The Mothers of Reinvention: Reclaim Your Identity, Unleash Your Potential, Love Your Life [Paperback]

Jennifer Pate (Author), Barbara Machen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 3, 2012

Since we launched our show “Jen and Barb, Mom Life” more than four years ago, the number one question moms have asked us is, “How did you guys do that?” The subtext was not about producing and hosting an award-winning web series, but how we reinvented ourselves, especially given our roles as mothers, wives, and career women. Over and over, moms confided in us, sharing their frustrations, fears, and dreams. How could it be that so many of us who had always dreamed of having a family were feeling like something was missing?

 

What was a mom to do? REINVENT!

Through the journey of our own reinventions, we discovered the Mom Secret: The more satisfied you are with yourself, the better you can deal with the chaos that surrounds you, the better role model you will be, and the better off your entire family will be! This is not a luxury—it is a  necessity.

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In The Mothers of Reinvention, Jen and Barb share their steps to help you realize your full potential as a woman while maintaining your joy as a mom and/or wife. Whether you’re a new mother, a mother of schoolaged children, or an empty nester, Jen’s and Barb’s personal stories, along with  accounts from other women and experts who have also reinvented, will engage, inspire, and motivate.
 

Every mother deserves passion outside her family, and The Mothers of Reinvention will help you discover what that means for you.

 

Editorial Reviews

Review

“With wit and wisdom, Jen and Barb explore the new territories that confront 21st century moms. The Mothers of Reinvention is a mom’s GPS for figuring out who you are and who you want to be, a.c. (after children).”
—Betsy Brown Braun, author of Just Tell Me What to Say

“I fell in love with Jen and Barb the minute I met them on their show.  These two are the real deal: moms who made something big happen for themselves by working hard and, more importantly, knowing what they wanted.  If you’re one of the many moms out there who feels like you need more of you in your life, there’s nobody better to help you navigate the twists and turns of reinvention.”
—Risa Green, author of Notes from the Underbelly and The Secret Society of the Pink Crystal Ball

“Having mastered the new media of blogs and webcasts through the startlingly vibrant community of ‘Mom Life,’ I welcome Jen and Barb and their new book into the old fashioned world of print and paper. They understand the importance of building an identity outside of their roles as parents or partners because they have done it.”
—Wendy Mogel, Ph.D., New York Times bestselling author of The Blessing of a Skinned Knee

“If any two can teach us the importance of finding passion outside of their roles and moms and wives it's Jen and Barb! After all, happy moms are more likely to raise happier kids, and what could be more important? With Jen and Barb leading the way, this book is sure to help moms of all kinds find and reinvent themselves.”
—Michele Borba, Ed.D., author of The Big Book of Parenting Solutions: 101 Answers to Your Everyday Challenges and Wildest Worries

“With grace, style and an insatiable energy, Jen and Barb use their own personal stories as moms to tell the real story about what it means to be ‘mom.’  They bring fresh ideas and an honest perspective to the wonderment as well as the challenges of motherhood.”
 —Diana Lynn Barnes, Psy.D LMFT, author of The Journey to Parenthood: Myths, Reality and What Really Matters

 

About the Author

Jennifer Pate is the mother of two, Cooper and Lilah, and lives in Los Angeles with her husband Jonas. After retiring from a professional dance career that spanned ten years, Jennifer became a casting director for TV and film, and co-founded Colloff, Fishman, and Britt Casting. She then went on to her most interesting and challenging career of all: becoming a stay-at-home mom. Currently, Jen is the co-creator and co-host of the award winning web series “Jen and Barb, Mom Life.”

Barbara Machen is the mother of twins, India and Soraya, and lives in Los Angeles with her husband of twelve years, Shahrad. Raised by a single mother on government assistance, Barb received a full scholarship to the University of Southern California, graduating with a BA in Communications. By age twenty-five, Barb owned her own marketing company, but after becoming a mother, she quickly learned how it felt to go from a confident woman to a scared and insecure mother. This led her to co-create and co- host the award-winning web series “Jen and Barb, Mom Life.”

 

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Vanguard Press; Original edition (January 3, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1593156839
• ISBN-13: 978-1593156831
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 0.7 x 9.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #779,803 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Sending this book to all my girlfriends January 10, 2012

By s.a.stanley

Format:Paperback

I'm not even a mom, and I love this book! What made me laugh the loudest is reading what the authors' own agent told them about their book idea: "There is no place in the market for this." Ha! Every mother I know experiences the frustration of trying to balance motherhood with their need to find fulfillment as an individual -- to pursue their own passions, build a business, to feel challenged and successful outside of family life. Jen and Barb share their journey -- silly agent roadblocks and all -- to doing this successfully while also improving their ability to be awesome moms and wives. This book starts a much-needed conversation about what moms and wives should fight for outside of child-rearing to maintain their sanity, individuality and happiness. Every mother trying to figure out what to do about the vague, gnawing frustration they feel in their own lives should read it!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The must-have book for parents who are paying attention! January 5, 2012

By David Eick

Format:Paperback

There's no canned wisdom, no quick-fix bromides, no tired platitudes about how to shortcut the process of raising a family. Instead, it's just a thorough, thoughtful analysis of the rigors of parenting and married life -- what we all do wrong, what we wish we could do better, and how the nucleus of a strong family can be resilient enough to withstand those unexpected rough waters we all encounter sooner or later. Jen and Barb don't always agree on everything -- and that's the good part. The fact that there's no "one way" to scold a child, resolve a spousal debate, or decide where to go for dinner is the point: there are many, many ways to do it right, and "Mothers of Reinvention" is that truly insightful book that reminds us that we all have the tools to make a great family, but first we have to listen to ourselves -- and remember how to listen to the people we love the most.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read For All Moms January 28, 2012

By Karen

Format:Paperback

Jen and Barb are real moms who are trying to navigate the world of motherhood. The ten steps can help moms change their lives for the better. Sometimes we just need to slow down and reflect on our crazy and hectic lives. Jen and Barb help us to do this.