"You're a Good Mom" says Jen Singer
14 Secrets to Finding Happiness Between Super Mom and Slacker Mom
Sep 26, 2008
Those familiar with Parenting Magazine may already have read some of Jen Singer’s hilarious adventures. But for those not yet aware of her, Singer is the best friend or neighbour you wish you had when embarking on parenthood.
Finding the Balance
In You're a Good Mom (and your kids aren't so bad either) [(c)2008, Sourcebooks, Inc., ISBN-13: 978-1-4022-1114-0], her goal, as the subtitle suggests, is to find the balance in parenting between being an overachieving perfectionist and just throwing in the towel and becoming laissez-faire. She lets the reader know that there is no such thing as perfect parenting, and raising the expectations bar so insurmountably high does nobody any good.
The Super Mom Myth
The book is divided into two sections. Part One is called “Don’t Try to Keep up with Super Mom.” Here she debunks the myth of the woman who seems to be able to do it all without breaking a sweat. Some of the seven secrets she lists include “Super Mom is Faking It,” and “Your Kid’s Birthday Party Isn’t Your Coming-Out Celebration.”
Slacker Mom
In Part Two, “Slacker Mom Isn’t as Cool as She Appears to Be,” Singer reminds us that those women who think they should be their child’s friend instead of their parent are not doing anyone a favor. Some tips in this section include “Watch Access Hollywood for Britney Spears Updates, Not Parenting Tips,” and “If You Think You’re a “Cool Mom,” Your Kids Think You’re a Pushover.”
Fun Format
Throughout the book, there are quizzes, charts, and even a Search-a-Word puzzle that further amplify her message: “Parent in the middle.” Extremes are not good for parents and they’re not good for kids. Keeping a sense of humour about it all is a bonus. Singer keeps the everyday travails of parenting in entertaining perspective.
Singer’s website, MommaSaid.net, is a welcome and witty respite from the daily grind of motherhood. She has links, comments, a blog, and a host of other entertaining diversions. Like her website, You’re a Good Mom is digestible in small portions, which is ideal for the mother who only has a few minutes a day to spare to read anything besides PTA memos.
Poignant Struggle
Jen Singer’s story emerges in her afterword, where she briefly recounts her cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment. She ended up completing the book while she was undergoing chemotherapy. Hers is truly a resilient spirit. Her cancer is in remission. Thankfully she is well and will be able to amuse herself and us for a long time to come. She is currently working on a book about babies, which, no doubt, will be as entertaining and enlightening as this one.
