for study. The light-hearted tone of frank sharing would also lend itself well to gatherings of friends for a fun study.

As brief as each of the stand-alone devotional segments are, Coty has a knack for hitting moms in the areas where they are likely in most need of refinement. After softening unsuspecting mothers up with her funny stories, she delivers a swift one-two punch in the questions section, delivering a healthy dose of conviction. Of course, knowing that Coty herself has struggled in these areas - road rage, misplaced priorities, nutrition, and so on - helps to soften the blow so that it never comes across as high-handed.

What I most appreciate in Coty's approach is her bracing honesty. There's no vision of perfect domestic bliss presented here for us to attain, just encouragement to keep seeking the Lord on our continuing journey and a sister to laugh and cry along with. By book's end I felt like I knew Coty to a certain extent. After all, in her own words, she's baring it all:

"Hey, I even hit a few girls-only, whisper-behind-the-hand subjects like excessive boobage during pregnancy, fashion faux pas, menopause and - gasp! - bodily functions. (Ain't nothin' sacred after poppin' out a baby in front of a dozen pubescent boys in lab oats!)"

So, be prepared. In truth, Coty won't gross you out too much, unless you find descriptions of a cat with an exploding abscess unpalatable, or admissions of cellulite horrifying. She draws upon the everyday misadventures of mothering to concoct humorous teaching anecdotes from her own life, but doesn't delve into the truly disgusting.

Like its chocolaty namesake, Mom Needs Chocolate makes a great gift for moms young and old in need of a bit more lift in their lives. While reading it the names of other mothers I could bless with this resource came to mind. I'm looking forward to sharing my chocolate with others.

Moms don't just need chocolate, moms NEED this book! Filled with short, easy to read chapters full of wit and wisdom, it's perfect for the start or ending of any mom's busy day. Debora uses the lessons God has taught her in just the everyday life experiences she's had - some good, some not so good - as a way to spread her message of mirth as Godly medicine. So when life is doing all it can to make you bitter, pick up this book, read a chapter or two (or more), and let Debora show you how God is right there with you through it all and that by focusing on Him can make for a much sweeter life.

If you are reading this book - get ready to laugh! It is full of humor, much of which I am sure, only a woman/mother can really understand. Like the spontaneous release of milk upon hearing ANY child cry in the story found below in the first chapter.

Each chapter reads like a daily devotion - usually starting with a scripture and ending with a prayer - and some "Faith in Action" questions. I did not sit down and read this book straight through, though it could be done. I chose to read one (or a few) a day - I just kept it accessible where if I had a few minutes and needed a pick me up I could read a chapter. The chapters cover everything from depression, piggishness and aging to God's Omnipotence, gratitude and prayer.

She talks about how (God) "wants us to be filled with His joy, not weighted down by the joy-sucking dully-funks." And I love how she describes dully-funks - "that black hole when nothing particularly bad is happening, just nothing good," or "that bottom-of-the-barrel place where your spirits are lower than chicken scratch."

I found this little book to be full of humor, wisdom, down-to-earth prayers - and it helped me to put things into perspective when I think I am the only one who doesn't always get it right. This is a very readable and relatable book and I recommend it to every mom!

A delightful little book full of wisdom and humor. I was not familiar with Debora M. Coty before picking up this book, but she's hysterical.

Debora uses humor and faith to offer encouragement and insight to those who often feel rundown and exhausted from our lives as mothers. Each short chapter covers a particular theme: Pregnancy, Repentance, Forgiveness, Motivation, Gratitude, Self-Image and Loving Your Neighbor (one of my favorites), to name a few. With quotes, scriptures, anecdotes and vignettes, you find yourself enlightened. A short, "Faith in Action" section at the end of each chapter gives you some food for thought and possible actions to improve this particular area of your life. Each chapter can stand alone, but together they will brighten your day.

This is the perfect book to leave in your purse. I read it over the course of a couple of days while I waited to pick up my son after school.

Mom Needs Chocolate: Hugs, Humor, and Hope for Surviving Motherhood, by Deb Coty, is a compact volume for moms who are trying to get into the groove of daily devotions. The reading is made light with humor and transparency, and each day's section can easily be done within a half hour's time.

Deb starts out each day's reading with a quote and/or verses. She then brings her point to life with humorous stories or honest self-disclosure, followed by a prayer. The day's reading is wrapped up with "Faith in Action", a series of 3 questions, challenges, or Scripture study that will help fortify what the reader just read.

I found Mom Needs Chocolate to be an entertaining and encouraging read, but not necessarily a book that took me into a deep place spiritually. More mature Christian Mamas will find that a more intense Bible study will be more aptly suited for their quiet time. Mamas who are attempting to develop a daily time, however, will find this book to be a great asset to that new habit.

What a fabulous book! Even the cover entices... "Mom Needs Chocolate: Hugs, Humor and Hope for Surviving Motherhood" by Deborah M. Coty is wonderful! This is a non-fiction book filled with touching tales and humorous anecdotes that will encourage and enchant the reader as it engages the heart. After sampling several of the short chapters, this book is going to become my next daily devotional read.

This was such a great book by Debora M. Coty! I couldn't put it down from the moment I started reading it. I shared the feelings with the author from the very first chapter and kept chuckling throughout the entire book. I bought multiple more copies for my friends and relatives & would suggest it for any woman, no matter if you're a mom or not.

**I also did a search and checked out & purchased this talented author's other books and was captivated by them as well. Definitely an A+++!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If the postman ever had perfect timing...it was the day he delivered this book to my door! Packed with humor, wisdom, humor, chocolate, Biblical insight and humor, Debora M. Coty is one of my new favorite authors!

"Mom Needs Chocolate" is a devotional some would call light...I call perfectly suited for a busy mom's life. Each two or three page devotional focuses on an aspect of a mother's life...beginning with pregnancy!

Debora opens the book with "My Cups Runneth Over", a hilarious discussion of what pregnancy and delivery of a new baby does to a woman's anatomy...I could SO relate! She closes with a prayer that is also filled with humor, then ends with discussion questions.

Her devotion titles are a riot (Prickly Little Arrowheads--Children; Raisins are Merely Patient Grapes--Patience)...and her humor is fun, fun, FUN! But Debora doesn't forget to include some Biblical wisdom.

Each page is just enough for a mom on the go to chew on during her day and to digest, making it a part of who she is. Debora's book is perfect for a mom's day out group or a mommy fellowship group!

I adore this book! I'm giving "Mom Needs Chocolate" the golden bookmark with a golden Hershey kiss as a charm. This book is FUN; did I mention that?

Mom Needs Chocolate arrived today and I dove right in! I'm a big fan of this up-and-coming author and this book surpasses my expectations. Each essay is engaging, readable, and downright funny--plus includes thought-provoking questions for personal devotions. Groups could use it, too. I am thoroughly enjoying this book and plan to buy more for Mother's Day and friends' b-days. This little book is packed with good writing and good thoughts...it's a GREAT way to start the morning and a FANTASTIC way to add to your daily devotions and bible readings.

Debbie Coty is a brillant author. She is witty and a great read. Make sure you sit down ready to laugh to tears. What a refreshing author. I have loved her previous books so much that I bought this new book for all of my son's teachers for teacher appreciation.