Love is a commitment.Motherhood may be the best job in the world but it is definitely not the easiest. Sleepless nights, hectic mornings, and activity packed evenings make mommyhood a 24-hours-a-day/7-days-a-week job. And even though patience and organization may be part of the job requirements, the implementation of these traits is often easier said than done. Most mommys are just looking for a way to survive.Barbara Curtis, well-known author and mother of twelve, understands first-hand the struggles and frustrations of motherhood and has spent 36 years fine tuning the key traits of this demanding job.In her new book, The Mommy Survival Guide, she shares mothering techniques that have proven effective for her large family and that are guaranteed to equip mommys with the tools they need to mother successfully. Providing practical, insightful advice on a variety of topics from sleep deprivation to encouraging and embracing individuality among children, she reminds mothers that the key to being a great mom is learning to put your children first-which will lead to a greater joy and satisfaction as you spend time with them. Filled with activities, recipes, inspirational quotes, and useful encouragement, The Mommy Survival Guide gives mothers the materials they need to not only survive the mommy years but to truly enjoy them--making happy memories with their children that will last a lifetime.
Back in the 70's, when I took my training as a Montessori teacher, I never dreamed someday I would be mother to 12. But here I am - and alive to tell about it too!
My life took many a tangent before it settled where it is now. From Washington DC antiwar activist/radical feminist to San Francisco drug addict/ welfare mother. In 1980 I began to see the light, cleaned up my act and tried to become the mother my two daughters - Samantha Sunshine and Jasmine Moondance - needed. In 1983, I married a fellow seeker. We meditated daily and searched relentlessly for the truth. We began building an award-winning tree care business in California. In addition we began having babies every 18 months. By the time we found Christ in 1987, we had five - the two girls, plus Joshua, Matthew, and Benjamin.
Some things changed - our politics, for instance - while some remained the same, like new babies on a regular basis. I homeschooled our children for 10 years, putting into practice all I knew of Montessori. In 1995 I began writing - in the beginning to share with other moms how to incorporate Montessori principles into their daily lives and to find more joy in raising their children.
I have since published over 1200 articles and 9 books. And for the past five years I have written extensively at my blog www.MommyLife.net where my goal is to unburden, enlighten, encourage, and empower moms to find joy in their role as mothers while staying informed about the world we live in..
Today, Samantha and Jasmine are married - each with six children of their own. Two sons are married - one a contractor and one an aspiring opera singer. Two are single - an actor and a soon-to-be marine OCS candidate. One daughter is in college. This leaves my husband Tripp and me at home with 5 - our famous daughter Maddy (seen on American Idol) and 4 sons with Down syndrome - three of whom were adopted.
I am in the unique position of having raised two full generations of kids - so I write from a position not just of "been there, done that" but also "still here, still doing this."
Eight years ago, I returned to northern Virginia with 23 native Californians. Who says you can never go home again?
