A (Good) PIWTPITT Book Review


Did you notice that April was new book release month? I noticed this last year when it seemed like everyone and their mother had a new book coming out. Last year I was kind of bummed because I didn't have my book ready. I wasn't even sure what my book would be about. Wah wah (that's my sad trombone sound).

This year I'm not bummed, I'm so excited, because several of the new April best seller's are my friends! (OK, so I've never actually sat down and had a cup of coffee with any of these women, but that's only because Kansas isn't close to anyone! Wah wah. The beauty of the internet is I don't need to have coffee once a week with these girls to feel like we're friends.) I'm so excited for all of them and I just know their books are going to be big successes!

Have you read these books yet? NO? What are you waiting for? My review? OK, well, here's a quick look at them:

Moms Who Drink and Swear by Nicole Knepper - If you ever thought you were the only mom who drops the f-bomb while making a new friend in the McDonald's Playland in your pajamas, you'd be wrong. I'm going to start hanging out in my local McDonald's in my pajamas hoping Nikki will pick me up. This funny and heartwarming book will make you feel like you're not alone in this crazy world.

Nikki may have a fierce sounding name and she might like to call her kids "crotchfruit," but let me tell you a secret: Nikki is a big ole' softy. This girl loves those crotchfruit like no one else. She adores her husband and idolizes her parents. She can be funny and witty and then turn around and make you cry with her honesty and her poignancy! This book is a love story to her family and we're so lucky that she's letting us read it.


Parenting: Illustrated with Crappy Pictures by Amber Dusick - Have you ever seen a crappy drawing of chewed up bubble gum stuck in a little girl's undies or a disgusting public toilet where you're trying to potty train little boys or a harried woman mesmerized by the Target "eye"? No? Well, then you're missing out.

Amber is one of my favorite artists. I would frame some of her crappy pictures and put them on my wall if I had a color printer. This book is full of hilarious and adorable stories about Amber and her kids. Yes, her kids are cute and funny, no she does not think they're ah-may-zing. Amber is real and has no qualms telling you that her kids won't eat their veggies because they're "too fucking hot" or give her some time on the throne.


Motherhood Comes Naturally and Other Vicious Lies by Jill Smokler - I don't know about you, but I have noooo trouble being a mother. I love what pregnancy did to my body (let's face it, it wasn't that great to start with), I enjoy bathing with an audience of two, I live for middle of the night wake ups when kids are crying, and I plan to get tons of sleep once they go off to college. Sleep is over rated. (Says the woman writing this at 4:30 in the morning.) You disagree with me? Good! Then this is the book for you. Jill shares the biggest lies you'll ever hear like going from two kids to three kids is a breeze and Mother's Day is all about you.


Do these books sound like your cup of tea? Want to win a copy of them? I've got a free copy with your name on it. All you have to do is leave me a comment on the blog between now and April 26th telling me why you think it's important to have a sense of humor when you're parenting. I'll pick a winner and announce it Friday on my Facebook page, so make sure you're following me there if you want to win. 

Psst .. Hey husbands, if you don't win these would all make great gifts for Mother's Day. You know what else would? I Just Want to Pee Alone

Disclaimer: Yeah, I got these books for free. See? I told you guys I was friends with these writers. They didn't even make me pay or anything. That's like 50 bucks worth of free books! You know me well enough by now that if I didn't like these books I'd tell you, so you can trust me when I say these books are awesome. 


If you like what you read, please follow me on Facebook orTwitter!

73 comments:

Crystal said...

I can't wait to get my hands on all of these books. I can see the summer looking much brighter as I laugh my tookus off in the sun while the bub naps. If you don't have a sense of humor being a parent, I can picture you in a straight jacket or surrounded by cats in your later years from all the pent up anger and frustration.

find my blog said...

I'm sure you will get people posting that humor is the best medicine, and that 15 minutes of laughter is just as beneficial as sleeping for 2 hours. However, we all know that if we don't laugh at our messed up lives, no one else will. Or maybe they will, but if we get the first laugh then they get the last laugh, or something like that.

But I digress...I would LOVE to have a copy of the above books, because lets face it: Parenting needs moments of laughter to make the mundane crap bearable!

~Jen~ said...

I'll quote Ghandi here, “If I had no sense of humor, I would long ago have committed suicide.”

Lisa said...

If you don't have a sense of humor, you'll lose your mind. And when I laugh, the kids laugh, and everything feels better!!
:)

Stacey said...

You gotta laugh...you can't show the little buggers how stressed out you are, that means they won!

Jenn said...

I need a sense of humor - or I would go crazy!

Unknown said...

I need humor....it's so negative/serious in my house....I've got a hubbby who don't like people....I love most people i love to talk too. Please please please pick me

Kate said...

You need a sense a humor or you'll lose your mind...or maybe that's just me.

christy keen said...

I have 2 boys so humor is #1 in my mommy arsenal! Just when things get all tense & crazy I'll overhear a conversation like "grandma's dog hates you" "no she doesn't-I kissed it on the lips and I'm still alive" what can you do but laugh?!

Deb said...

Simple. If you don't laugh, you'll cry.

Unknown said...

Would love to get a hold of these books! Parenting without a sense of humor is a living nightmare. Why wouldn't you laugh when your son pees all over the wall bc his brother called his name (all of course with the door wide open and company in plain view). And shouldn't we be so proud of our husbands bc they taught the boys to pull his finger so he can fart (I'm so impressed.) You have to to laugh at yourself, when you're searching for a your wallet in your 'purse' but pull out fruit roll ups, crayons, matchbox cars, beyblades, 1/2 eaten crackers, only to realize your wallet must be on the kitchen counter. And I tried to laugh, but I actually cried, when I realized my boy sticks his boogers to the wall behind his bed. Yeah, please pick me for the books, if only to show me I'm a normal parent, and shouldn't be checking myself into the psychiatric ward.

Unknown said...

I read MWDAS, and that shit was hilarious! But I still want an actual copy since I got the kindle version.

Sense of humor is a necessity in parenting. how else would you get through the puke, the clinginess, the messes and the not having time for yourself? Sense of humor is the key to not driving yourself insane!

Cathy said...

If we didn't laugh at ourselves, then others would do it, and that is just not as much fun. Humor in parenting is the only thing that keeps us all sane.

Erin said...

Parenting is a weird experience as you navigate being in charge of small little beings (monsters some days)...if you can't find the humor in that, you will go crazy! At least I know I would. Kids are funny, and its good to find the humor in the minutiae of the daily struggles, triumphs and everything in between. I would love to read any or all of these books! Thank you!

ChiTown Girl said...

I would love to read these. Basically, I've always believed that if you don't laugh, you'll cry. So find a way to chuckle about your puke covered clothes, and move on! =)

Unknown said...

As a single mom of one strong willed 6 year old boy, humor is just about the only thing that gets me through most of my days! If I weren't able to laugh at the absurdity of it all I would certainly lose my mind :) This mama could use some more giggles with these books by other like-minded mamas!

Kimberly said...

To laugh is to SURVIVE! We'd all be losing our shit if we couldn't laugh. Amber's book is next on my "to buy" list. I've read the others. Laughed until I cried at parts of them all! So thankful for you ladies to remind us that laugher really is the best medicine.

Jamie said...

I would love to read all these books. I follow Moms Who Drink and Swear's blog and she has me in stitches every time! It's nice to know I'm not the only mom who loses her shit occasionally! The fact that I do lose my shit on occasion is a huge part of why I think having a sense of humor as a parent is essential! It's laugh or cry, and I'd much rather laugh!

Unknown said...

i have to giggle when my daughters growl and slam the door because they were reminded to clean their bathroom before they leave. i have to smile when my daughters say i hate it here because i won't jump up and give them a ride into town. i smile and giggle because i know they don't hate me. they are over it within minutes and none of us say a bunch of crap we can't take back. besides, it's pretty hilarious. they love their momma and i'd die for them

tatooine84 said...

If I didn't laugh I'd go crazy. I always look forward to at least one of my kids saying or doing something totally ridiculous, it always makes bad days better.

Anonymous said...

As a mom of 2 (24y/o son and 11y/o daughter) I'd be in a straight jacket if I didn't have a sense of humor. At times, I've changed my name and if my kids could guess the right one, they'd have to leave me alone for an hour. they can be the bright spot of the day, or the horror. Best 'wanna crawl under a rock' moment? At the drs office when a woman was called back, and my sweet daughter went and smelled her chair-loudly saying 'PHWEEE'. God love 'em and God save 'em :)

Unknown said...

I use humor all day, every day....sometimes to a fault. If I didn't laugh at my life especially, I'd never get through the day. Parenting is hard as shit.....I also curse like a sailor, because saying fuck really does make me feel better in the situation. I don't give a shit if the situation is one I created or one that if I calmed the fuck down, I could figure what ever the fuck out I was trying to figure out....just FUCK! Anyway....as I was saying....I insert humor into every aspect of my life to help lend a sense of perspective and to just feel better about the moment. If I'm not making fun of someone/something and not laughing at your jokes....back up slowly and shut your trap.

Glenna said...

You have to have a sense of humor to remind yourself not to get caught up in the details of parenting. You have to be able to laugh when your toddler dumps all of the toys out when you just spent ten minutes cleaning them up. Or when he smears peanut butter in his eyes. If you freak out, they will too. If you laugh and remain calm, things usually go more smoothly!

Star said...

I absolutely would love to win one of these. I just read Jill's other book (Confessions of a Scary Mommy) and thought it was hilarious. I think you need to keep a sense of humor because otherwise you'll end up going insane and running down the street in your pajamas and one slipper, screaming. Either that or you'd start eating your young. I believe that's why hamsters do it...they have no sense of humor.

Jennifer said...

Having a sense of humor when parenting is important because it sets a good example....hopefully one your kids will follow when you're getting your sweet, sweet revenge on the little monsters when you're 90 years old, not making sense, whining, and need YOUR diaper changed for once =)

Unknown said...

The only difference between tradgedy and humor is....TIME. My wife and I joke that we don't really have adult friends because we enjoy their company....we just want to make sure our kids are the same.

Unknown said...

parenting little humans who can't articulate what they want and make crazy demands and want u to do it all now their way sucks. so you can either choose to cry about it or laugh (including making fun of the little people), I choose the latter.

Nat said...

I enjoyed your reviews!
If we didn't laugh as parents, we would cry.

Unknown said...

I frequently run down the street screaming in my jammies and one slipper, that's not a problem at all. My greatest gift in motherhood is my sense of humor because I can be captivated and ask pointed questions to my three year old while he's reciting his dissertation on the reason he's crying. This usually includes a dinosaur, crocodile, and tiger interchangeably entering his bedroom and stealing one of his sister's toys and taking it to the zoo, not to mention the fact that they are often on our roof and especially at night are up there waiting to see if he gets out of bed. This often goes on for about 20 minutes with playful banter back and forth and the stories grow larger each time. I would never wish for this 20 minutes back and I would never exchange it for cleaning or laundry, although I might mix a cocktail during the explanations...

Reagan and Trevor's Mommy said...

Oh I neeeeed these books!!! A sense of humor in parenting is a must because when your 3 year old loudly and appropriately exclaims, in her cute little innocent voice, what the FUCK?!?! in front of your proper sister in said proper sister's home...what else are you going to do except laugh!

Modern Mom Mayhem said...

Who wants to teach their kids how to have a stick stuck up their a$$ all their lives? Not me! You have to have a healthy sense of humor to parent because it's over in the blink of an eye and you'll be the a-hole parent who was more concerned with "proper" parenting than letting the kids have ice cream for dinner when it's 95 degrees and laughing at their arm fart noises. Besides, parenting is more fun when you laugh.
P.S. I love to read. I love moms with snarky humor and non stepford children. I love PIWTPITT. (Did that earn me enough points or should I keep going?)

Linda Kish said...

If you don't have a sense of humor about it, you'll probably lose your mind completely. At least I would have. I did it completely alone with a kid with ADHD and OCD and ODD. Loads of fun. Now he's a wonderful adult so I must have done something right. But I'd love to read the books. I need to know I'm not alone and I need some good laughs.

Erin McDermid said...

I laugh at the stuff we're not supposed to laugh at - mostly because if I don't I'd spend way too much crying and life is just to short to cry that much at the little stuff that really doesn't matter in the long run. I love your blog and books like these because laughing with them helps us to remember to laugh at ourselves and know that everyone else is just as crazy!!

A Blase Faire Affair said...

"Don't take life too seriously. You'll never get out of it alive." --- Elbert Hubbard

Jenn said...

Seriously, if I didn't laugh about motherhood, I would go crazy. Literally insane. It's either laugh or cry. And I would much rather laugh. :)

Hey_Kari_Anne said...

As a mother and preschool teacher, I HAVE to have a sense of humor or I'll be all grey and grouchy by yesterday!

Maz said...

Without a sense of humor, you'd kill the kids. That's pretty much it. And/or go crazy.

Christina F. said...

oh my. if i couldn't parent without a sense of humor, i'd have quit before i started. plus, as these authors demonstrate, parenting is really pretty funny when you look at objectively from a bit of distance (that is, when you're not the one trying not scream when your toddler cries for fifteen minutes and then refuses to brush her teeth for a week because her toothbrush was facing backwards when you handed it to her).

Ronalee said...

You have to have a sense of humor so that your crazy side doesn't take over. It's great to be playful and unny with the kids and they will remember those moments.

ronaleeduncan{at}aol{dot}com

Laura G. said...

If I couldn't laugh at myself, I'd be crying my eyes out on a daily basis! I think we all would!

Michelle said...

Hmm, why having a sense of humor is important in parenting? How about it's important because it's hard. It's hard when you are exhausted but you go ahead and get up at 3am to get another bottle. It's hard when you take them to kindergarten for the first day and watch them as they walk inside by themselves. It's hard when they cry because someone hurt them and you wish you could take away their pain. It's hard because your heart no longer belongs to you. It is hard. But it is also the most rewarding and brings you the most joy. So yep, you DEFINITELY need your sense of humor if you are a parent.

Loretta said...

I found you through "Crappy Pictures." For some reason, tho. my kids are grown, I can't get enough of the sharp, insightful, "call-a-spade-a-spade" parenting blogs that are out there. Where were they when I felt like I was the only one whose kids were doing all the things everyone now bravely blogs about?!? Thanks for the chance to win one of these super books!

S4ephanie said...

Why is it important, as a parent, to have a sence of humor? Because it's not unusual to catch my 8yr old peeing through the chain link fence in my mother-in-law's backyard!

Book me up, please! :^)

Unknown said...

Laughter is important for oh so many reason, but most of all it will keep you from losing it leaving "accidentally" leaving your kids at the grocery store. No, I would never do that.... the grocery stores clerks would never forgive me. I absolutely need these books because I was raised by one of those crazy mothers who claims she loved pregnancy and that everything about being a mom is easy and natural. LIES! LIES I SAY! I was a giant, sweaty, uncomfortable pregnant lady and every day with my precious son (he is precious and perfect, no matter what I say when he wakes me up at 2a.m. for no apparent reason) is a new adventure in learning what you really can live without (i.e. showering, eating food while it's still fresh and warm, wearing clothes that don't have some kind of smashed up food stuck to them, etc). So, in conclusion, send me those books please! :)

Anonymous said...

Because you'll absolutely lose your mind otherwise, after being pooped and peed on and generally ignored. Patience is also a virtue.

foursmama said...

If you can't laugh about it what's the point? There is almost nothing in life that is not hilarious and ridiculous if you can lift your head above the fray for long enough to see it. And that is what makes a great life.

Mamaw said...

My grandkids are 5 & 6, and they have a brand new baby brother. Here is a recent conversation between my DIL and granddaughter: (Granddaughter is on her play phone) "Doctor, I can't get my baby to stop crying". DIL looks at granddaughter and says, "Baylee, what are you doing?" GD says "I'm being you". DIL says "What did the doctor say?" GD says, "He said to get over it!" If you don't have a sense of humor, your kids will see to it that you develop one!

Melissa Hightower said...

If you don't have a sense of humor when you are parenting life would be boring. Laughing is the best medicine and my two year old has me laughing all the time.

GardenLady said...

If you can't have a sense of humor when raising kids, then you have no business doing it. If there is any real meaning to life, it is to find joy in it.

Anonymous said...

I have to keep my sense of humor or my kids will never know how wildly funny I am. :)

kylee said...

These are all on my Amazon wishlist! Got to laugh, motherhood is nuts. May as well enjoy looking at it from the funny side, right?

Robin said...

It's hard to stay serious and mad! If I don't laugh at myself daily, I would go crazy and be miserable! The best laughs for me are when the kids do or say something and I have to walk out the room because I cant keep a straight face! I also work at an elem school and seeing "other people's kids" keeps things in perspective!

WittyBubble said...

Only 53 comments before me?! I may have a chance :) Seriously...you have to have a sense of humor as a parent so your kids don't turn into assholes.

Heather said...

You just flat out would not survive motherhood (or maybe THEY wouldn't survive) without a sense of humor!

Heather Hallam said...

I have to laugh...or I would be crying all of the time! And, I just know that others are laughing with me, not AT me...right guys? RIGHT?

Unknown said...

You have to laugh when parenting because a house without laughing is so sad. You need to laugh so your kids learn to laugh (so what if you're all laughing because the 5 year old just said "What the hell man" to grandpa when he popped him with the ball?).

As a bonus your child's future therapist will also get a laugh while everyone recounts the CRA-CRA upbringing filled with laughs but at absent any of those normal things all his friends had like lotus bags, period parties, Marie Antoinette birthday parties, and guess the gender parties.

MamaShark said...

Because if you don't laugh you'd drink. Heavily.

Raine said...

I'm with all the people before me: without humor I'd go insane. Like truly. Like wicked insane.

Jennifer said...

Humor is important because laughing so hard you pee is a good lie when really you just piss yourself regularly since having three kids by c-section killed something connecting your bladder to your brain.

Shanda said...

You must have humor. If you don't, you might just end your day, crying in the closet, drinking wine and thinking about running off. Love those kids!

Catbarfield said...

Without finding the humor in parenting, where would the fun be?? If everything my kids did was only sweet and good or rotten and horrible, I would have a lot of rotten and horrible days. You gotta find the funny in things... :)

Ps. I want all three of these books SO MUCH. Pick me!!

Unknown said...

Because laughing burns calories, which is why I laugh at my kids all the time! Maybe I should have more kids so I can eat whatever I want... Ha, that's laughable.

carole said...

Those books look great! Laughing relieves stress and being less stressed helps me do everything better.

Soupy said...

Not only am I a mother of 2 emotional, hormonal girls under 6, but I'm also an early childhood special ed teacher-so I inflict myself daily with children. I love them but I also know that if I DIDN'T have a sense of humor, I'd be in a far worse place than now. LOL.

Rachael P. said...

Laughing is good for the soul. That's why a sense of humor is important in parenting.

Love all these books coming out! Can't wait to read them all!

Cherice said...

Having a sense of humor is important when parenting because it allows you to laugh at yourself and not feel bad for being the jerk that lets your kids scream, "Mom, I'm done!" from the bathroom 5-10 extra times before you actually go get them because you are secretly hoping they forget your name or fall asleep instead. LOL!

debbiemuz said...

As the only female in an all-male house, I need to laugh to keep my sanity. The farting, muddy tracks, yelling, and "i'm hungry" whines can be hard to take - and that's just from my husband... just imagine what the 6 and 16 kids are like!

debbiemuz said...

I meant the 6yr and 16yr old kids. No, I don't have either 6 or 16 kids (thank god!).

Unknown said...

Having a sense of humor is important when parenting because sometimes it sucks. So you should admit it, otherwise you're either a liar or a heaping bowl of crazy. At least use the crap to get a good laugh.

JennInAustin said...

It's either laugh or cry, baby. And sometimes I'm doing both at the same time!

Unknown said...

If I didn't have a sense of humor every time my wonderful 3 year old made me a 'nest' with the clean laundry or tried to put ME in time out etc... I would boil over, instead I just laugh... I mean she IS funny! lol

Unknown said...

i'm a single mom so it's all that much harder. if i didn't have a sense of humor? man, i don't know... it would be kinda unbearable.
unfortunately, even WITH a sense of humor it's kinda hard when there's no one to share the joke with. Probably why I have friends...
would love to get these books to enjoy while the little munchkin is asleep!

K.Cramblet said...

Sure, we all need a sense of humor to survive parenthood... but what about our kids? We're already scared of them being totally f-d up as teens/adults so how scary would it be if we didn't teach them how to laugh and have a sense of humor too? You can't do that if you sit around being serious all the time!!!

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