Motherhood Comes Naturally (and Other Vicious Lies)

March 1, 2013
A humorous treatment of the joys (and miseries) of motherhood. Every parent has heard many of the countless axioms of child-rearing: Motherhood comes naturally; pets make children more responsible; it's just a phase; etc. Smokler (Confessions of a Scary Mommy, 2012) turns these ideas upside down, offering readers a more honest, sarcastic take on what parenting is really all about. Whether covered in vomit, dealing with persistent urination issues, or being kicked and bruised, the author finds the humor in parenting. Her own children, other children and her husband all come under scrutiny as she pokes fun at such things as the phases kids should never outgrow (being easy-to-please, having sweet breath and believing mommy is always right) and the ones they should get rid of as quickly as possible: the know-it-all, the nonstop question of why. Smokler covers a variety of topics, from trips to the mall and vacations to sleeping, peeing in private and being a stay-at-home mom. She will help you decide when to throw away that cute macaroni necklace that "your precious child painstakingly threaded...with his bare hands! Look at that color composition--look at that sense of style! It's a masterpiece, and you are the luckiest mommy in the world." She also eulogizes her pre-mom body: "we remember those perky breasts previously so full of life and promise, now sucked dry of all hope and ambition. They know their days of usefulness are numbered, and we know it, too." Funny sidebars emphasize key points in each chapter. A tongue-in-cheek look at being a mom.

COPYRIGHT(2013) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

May 15, 2013

In April of last year, Smokler earned an LJ star for Confessions of a Scary Mommy--a compilation of sarcastic parenting posts from her popular blog, ScaryMommy.com. In her second release, she exposes the lies associated with becoming a mother, such as "Being Home with Your Kids Is the Most Fulfilling Job" and "It Gets Easier." Smokler is funny indeed ("Sex these days is like a drive-in movie: open for your viewing pleasure, but you're on your own"), but this second offering seems premature. The entries are hit or miss this time around, which is the unfortunate result of thematic pigeonholing and speeding on the publication superhighway. VERDICT This is likely to be passed around by mothers at play dates, but it is an optional purchase for libraries. Let's hope Smokler lets the entree marinate a bit longer next time. With more latitude for preparation, she can be a Thanksgiving dinner destination. No more tofurkey please, Jill.

Copyright 2013 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.