Customer Reviews

The Momstown Guide to Getting It All: A Life Makeover For Stay-At-Home Moms

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

This book is not useful, helpful or inspirational. I received this book as a Christmas gift and was skeptical of it, but decided to give it a chance. Instead of giving me good advice on "getting a life" it gave me literal advice, i.e. how to make your bed, how to take a shower, telling me to make a schedule, etc. I really can't figure out who would need this advice. I was hoping for information on how to feel less like a drooling idiot and feel more connected at the end of a day filled with housework, cooking, Dora the Explorer, frazzled nerves from my 2 year-old and a husband who does't appreciate how hard I work. Instead I wasted the little time I had to myself by reading this simplistic and obvious (yeah I have showering mastered by now) advice.

The authors suggest getting a journal and writing in it and they give you exercises to write about. However the authors never give you any idea about what your writings mean. I guess it's meant to be reflective for each journalist, but I'm still confused as how this is supposed to help me.

I'm pretty sure the authors were stay-at-home-moms who needed some cash so they jumped on the "let's write a book" bandwagon, unfortunately there is really no depth or substance to this book. Save your $15 and buy yourself something - you'll get more satisfaction out of it.

I read with caution all of the negative comments about this book. Hmmmmmmm, I have to disagree with most of them. As a mother of eight and a columnist on the East Coast, I thought this book was packed full of great ideas, tips and humor! I gave up trying to please the world after our 4th child was born--and most importantly gave up my "lousy" attitude about how hard it is to be a SAHM in this day and age. I don't have a nanny, much babysitting help, a housekeeper or a pool boy, but I do have something better---appreciation! The Momstown Guide helps to organize one's priorities and outlook, and I think anyone that reads it with an open mind can walk away with a handful of tips that will improve the way in which you go about each day.
(So what if they emphasize making your bed each day---there are worse things in life!!)

Mary and Heather have hit a home run with this book, on how women can be better moms, spouses, friends, and entrepreneurs. While I am not their target reader, I do believe their advice and counsel is credible, and their energy and enthusiasm for their business and helping others succeed in business is streetsmart, practical, and applicable for those who really want to take a product or service to the marketplace. If you are in a rut, or have an idea you want to see to fruition, then get this book immediately, and make it your desktop or bedside bible. Refer to it often. You'll be glad you did as you watch your dreams come to life in a way you could not imagine. And if you ever get a chance to meet them or hear Mary and Heather speak, you will be better for it. They have a special fire in their hearts, and want you to be a part of the revolution. They're pretty cool!

I was really annoyed by the patronizing, know-it-all attitude of the authors. It has apparently never occurred to them that there are parents out there who really enjoy staying home with the children, and don't feel bored, or unappreciated, or otherwise sorry for themselves.

Despite the authors' statements to the contrary, this book was all about getting away from your children (like dumping them with a sitter so you can go on a "date"), so that you can "get a life". Life changes when you have children--one of the changes being that it's *not* all about you anymore. I found this book to be rather anti-children/family in its outlook, all things considered. The authors apparently also have never thought of the fact that once children are school-age, if you send them to school, there is all sorts of time to "improve yourself" or take a shower, or whatever.

If you really want to learn how to balance working (either at home or away from home) with being available for your children, this is not the book for you.

FINALLY!!!
You gals really do "GET IT"....all I can do is say THANK YOU!
I waited until my late 30's to have my children...thinking by then I would have climbed the corporate mountain and would leave without looking back - and - I do feel blessed to stay at home with my children...BUT...I felt a little lost - with no "360 feedback" and no "formal training" - I felt like I conformed (to what I thought) a Stay-at-home-Mom's was supposed to be...and it wasn't working for me! I lost myself completely!
Seriously, your book truly set me free - by the first week I felt so much better - implementing your tips! And by the 5th week...Watch out - I was Baaaacccckkk!
I had been told over and over:
"If Mama Ain't Happy - Ain't Nobody Happy" and not until reading your book, did I see how true that was!
Now I begging you to write more - ALL Mom's can benefit from your honest, humorous and spot on advice! LOVE IT!

I recieved the book about 2 weeks ago. And I love it! It's everything any mom
needs all in one book and in a fashion that is easy to understand. I feel like
I'm talking about a movie... I laughed, cried, and turned red a few times.....
but best of all I found answers. I can see that even though I thought I was in
the Goddess role and had lost her.....

I'd recommended this book to every mom. Even Single mom's like me. This book is
the booster shot I needed to make the changes I wanted but feared....

I also see how even more enriching head the chapter of MomsTown will be for all
involved and for me as well. It will go beyond my dreams.

And yes I did read it all. I wanted to make sure I was prepared for our first
group meeting.

Thanks for writing the book. I 've read lots of books for mom's, parenting, and
women business, and this is "IT". This book speaks to me on a personal level.
I'm know it will speak to every mom that way.

I won't rehash the comments already made by others disappointed by this book, but let's just say I agree. My biggest complaint is how they talked over and over about their great website "community" and the wonderful resources available online. When I visited that site I found nothing but a shop for their products and a commercial for their Dr. Phil segments. No forum at all! The recipes are outsourced to an organic market whose ingredients lists sound great, but good luck finding half the stuff in a rural area. And this month's featured recipe has a prep time of 1 hour for a side dish! How many Moms have time for that?

Would not recommend this book unless your life has gone so far off the rails you need someone to tell you how to take a shower and make your bed. Get real.

I loved the "idea" of this book. As a happy/proud SAHM, I love books about homemaking and SAHM-hood. However, this one I have to say was very disappointing.

Basically, nearly the whole time I was reading this, the thought that kept going through my head was "PLEEEASE stop talking to me as if I were 4 years old!".

I felt that the "tone" of the book was very much like an annoying mom using "pep talk" with her preschooler.

I will give it 2 stars, simply because I really applaud any efforts to help todays SAHM.

This book has helped me to simplify my life. Before 3.5 years ago, I was a successful executive who had everything organized. Staying at home with my angel was the best decision I have ever made. But motherhood had thrown me for a loop - and unraveled that life. This book breaks everyday tasks into the lowest common denominator. As with life, you should pick and choose what works for you and go with that. I know it sounds juvenile to have to 'make your bed' everyday - but for some of us - it has taken these basic steps to turn the bigger issues around. I am now purchasing 5 more books for other girl friends!

Mary and Heather have put together some great ideas about how stay at home moms can become stay at home working moms. Easy to read and full of handy tips to help tackle some of the many questions regarding working out of the home. Inspiration is not lacking in this right on target up to date book. They did an amazing tribute to any and all of us who either are trying to make things work from a home based business or who just need help in getting through the first steps.

Trying to follow through on a home based business is terribly time consuming and they don't try to hide it. It can certainly be told that you will need to either hire help with the kids or try to work in between naps and at night for a while.

It's time for all moms to try and obtain their dreams, Mary and Heather can help accomplish these goals if you will read and then ask questions. It has helped me to pursue things I was terrified to do in the business world for fear of feeling guilty about taking away family time. I also bought and read another book from Jodie Lynn who is listed as one of their MomsTown Experts. Her book, Mommy-CEO, is perfect with Mary's and Heather's as she teaches us how to fill our roles in the family, parent the kids, and still maintain our personal goals.

I love them both and it's just time for all moms to learn how to be the true leader in her own life with family and personal business goals at home...having it all? You bet we can with authors and voices such as these.