MOMumental by Jennifer Grant

From the publisher:

Adventures in the Messy Art of Raising a Family

One mom’s humorous and candid memoir shows would-be supermoms how to create a realistically balanced family life without losing their minds.

A longtime former writer for the Chicago Sun-Times and now a columnist for the Chicago Tribune, Jennifer Grant is no stranger to the common reader. MOMumental is a foray into the enormously amusing, creative, and taxing process of raising a family and a starkly honest memoir that mothers everywhere can identify with. With narrative that is chock-full of humorous, poignant stories drawn from her everyday adventures as a mother and wife, Grant presents an entertaining and inspirational book that will give readers uncommon insights about being an intentional parent.

It has been my experience that most parenting books want to tell you that your baby or child must do: A, B, C.  And to do this, as the parent, you must do: X, Y, Z.  If it fails, then you must assume that you are doing something wrong.

I learned during my early days of parenting that these books aren't worth the paper they're printed on.

However, if you're looking for guidance in the parenting department, starting with MOMumental is not a bad idea.  This book is different.  It's a lighthearted, humorous view on parenthood (because, really, there are time we have to laugh to stop us from crying).  And Ms. Grant quickly become an ally in parenting.  This is not another 'mom vs. mom' fire ignite (think Time magazine) or someone spouting off a list of dos and don'ts.  Instead, Grant is a mom who has been there, lived through the early years of parenthood with a handful of kids, and is here to tell us that the feelings and thoughts we have, especially in the early years, are normal.  And we will survive.

Grant does not paint herself as a perfect parent.  Oh, she did have dreams of being a perfect parent, especially as a child.  Her childhood, being raised in a single parent home after her parent divorced and her dad fell out of the picture, led her to have a fantasy about her future life with her future family.  The reality is a much different life than the envisioned future of a young girl living through a family torn apart.  But Grand is quick to remind us that reality does not equate "bad."  Parenthood may not be easy, but it can turn out okay.

I'm usually hesitant about reading "parenting" or "mom" books I'm happy I gave this one a chance.  In a world where moms have to be perfect with perfect children or face the harshness of other moms and society in general, MOMumental is a breath of fresh air.  It is a reminder that no mom or dad is prefect and that we will make mistakes.  Grant also reminds us that we shouldn't feel guilty of these mistakes because most will not have any long term effects upon the children.  Having a fantasy family is just that--a fantasy.  But with hard work, and some stumbles along the way, we can create something wonderful within our family.  And reading Grant's book is like sitting around with your girlfriends over a cup of coffee, sharing your parenting dirt with sympathetic compassion instead of condemnation.

Title: MOMumental
Author: Jennifer Grant
Publication Year: 2012
ISBN: 978-1-61795-074-2
Publisher: Worthy Publishing
Source: Review copy supplied from Handlebar Marketing
Rating: 4/5
Recommend?  Yes, especially if you're a new, first time parent!