Disclosure: Affiliate links are present in this post. If you click through to Amazon and buy this book, I will receive a small commission. All opinions are my own. I received a press copy of this book last October and am excited to tell you about this book. It doesn’t suck. Trust me. You’ll love it.
I am so excited to be today’s stop on The Mother Of All Meltdown’s blog tour. The Mother Of All Meltdowns is an essay anthology of mothers sharing their meltdown stories. Most of them are snort worthy funny. I reviewed this book back in the fall. Click here for a full review. Or trust me when I say that this book needs to be on your radar, especially for Mother’s Day!
I had a chance to send a few questions to two of the authors, but before we do that, let’s talk about reasons why I’m having my own motherhood meltdown.
1. My dates are always mixed up. Has this happened to you? I’ve shown up to doctor’s appointments a day early, wished people happy birthday on the wrong day, and missed cut off dates for camp registration.
2. Nobody has clean underwear. EVER. No matter how many pairs each of us has, they are always all dirty. Sigh. If a genie came and gave me three wishes, the first one would be for a laundry fairy.
3. Malone has a knack for finding himself in physically troublesome situations. As I type this, he’s currently stuck in Lola’s exersaucer. Also? There was that one time where he got his fingers stuck in a rocking chair and my husband had to come home and cut him out with a saw. A saw, people!
4. I am the last one to bed and the first one up in the morning. I’m also the first one to make breakfast and the last one to get to eat it. I’m often on the edge of hangry- the hungery angers. My husband, being the professional woman tamer that he is, often shoves a granola bar at me before it gets too out of control.
5. I am completely out of coffee and chocolate. No further explanation needed!
I am excited to welcome Lisa from The Golden Spoons and Ginny Marie from Lemon Drop Pie into my space today. Lisa and Ginny Marie contributed two of my favorite essays from the book.
I sent them each the same set of questions about motherhood and here is what they had to say.
I am completely surprised by motherhood on almost a daily basis. What has surprised you?
Lisa: So much surprises me. For starters, I never pictured myself with all girls, but that’s what I got! I am constantly surprised by how I can love these little people so much, even though they drive me crazy sometimes.
Ginny Marie: I’m a teacher, so of course I thought I knew all about raising children before I actually had any. From the moment my daughters were born, I was surprised at how fiercely I love them, and how every day they strive to become independent from me, their mother. My little Emmy has been pushing herself away from me from the very first time she had enough milk and a full belly. One of the benefits of being their mother, however, is that I know I will always be their mother and they love me just as fiercely as I love them.
What was the process like for crafting your essay. Did you have a different story in mind before settling on this one?
Lisa: I remember I was trying to decide between two stories. The labor and delivery one I went with and one in which I very briefly lost my middle daughter at the zoo when she was three. I ran both ideas by Crystal, our amazing managing editor. She said either was fine. In the end, my heart just led me to the one I chose.
Ginny Marie: My story was about my youngest, Emmy, and her difficulty in getting dressed in the morning. I had a meltdown one day before school, and all her clothes ended up on my bedroom floor! While this incident was the beginning of a story, I had to flesh it out a bit, so I decided to give some background on Emmy showing how independent she’s always been.
What advice would you give to a new mother to be?
Lisa: I would say trust your instincts. You can read every parenting book out there and you still will not ever be fully prepared. When in doubt, shut out all the advice and all the doubt and just trust your gut
Ginny Marie: It will get easier.
How did your mother influence your mothering style?
Lisa: I think I’m a lot like my mom in may ways. We have similar conservative beliefs and similar personalities. Those are reflected in the way she parented me and the way I parent my girls.
Ginny Marie: My mom taught me that sometimes I need to just listen to my children. Just listen, and really hear them.
The Mother Of All Meltdowns is currently on sale for your kindle for $0.99! If you haven’t picked it up yet, I highly recommend that you do.
Additionally, the Meltdown Authors have launched a brand new community called No Mother Is Perfect. It is a community for the perfectly imperfect mother! A place where you can let your guard down and talk about the meltdowns, struggles, and less rosy aspects of being a mom!
In celebration of Mother’s Day, they have a huge giveaway going on sponsored by The Oaks at Ojai, Cariloha, Wicker Central, Metropolis Coffee Company, Wind & Fire Jewelry, Chuao Chocolatier, Global Rose, & Anew Riesling . This giveaway will have three winners.
First Prize
- Three night stay for two at The Oaks at Ojai
(approximate value $2,000 – does not include airfare) - Twenty Pounds of Coffee from Metropolis Coffee Co.(approximate value $270)
- Two Hundred Roses from Global Rose
(approximate value $160) - Five Stacks of Bangles from Wind & Fire Jewelry
(approximate value $130) - One Ultimate Chocolate Bar Set from Chuao Chocolatier
(approximate value $50) - One Share the Love ChocoPod Gift Set from Chuao Chocolatier
(approximate value $36) - Two Print Copies of The Mother of All Meltdowns
(approximate value $16)
Second Prize
- One Tortuga Outdoor Portside Plantation Wicker Rocking Chair from Wicker Central (approximate value $229)
- One Hundred Roses from Global Rose (approximate value $79)
- One Yoga Mat from Anew Riesling (approximate value $50)
- One Sixteen Piece Breakfast in Bed Bonbon Collection from Chuao Chocolatier (approximate value $32)
- One Print Copy of The Mother of All Meltdowns (approximate value $8)
Third Prize
- One Bamboo Sheet Set from Cariloha (approximate value $179)
- One Hundred Roses from Global Rose (approximate value $79)
- One Yoga Mat from Anew Riesling (approximate value $50)
- One Sixteen Piece Breakfast in Bed Bonbon Collection from Chuao Chocolatier (approximate value $32)
- One Print Copy of The Mother of All Meltdowns (approximate value $8)
To enter this giveaway and for full rules, click here and visit No Mother Is Perfect!
Holly Barrett says
Oh NJ! I was laughing hysterically at your list! So sorry that you have experienced that but boy is it funny. Hope you can retain your sense of humor even in the midst of the meltdowns! Great post, friend!
Holly Barrett recently posted..Big Red Sofa: What’s love got to do with it? {giveaway}
NJ says
I am so glad I made you laugh, Holly! I write like this because I know there is joy in the pain!
Rabia @TheLiebers says
Our problem seems to be more with pants and socks than underwear. I would *love* a laundry fairy!!
Rabia @TheLiebers recently posted..Float Like a Butterfly; Sting Like a Bee; Sneak Up on People Like a Cat
NJ says
A laundry fair would be amazing! For awhile, we were getting through all of the laundry on the weekend. But now that the weather is getting nicer, it just isn’t happening. Thank goodness for shortie pj’s that double as “boxers” for Malone.
Lisa @ The Golden spoons says
Those are al very meltdown worthy situations!! At our house it’s not the underwear – it’t the sock. Nobody ever had enough clean socks. Same here about being first up last down and the breakfast thing. No coffee & chocolate????? I would definitely have a meltdown! Thanks for supporting us and for the fun questions!
Lisa @ The Golden spoons recently posted..My Writing Style
NJ says
I ended up running out to the store this afternoon. We usually have a sock problem too. Thank goodness the weather is warmer!
Tara Newman says
Your underwear situation is better than what I have going on over here! Nobody changes their underwear in my house (except the adults!). I sent my son away for a week, he came home with 5 clean pairs of underwear, (sigh)
Tara Newman recently posted..5 Things I Have Learned About Motivating Children
NJ says
In some small way, that makes me feel a little better Tara! We also have a sock situation here, but now that the weather is nice we can opt for sandals instead!
Ginny Marie says
My husband has learned the same granola bar technique! I’m awful when I get hangry! I’m so glad I was able to get my answers to you in time…I’m perpetually late for some reason. 😉
Ginny Marie recently posted..Your Spin Cycle Prompt {week of 4/14}
NJ says
Husbands are smart like that, aren’t they? It’s funny, I carry snacks to prevent the hanger for Malone but I never think about carrying them for myself!
~Karrilee~ says
No Coffee (OR Chocolate?) Girl… that is the ingredients for anyones’ meltdown!
Love you!
Kah
~Karrilee~ recently posted..Counting Gifts Beyond Two Thousand
Nancy says
I liked your questions! I think the thing that surprises me the most about motherhood is how much I take in stride… I’m usually more tightly-wound and a control freak. LOL.
Nancy recently posted..My Writing Process
Gracielle says
We are the same way over here about socks! There are never any clean socks, or matching pairs for that matter, in this hizzouse.
Gracielle recently posted..{Review + Giveaway} Farfaria App for iPad
Crystal says
OMG! I just realized I never stopped by and said THANK YOU and tell you how much I love this post! These are two of my favorite blogging buds. Incredible women!
Crystal recently posted..Bloggers: The Trick to Syndicating Without Hurting SEO