Customer Reviews

Mother Daze: Tales from the Imperfect Playground

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If there is one thing we moms love to talk about it's our kids--and when we can share our most funniest, heartfelt, frustrating or heartbreaking childrearing moments with fellow moms who can totally relate without being judgmental but instead just lend a supportive ear or help us be able to laugh at the insanity, we've hit the jackpot. Reading Chris Carr's new book, Mother Daze, made me feel like I had one of my best girlfriends sitting beside me in each very realistic and true-to-life chapter. This book is a winner for young mothers right on through to grandmothers!

To read this, is like having a girls night out. Sitting around with a glass of wine with good friends, chatting, laughing, crying. It is through this book, that I can laugh at my own life, and appreciate the gifts I have. I loved every page, and could not wait for the next chapter. Thank you Chris, for being so honest, and sencere!

I really enjoyed reading this book! I found myself laughing out loud to all the stories I could relate to as well as tearing up to all the sensitive ones. Christine offers a realistic look into the lives of mothers and all that we can and do accomplish! It is a feel good read that makes you stop and think about all the craziness that entails the job of motherhood and reminds you that you are not alone!! I highly recommend this book to all Mother's young and old!

I absolutely enjoyed this book. It was so nice to read a book describing motherhood in a realistic world. We all love our children and we all want the best for them, but can we really do that if we lose ourselves in a world of unrealistic mommyhood. You still need to take care of yourself and continue the things you enjoy, whether that is working out, hanging out with your best girlfriends, taking that weekend away, book clubs, knitting classes, etc. Yeah I know sometimes there really isn't enough time in the day...thats why you have to make time...you won't regret it. This book says it all. Christine Carr is humorous, truthful, and encouraging to listen to. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to be a mom or who has already made the exciting plung into the bright and colorful world of parenting.

At last a book about parenthood that doesn't claim to have all the answers. Since having (well not literally, since I am a male, although I'd like to say I did play a small part) my first child over nine years ago I have read numerous books on the parenting experience from both the mother's and father's point of view. After finishing most, I've been left with with a feeling of guilt rivaled only by my many years of Catholic education. I'd pretty much written off anything remotely connected to the genre.

I now have to make one major exception. Mother Daze succeeds in allowing the reader to commiserate in the trials of parenting and celebrate the joys of childhood. Chris' ability to see the humor in the experiences that we all struggle through and still come out smiling is inspiring. Not claiming to have the answers is the answer. Well written and smartly illustrated, Mother Daze is a great read for Moms and Dads alike.

Mother Daze is a fun, adventurous look at the often tiring, seldom normal, but always different day to day trials and tribulations of mothering. Carr has written a stream of consciousness blow by blow description of the wild and wacky world of modern middle-class motherdom. Filled with observations of all types of moms - from the super soccer mom to the laid back let-it-be momma, this book covers all the bases. Carr's book concentrates on the early years and mothers of preschool and early elementary age so hopefully she will follow up soon with a book for those with tweens and teens.

Mother Daze: Tales from the Imperfect Playground

If you've ever questioned your mothering - or parenting - skills; if you've ever thought, "I'm all alone in this!" or if you've ever felt guily, imperfect, helpless or any of the millions of other emotions that come with parenting - read this book now! A sheer delight, you'll find it hard to put down, but most of all, you will RELATE to it and realize: we all go through it, we all have those feelings and you are NOT alone! But most of all, Christine Carr will simply make you feel like the luckiest and most blessed person on the planet for taking part in this journey we call 'motherhood'.

This book is wonderfully written; full of whit and humor, sincerity and compassion, and truthful emotion. Chris's heartfelt passion for her message is evident on every page. She has such a knack for wording things in just the right way! As a mom it's hard to take time out of our crazy days for ourselves and it's hard to sit down and read...but, this book was pure enjoyment and reading it was a great way to end my day! It's nice to read a book that is so real and manages to find the positive...at the same time, it gives you permission to have a bad day and to complain about it; after all, that's reality. It will make you think to stop and take in these moments as a mom...good and bad, beautiful and ugly, happy and sad; and, to appreciate them for what they are. This book made me realize that we need to give ourselves a break and appreciate ourselves for the job we are doing. After reading this, I felt validated and comforted; and my cheeks hurt from smiling! Now that's a good read!

This book was just right for me, I found so many points where I agreed with the author and loved the way she expressed herself. There were parts of the book that were laugh out loud funny and it was an easy, quick read. It never felt like work, it kind of reminded me of how when you open a bag of potato chips and mean to just eat a few you somehow look down and see you ate the whole thing. I would sit down to read and find that I had read just about the whole thing.

I enjoyed how Carr was realistic about a lot of things and really recognizes how all moms are doing a lot, even when they don't feel like they are doing enough. I was a bit jealous of the school district she worked for that offered one year maternity leaves. When my first two children were born I was had a teaching position but our district offered 6 to 8 weeks (depending on the type of delivery you had) and you could take up to 15 weeks by using Family Medical Leave. I also had the option of taking a leave of absence but there was no guarantee where you would be working when you returned, just that you would have a job at one of the schools and our district was huge!

It was nice to hear someone admit that pregnancy isn't always fun. I love my children but did not really enjoy being pregnant most of the time and she got that. She told a story of how her own mother jokes that if anyone made an advertisement for the job title of "mom" with all it's responsibilities no one would apply or if they did they would demand better pay.

Even as a PE teacher she recognizes the crazy demands for youth sports organizations, plus points out how so many moms feel pressured to sign really young children up for multiple classes. She was frank about conflicts and misperceptions with her husband, like his idea that playgroups were just relaxed time with other moms that she was so lucky to have. (While a playgroup can be fun, it is rarely all that relaxed as you do need to watch your own children as well as monitor how they are interacting with other children and depending on the personalities of who is playing there can be some tears, fighting and more. Not always of course, but it is always a possibility in the playgroup pot!) She suggests that before a man criticizes how things are done he should actually try doing them.

Most importantly she really suggested that as moms we remember to make time for ourselves. Her solution of a 6 am Saturday yoga class isn't my idea of time to myself, but I can see her point about the need.

Overall this was a fantastic read. I am so glad I had the chance to read it and I already know a friend or two I am going to suggest it to.

Mother Daze is a must read for all women. It is funny, entertaining and truthful. As a woman and a mother I felt I could relate to each chapter. It was the first book in a long time that I read in one day. Once I started reading I could not put it down. This is a must buy!!!