Book Review: Totally Desperate Mom

Last week at MOPS we had a speaker named Wendy Hagen talk to us about how God "made us for motherhood". Her words truly touched me. At one point I looked around my table and every single woman was either laughing or crying (many of us were doing both at once!). In addition to providing encouragement from scripture, Wendy shared some pretty gross/hilarious stories from her life as a mother to 3. When I heard that her book "Totally Desperate Mom - Keepin' It Real in the Motherhood" was available to buy, I jumped at the chance.

Here I am one week later and I have read the entire book cover to cover. (It's not that long, so it's totally possible to read in between feedings, diaper changes, nose wiping, etc). I absolutely loved it and found her honestly really refreshing. I wish I had read something like this before I had Ryan and entered the "black hole", (as Wendy refers to those first few months of having an infant). She writes about how to survive "MBD's" or Mental Breakdown Days, and how making time to spend with God is crucial to being an effective Mom.

Apart from being helpful and encouraging, this book is also hilarious. Here is an exerpt from one of my favorite stories in the book. I read it out loud to Adam and almost couldn't get the words out from laughing so much.

"One night after Elijah had supposedly already brushed his teeth I decided to verify his claim and surveyed his teeth. 'Your teeth are looking a little yellow,' I told him as I pulled his lip over his nose, inspected his not-so-pearly-whites, and brushed away furiously.

'So are yours,' he replied ever so innocently. I thought his unintentional jab was the end of our toothbrushing interaction. Had I known what was coming next I would have halted the conversation and run for the hills.

Elijah continued. 'I know why mine are yellow.'

'You do? Why?'

'Because I eat my ear wax. And my eye boogies.'

I about fell over and died right then and there. 'Elijah! That is so disgusting. So gross. Don't ever do that again!'

'It tastes really good,' he said with his little boy grin.'"

OK I realize that is really gross but that's just part of being a Mom, right? Oh boy I can't wait to hear some of the things that will come out of Ryan's mouth someday.

Wendy has a blog if you want to read more stories about her life as a mom. http://hagenhoopla.blogspot.com/ Oh and did I mention she was a childhood actress? Here is her official website: http://www.wendyhagen.net/

Let me know if you want to borrow the book from me. I would be more than happy to lend it to you! (As long as you don't mind the chew marks on it. Ryan may or may not have gotten ahold of it and used it as a teething toy.)