What Mothers Do: Especially When it Looks Like Nothing: Especially When It Looks Like Nothing

"I read this when my baby was 6 months old and WISH i had read it earlier. I thought I was the only person who felt like I was way out of my depth, but no, seems like that is completely normal. This book made me feel that I was sane, normal, and a good mother. If you are feeling even slightly inadequate, read this book!"
~ Written on 2008-09-06

"Your dh / dp comes home from work. "I've got nothing done all day!" you say. The house is a tip, and your dh / dp is clearly annoyed and thinks you've been sat on your bum watching Jeremy Kyle in your dressing gown and slippers.

This wonderful book will give you the words to explain what you've been doing; mothering. All day. Have you spent two hours walking up and down the street bouncing baby on your shoulder singing "baa baa black sheep" until baby falls asleep, only to wake the second you put him/her down so you can do the dishes? You've been doing the vital work of a mother in those two hours and should be proud of what you've achieved. You've been creating a secure environment for your little one and that's more important albeit less tangible than the dishes, or the washing.

Should be available on prescription to all new Mums, and should be required reading for all new Dads!"
~ Written on 2007-07-21

"I bought this book only a few months after my son was born, and I appreciate it more with each passing month.

The author looks sympathetically at mothers, whether they are stay-at-home, work-at-home, or work-outside-the-home. This is a book that gives you words for what being a mother means in a concrete kind of way.

She helps you fill in the blanks when someone asks you what you've done all day, and you know that you've been insanely busy but can't actually put in words what you've done. You know that you ran two loads of wash, changed 5 diapers, and managed feeding your child, but can that REALLY fill up 9 hours?? Oh yes! What about the nurturing and comfort that you provided? How about the education that you provided as you emptied the washing machine over 10 minutes instead of 2 as you explain to your baby "this is a sock", etc.

The "tasks" of mothering don't have words or an accompanying value in Western society, but this book helps you name what you do and feel good about it!

All I can say: Buy it as fast as you can and enjoy!!"
~ Written on 2007-06-15

"If I could write a mandatory reading list for pregnant couples, this book would top it. Read it. If you are already a mother it will provide you with a boost that is almost spiritual, if you are going to be parents it will provide a valuable insight into the massive changes your lives are about to undergo.

Ladies, if your partner is reluctant to read another baby book, simply get him to read the chapter 'Snapping at my partner'....a peek into why we take out the frustrations of our day on them!"
~ Written on 2007-05-31

"This book is a real self esteem boost for mothers everywhere. It is wonderfully reassuring and puts into words so many of the thoughts, feelings and emotions that go through mothers heads but that seem impossible to communicate/explain to others-we are not all mad!! I do agree with a previous reviewer that although the author is unbiased, you do sense her views and opinions on various subjects. For example, she clearly believes that leaving your baby to cry for any length of time, even as a last resort when nothing else will settle them to sleep, is cruel.
Obviously, in an ideal world no one would leave a baby crying, but speaking from personal experience (a mother of a very hungry baby who virtually cried all through the night for the first 3 months) sometimes leaving them for a while is the only thing you can do-it becomes a survival issue, it is not cruelty.

On the whole though the meassages are all positive and it is definately a book worth reading if you have had a baby."
~ Written on 2007-02-20