Mothers Who Think: Tales Of Real-life Parenthood

This was my bath time luxury. Almost each story is a prefect read before your water gets too cold. "A Mothers Body" by Kate Moses still gives me goosebumps and makes me seek out my four year old boy and hold him close. And I thought the Drama Queen For A Day was a very clever series.Must admit though, I couldn't get over the title, "Mothers Who Think" as if there are mothers who don't. Like this is a book for smart mothers; those other mothers would never understand. Yeah right. And aside from a lot of great stories, the last story was a bit draggy. Also there's a story about a woman who decides to not be a mother. I remember feeling dissatisfied at the end of that story and had to find something else to read and add more hot water to my bath.But, mostly by the end of the book, I felt like these writers were my friends. I shared my ideas with their ideas and understanding of motherhood. I related to them, even when I disagreed with them. They reminded me of my own terrible thoughts, then reminded me that motherhood for us all, everywhere CAN be terrible along with being terribly ecstatic and terribly funny. May we all keep laughing at ourselves.

Most of the essays in this slim but powerful book originally appeared in the Mothers Who Think column on Salon.com, including a real winner by Anne Lamott. Although they vary tremendously in tone, subject, angle, and focus, all together they create a powerfully articulate image of what it means to be Mother. And I'm talking Mother in a minute, interior sense, not in the do-goody style of parenting magazines. There's nothing soapy or sappy in any of these essays - so read it.

This collection of essays is unexpectedly literary, though I should have expected that from the Salon.com editors. The essays range from groaning humor to shockingly poignant to intensely thought-provoking. Many deal with issues such as abortion, mother's sexuality, death of a child, that aren't really talked about. This read is going to stick with me for a long time.

This is a wonderful mixture of humorous, sad, and whimsical expereiences ranging from having an abortion to not being able to conceive. The authors offer sincere thoughts and feelings to the readers.

rings true

Great book for new moms and current moms. You don't have to buy an expensive product for a gift-- often a used book that is a goodie is wonderful. This was one of those books-- it was given to me as a gift and then I purchased two others for gifts as well. I really connected with many of these stories =)

I had heard about this book for years before I read it. What held me back was the title---I pictured this being a book about not just mothers who think, but mothers who think MORE THAN REGULAR MOTHERS---you know the kind of book. One with essays by mothers who think they are more devoted, more in tune, more able to work and care for their kids at one time..etc. That wasn't what this was at all. It is a collection of extremely well done essays about all aspects of parenting. In my opinion, the best here is On Not Having a Daughter, by Jayne Anne Phillips---about a child not born--I'll remember this writing always. You'll Get Used to It is another great one, about the tough seperation from your child and how you someday do miss how hard it is for them to leave! The Line is White and It is Narrow tells of a boy on the autistic spectrum with a love for soccer, and how his mother helps him make his dreams come true. I could go on and on...lots of terrific writing here. The weakest pieces in my opinion are the few short humor pieces about everything going wrong during childbirth---they are a little too slapstick for me, but they aren't that bad! Highly recommended collection about a topic that doesn't really get that much good writing---the thoughts and ideas of mothering.

This book is just a gem and one that I deeply treasure; it is the finest collection of motherhood non-fiction I have ever read. These true stories make you laugh, think, and cry all at once.This book does not feature a collection of miserable, whiny women naval gazing about how haaaaard motherhood is (like A [...] in the House); rather these are heartful, intelligent essays written by women who have experienced such love for their kids that you read with tears in your eyes. There are stories of poverty, legal nightmares in family court, the heartache of knowing your child is unhappy at school, the remorse you feel when you give in to rage, etc.etc. This is a book for mothers who think. I wish I knew more of them.