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Confessions of a Scary Mommy: An Honest and Irreverent Look at Motherhood - The Good, The Bad, and the Scary
Based on the hugely popular website, ScaryMommy.com, Confessions of a Scary Mommy digs deep into the underbelly of parenting and tackles the issues many mothers are too afraid to expose.
Sometimes I just let my c hildren fall asleep in front of the TV .
In a culture that idealizes motherhood, it’s scary to confess that, in your house, being a mother is beautiful and dirty and joyful and frustrating all at once. Admitting that it’s not easy doesn’t make you a bad mom; at least, it shouldn’t.
If I can’t survive my daughter as a toddler, how the hell am I going to get through the teenage years?
When Jill Smokler was first home with her small children, she thought her blog would be something to keep friends and family updated. To her surprise, she hit a chord in the hearts of mothers everywhere.
I end up doing my son’s homework. It’s wrong, but so much easier.
Total strangers were contributing their views on that strange reality called motherhood. As other women shared their stories, Jill realized she wasn’t alone in her feelings of exhaustion and imperfection.
My eighteen month old still can’t say “Mommy” but used the word “shit” in perfect context.
But she sensed her readers were still holding back, so decided to start an anonymous confessional, a place where real moms could leave their most honest thoughts without fearing condemnation.
I pretend to be happy but I cry every night in the shower.
The reactions were some sad, some pee-in-your-pants funny, some brutally honest. But they were real, not a commercial glamorization.
I clock out of motherhood at 8 P.M. and hide in the basement with my laptop and a beer.
If you’re already a fan, lock the bathroom door on your whining kids, run a bubble bath, and settle in. If you’ve not encountered Scary Mommy before, break out a glass of champagne as well, because you’ll be toasting your initiation into a select club.
I know why some animals eat their young.
In chapters that cover husbands (The Biggest Baby of Them All) to homework (Didn’t I Already Graduate?), Confessions of a Scary Mommy combines all-new essays from Jill with the best of the anonymous confessions.
Sometimes I wish my son was still little—then I hear kids screaming at the store.
As Jill says, “We like to paint motherhood as picture perfect. A newborn peacefully resting on his mother’s chest. A toddler taking tentative first steps into his mother’s loving arms. A mother fluffing her daughter’s prom dress. These moments are indeed miraculous and joyful; they can also be few and far between.” Of course you adore your kids. Of course you would lay down your life for them. But be honest Have you ever wondered what possessed you to sign up for the job of motherhood?
STOP! DO NOT OPEN THIS BOOK UNTIL YOU RECITE THESE VOWS!
I shall remember that no mother is perfect and my children will thrive because, and sometimes even in spite, of me.
I shall not preach to a fellow mother who has not asked my opinion. It’s none of my damn business.
I shall maintain a sense of humor about all things motherhood.
Sometimes I just let my c hildren fall asleep in front of the TV .
In a culture that idealizes motherhood, it’s scary to confess that, in your house, being a mother is beautiful and dirty and joyful and frustrating all at once. Admitting that it’s not easy doesn’t make you a bad mom; at least, it shouldn’t.
If I can’t survive my daughter as a toddler, how the hell am I going to get through the teenage years?
When Jill Smokler was first home with her small children, she thought her blog would be something to keep friends and family updated. To her surprise, she hit a chord in the hearts of mothers everywhere.
I end up doing my son’s homework. It’s wrong, but so much easier.
Total strangers were contributing their views on that strange reality called motherhood. As other women shared their stories, Jill realized she wasn’t alone in her feelings of exhaustion and imperfection.
My eighteen month old still can’t say “Mommy” but used the word “shit” in perfect context.
But she sensed her readers were still holding back, so decided to start an anonymous confessional, a place where real moms could leave their most honest thoughts without fearing condemnation.
I pretend to be happy but I cry every night in the shower.
The reactions were some sad, some pee-in-your-pants funny, some brutally honest. But they were real, not a commercial glamorization.
I clock out of motherhood at 8 P.M. and hide in the basement with my laptop and a beer.
If you’re already a fan, lock the bathroom door on your whining kids, run a bubble bath, and settle in. If you’ve not encountered Scary Mommy before, break out a glass of champagne as well, because you’ll be toasting your initiation into a select club.
I know why some animals eat their young.
In chapters that cover husbands (The Biggest Baby of Them All) to homework (Didn’t I Already Graduate?), Confessions of a Scary Mommy combines all-new essays from Jill with the best of the anonymous confessions.
Sometimes I wish my son was still little—then I hear kids screaming at the store.
As Jill says, “We like to paint motherhood as picture perfect. A newborn peacefully resting on his mother’s chest. A toddler taking tentative first steps into his mother’s loving arms. A mother fluffing her daughter’s prom dress. These moments are indeed miraculous and joyful; they can also be few and far between.” Of course you adore your kids. Of course you would lay down your life for them. But be honest Have you ever wondered what possessed you to sign up for the job of motherhood?
STOP! DO NOT OPEN THIS BOOK UNTIL YOU RECITE THESE VOWS!
I shall remember that no mother is perfect and my children will thrive because, and sometimes even in spite, of me.
I shall not preach to a fellow mother who has not asked my opinion. It’s none of my damn business.
I shall maintain a sense of humor about all things motherhood.
176 pages, Hardcover
First published April 3, 2012
96 people are currently reading
2203 people want to read
About the author
Jill Smokler
15 books118 followersWhat started as an innocent on-line baby book in early 2008 to chronicle her stay-at-home days with her children, quickly transformed into a vibrant community of parents, brought together by a common theme: Parenting doesn’t have to be perfect. Jill’s honest take on parenting has appeared in countless publications and on television programs including The Today Show, Good Morning America, Nightline, Bethenny and Fox and Friends.
In 2015, Scary Mommy was acquired by Vinit Bharara of the media company Some Spider, LLC, where Jill is currently President and Editor in Chief.
In 2015, Scary Mommy was acquired by Vinit Bharara of the media company Some Spider, LLC, where Jill is currently President and Editor in Chief.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 453 reviews
April 11, 2012
This book was a huge let-down. I had such high hopes after hearing about it on the Today Show. I didn't even finish it.
The author has the mouth of a sailor. The swearing just gets old and loses it's effect - if that's what she's going for. Her language reminds me of when kids would constantly cuss in middle school just to look cool in front of people.
The funny mom moments weren't even that funny.
The synopsis says "in a culture that idolizes motherhood...", ummm what culture would that be? Because it sure isn't ours.
The book was more about how having children has cramped the author's selfish lifestyle. I thought it would be a book about all the crazy/funny/absurd things moms experience.
I'm sure other people will love this book - just definitely not for me.
The author has the mouth of a sailor. The swearing just gets old and loses it's effect - if that's what she's going for. Her language reminds me of when kids would constantly cuss in middle school just to look cool in front of people.
The funny mom moments weren't even that funny.
The synopsis says "in a culture that idolizes motherhood...", ummm what culture would that be? Because it sure isn't ours.
The book was more about how having children has cramped the author's selfish lifestyle. I thought it would be a book about all the crazy/funny/absurd things moms experience.
I'm sure other people will love this book - just definitely not for me.
October 28, 2012
I opted to listen to the audio CD version of this book. Smokler choosing to read this book herself doesn't do her any favors. I was hoping to find this book refreshing, honest, with a view on motherhood that was without photoshopped expectations. In some ways it rocked this, but at the end of the day the insecurities of the author ruined the entire experience.
My issues with the book may have started simply because I have never been the kind of girl Smokler describes herself as in her pre-mommy years. Mani-petis, shopping as a hobby, no plans for the future? The writing really made me wonder if the author had gotten carried away with characterizing herself or if she was really a living, breathing, stereotype. That aside, it was utterly depressing how much of the book focuses on body insecurities. I don't just mean the confessions, which are honest and revealing in a sad way. I mean the scathing descriptions of other women by the author, women with 'tight asses' or 'pert breasts' which transform said women into objects of envy and hate. Seriously?
By the middle of the book I was cringing with every, "But there are benefits to my way of doing things..." that predictably came after any description of alternate child-rearing techniques. The need for the author (oh, by the way, she starts out the book saying she's not a writer. still not sure how to react to that) to justify her actions is grating and the book is riddled with her explanations so much that they read like excuses. Even in her own voice!
After reading it I can only conclude this is a narrative of social problems women live with; a diary to body issues and lack of communication with husbands. Finally in the last chapter the author does something admirable, and says about 'the mommy race' that no one is doing it wrong, and women shouldn't compete to be a better mommy. Why is this approach not taken the entire book? Why does the book focus so much on sarcastic complaining, snide suggestions, and talk of body issues? This disappointing attempt to represent motherhood in today's day and age falls short, and it's so much worse because the book doesn't take itself as seriously as any of the mothers who actually made the confessions that start every chapter.
Because of how strong the voice is in the last chapter and some parts in the beginning, I believe Smokler could have done better. But if her book is true to her character, to this remark she would probably sarcastically deflect and declare she isn't a writer anyway. Sigh.
My issues with the book may have started simply because I have never been the kind of girl Smokler describes herself as in her pre-mommy years. Mani-petis, shopping as a hobby, no plans for the future? The writing really made me wonder if the author had gotten carried away with characterizing herself or if she was really a living, breathing, stereotype. That aside, it was utterly depressing how much of the book focuses on body insecurities. I don't just mean the confessions, which are honest and revealing in a sad way. I mean the scathing descriptions of other women by the author, women with 'tight asses' or 'pert breasts' which transform said women into objects of envy and hate. Seriously?
By the middle of the book I was cringing with every, "But there are benefits to my way of doing things..." that predictably came after any description of alternate child-rearing techniques. The need for the author (oh, by the way, she starts out the book saying she's not a writer. still not sure how to react to that) to justify her actions is grating and the book is riddled with her explanations so much that they read like excuses. Even in her own voice!
After reading it I can only conclude this is a narrative of social problems women live with; a diary to body issues and lack of communication with husbands. Finally in the last chapter the author does something admirable, and says about 'the mommy race' that no one is doing it wrong, and women shouldn't compete to be a better mommy. Why is this approach not taken the entire book? Why does the book focus so much on sarcastic complaining, snide suggestions, and talk of body issues? This disappointing attempt to represent motherhood in today's day and age falls short, and it's so much worse because the book doesn't take itself as seriously as any of the mothers who actually made the confessions that start every chapter.
Because of how strong the voice is in the last chapter and some parts in the beginning, I believe Smokler could have done better. But if her book is true to her character, to this remark she would probably sarcastically deflect and declare she isn't a writer anyway. Sigh.
April 22, 2012
Smokler does a good job of elevating a blog into a book, the material is well organized and there are some sweet moments near the end.
Unfortunately, a good 3/4 of the book was more annoying than not. The tone, intended to be irreverent and provide solace for worn down parents, came off as alternatingly insulting (EW! Cloth diapers!) and shallow (What do you mean having kids means it can't be all about me anymore!?) Her attitudes towards husbands (unhelpful at best and useless when sick) were cringe-worthy (can I be the only person married to a responsible adult?).
I also found that there was an implicit assumption that "good" moms do not take time for themselves, they don't leave their kids alone, they don't take joy in anything their kids may like, they must always sacrifice... Smokler takes a tongue-in-cheek approach to this, showing how she doesn't follow these rules, but many of the confessions left me going "so what? you're human and besides that sounds healthier for the kids."
Unfortunately, a good 3/4 of the book was more annoying than not. The tone, intended to be irreverent and provide solace for worn down parents, came off as alternatingly insulting (EW! Cloth diapers!) and shallow (What do you mean having kids means it can't be all about me anymore!?) Her attitudes towards husbands (unhelpful at best and useless when sick) were cringe-worthy (can I be the only person married to a responsible adult?).
I also found that there was an implicit assumption that "good" moms do not take time for themselves, they don't leave their kids alone, they don't take joy in anything their kids may like, they must always sacrifice... Smokler takes a tongue-in-cheek approach to this, showing how she doesn't follow these rules, but many of the confessions left me going "so what? you're human and besides that sounds healthier for the kids."
February 21, 2017
A funny (and at times gross) look at parenting and parental relationships. I found this book to be honest and relatable. Some parts were funnier than others.
February 25, 2012
I received a free galley copy to review and I have to say, lots of people thought I was completely insane, you know, from all the random giggles and laughs that would escape me while I read this over my lunch hour.
I am already a fan of Jill from her Scary Mommy blog and was not shocked by her tone, attitude,and brilliant sarcasm. Although, like some commentors on her blog, I am sure that more than a few people will find much to horrify them in this book. These are the same people who are desperately holding onto the myth of the perfect mother who finds nothing put pure bliss in motherhood, her children, and life in general. For those that do, please bottle it. The rest of us sometimes want to stick a fork in our eye the next time we have to listen to a story about Pokemon.
Each chapter of this book opens with entries from Scary Mommy's beloved confessional. The confessional is a place to go to anoymously confess about life, motherhood, and the booger you just wiped on your jeans because you didn't have the energy to find a tissue. These confessions alone, are worth purchasing the book. Some made me think, "why the hell didn't I do that". Others made me cringe, and then feel proud that I had not yet stooped that low. Most just left me feeling like I was not alone in sometimes wanting to run away to Fiji.
After each confessional, Jill gives us a look into her life and how she handles being a mother. Had I knocked on her door and had her tell me her baby was being an asshole, but he would grow out of it, I would have hugged her and known I now had a friend for life. Of course, that is not the reaction she received when from a new neighbor.
Personally, I believe that all women that are pregnant should be given this book because no one ever tells us just what motherhood is actually like. Really, Jill is proof that it won't keep people from wanting to be moms, as she has 3 kids, but I really wish I had known what it was really going to be like.
Be sure to give this as a gift to all your mom friends who call you up with a sob and a glass of wine because their toddler has just flushed the cell phone down the toilet.
I am already a fan of Jill from her Scary Mommy blog and was not shocked by her tone, attitude,and brilliant sarcasm. Although, like some commentors on her blog, I am sure that more than a few people will find much to horrify them in this book. These are the same people who are desperately holding onto the myth of the perfect mother who finds nothing put pure bliss in motherhood, her children, and life in general. For those that do, please bottle it. The rest of us sometimes want to stick a fork in our eye the next time we have to listen to a story about Pokemon.
Each chapter of this book opens with entries from Scary Mommy's beloved confessional. The confessional is a place to go to anoymously confess about life, motherhood, and the booger you just wiped on your jeans because you didn't have the energy to find a tissue. These confessions alone, are worth purchasing the book. Some made me think, "why the hell didn't I do that". Others made me cringe, and then feel proud that I had not yet stooped that low. Most just left me feeling like I was not alone in sometimes wanting to run away to Fiji.
After each confessional, Jill gives us a look into her life and how she handles being a mother. Had I knocked on her door and had her tell me her baby was being an asshole, but he would grow out of it, I would have hugged her and known I now had a friend for life. Of course, that is not the reaction she received when from a new neighbor.
Personally, I believe that all women that are pregnant should be given this book because no one ever tells us just what motherhood is actually like. Really, Jill is proof that it won't keep people from wanting to be moms, as she has 3 kids, but I really wish I had known what it was really going to be like.
Be sure to give this as a gift to all your mom friends who call you up with a sob and a glass of wine because their toddler has just flushed the cell phone down the toilet.
May 21, 2012
Moms: Blow Off Some of That Menopausal Steam and Read This Book
This book did what very few books have done during my active reading career. It made me put down a juicy, well-written character-driven novel, and not pick it up again until I finished laughing (i.e. reading) my way through this hilarious confessional on modern motherhood.
This is a book that every (honest) mother will relate to and laugh at; however, it's a book I wish every "aspiring" mother would read. We mothers often complain to one another that no one really prepared us for the job in store, particularly as those sweet babies grow up. But I dare say, this book lays it right out there.
For example, from Chapter 16: " There are a million things I wish I'd done before I had children. I wish I'd slept in until noon on the weekends, lazily eating breakfast in bed and relishing the fact that I had nowhere to be all day. I wish I'd taken adult classes that really interested me, not just the ones I had to take in order to graduate years before. I wish I'd seen more midday movies, had more spontaneous sex, and read more books, back when I actually had the spare time to do all of that stuff. And I wish I'd appreciated the little things, like the ability to grocery shop or shower when I felt like it."
Smokler begins each chapter with quotes gathered from mothers across a vast mom community. She helps us understand--and this is what we really need to know while living in our vacuums--that we are NOT alone.
Well done. A great gift for any mom with a developed sense of humor.
This book did what very few books have done during my active reading career. It made me put down a juicy, well-written character-driven novel, and not pick it up again until I finished laughing (i.e. reading) my way through this hilarious confessional on modern motherhood.
This is a book that every (honest) mother will relate to and laugh at; however, it's a book I wish every "aspiring" mother would read. We mothers often complain to one another that no one really prepared us for the job in store, particularly as those sweet babies grow up. But I dare say, this book lays it right out there.
For example, from Chapter 16: " There are a million things I wish I'd done before I had children. I wish I'd slept in until noon on the weekends, lazily eating breakfast in bed and relishing the fact that I had nowhere to be all day. I wish I'd taken adult classes that really interested me, not just the ones I had to take in order to graduate years before. I wish I'd seen more midday movies, had more spontaneous sex, and read more books, back when I actually had the spare time to do all of that stuff. And I wish I'd appreciated the little things, like the ability to grocery shop or shower when I felt like it."
Smokler begins each chapter with quotes gathered from mothers across a vast mom community. She helps us understand--and this is what we really need to know while living in our vacuums--that we are NOT alone.
Well done. A great gift for any mom with a developed sense of humor.
February 10, 2012
Confessions of a Scary Mommy is not a highbrow work of literature. It's pee-in-your-pants, snort-coffee-out-your-nose, funny kind of book. It's about stretch marks, snot, and pooping on the delivery table. It's also about cutting yourself some slack, having compassion for fellow moms in the trenches, and maintaining a sense of humor as necessary skill for survival. It lifts the sacred veil off the face of motherhood, revealing that none of us really have any clue what we are doing. It's about REAL life.
The book's twenty-seven chapters cover everything from delivery room dramas to competitive birthday party planning. Each is only a short snippet — kind of like a Reader's Digest or Men's Health article — perfect for a quick read while hiding in the bathroom with a sleeve of Oreos and a shot of tequila.
This book will scare some people — absolutely— there's foul language and feces and brutal honesty. But if you are a mother and you cannot find something to relate to in the first chapter alone (even if you are afraid to admit it) you LIE. From the dreaded mommy guilt to aching ovaries and swearing at our children when they act like little sh*ts (in our heads, of course) — we've all been there. And it is an utter relief to realize we are all a part of this vast sisterhood of Scary Mommies.
For the complete enhanced review: http://vinobaby.blogspot.com/2012/01/...
The book's twenty-seven chapters cover everything from delivery room dramas to competitive birthday party planning. Each is only a short snippet — kind of like a Reader's Digest or Men's Health article — perfect for a quick read while hiding in the bathroom with a sleeve of Oreos and a shot of tequila.
This book will scare some people — absolutely— there's foul language and feces and brutal honesty. But if you are a mother and you cannot find something to relate to in the first chapter alone (even if you are afraid to admit it) you LIE. From the dreaded mommy guilt to aching ovaries and swearing at our children when they act like little sh*ts (in our heads, of course) — we've all been there. And it is an utter relief to realize we are all a part of this vast sisterhood of Scary Mommies.
For the complete enhanced review: http://vinobaby.blogspot.com/2012/01/...
May 6, 2012
It sounds like it should be funny and heartwarming all in once, but it fell flat. As a working mom I get very touchy about stay at home moms that bitch and moan. Yes, I know that staying at home with your kids isn't a day at the beach- but it is a luxury not everyone can experience. So be grateful and shut the hell up!
January 13, 2019
All my reviews can be found at: http://jessicasreadingroom.com
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My review will post on my site on January 19, 2019
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This memoir is for every woman out there: whether you have kids or not, want kids or not, or even at times wish you didn’t have kids you do have! Confessions is hilarious and it gives a candid look at what motherhood is like. I have a new appreciation for my friends with small children, it really is a difficult job! There were times I laughed, and times when my mouth dropped from surprise. Each chapter begins with anonymous ‘Mommy Confessions’ that are just as candid and at times entertaining to listen to. If you are a mom, I am sure you will feel what these ladies feel.
I listened to the audio version which was narrated by Smokler herself. The “Mommy Confessions” have different narrators. I’ll be turning 39 in April and I will most likely not become a human mommy, just a fur-baby mommy, and I think I am ok with that!
Reviewer Confession: I have NEVER changed a diaper in my life: I would be the most clueless mom out there!
Confessions of a Scary Mommy is recommended.
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My review will post on my site on January 19, 2019
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This memoir is for every woman out there: whether you have kids or not, want kids or not, or even at times wish you didn’t have kids you do have! Confessions is hilarious and it gives a candid look at what motherhood is like. I have a new appreciation for my friends with small children, it really is a difficult job! There were times I laughed, and times when my mouth dropped from surprise. Each chapter begins with anonymous ‘Mommy Confessions’ that are just as candid and at times entertaining to listen to. If you are a mom, I am sure you will feel what these ladies feel.
I listened to the audio version which was narrated by Smokler herself. The “Mommy Confessions” have different narrators. I’ll be turning 39 in April and I will most likely not become a human mommy, just a fur-baby mommy, and I think I am ok with that!
Reviewer Confession: I have NEVER changed a diaper in my life: I would be the most clueless mom out there!
Confessions of a Scary Mommy is recommended.
July 9, 2012
Irreverent is a very good description of this book. I laughed at the library at the few lines I read, but was turned off by how irreverent she was about her body and motherhood in general. Honesty does not have to be irreverent.
May 28, 2016
Perhaps this is more of a 3.75 rating, but it was a funny listen on audio. Several laugh out loud moments that I could relate to, as well as some mom confessions that I definitely could not.
May 28, 2018
I was not expecting to like this so much. It was lighthearted, real, and validating. Lots of swears so beware. I could relate to so many of the chapters and she put a lot of my feelings into words (yes some of them swear words even).
May 28, 2012
Jill Smokler's new book, Confessions of a Scary Mommy, based off her very popular blog, Scary Mommy, (I have been a fan for years!)is the latest (and the greatest) attempt of a mother to share humor and honesty as it relates to motherhood. Smokler writes on the usual mom topics in a light, humorous tone and includes hilarious and equally honest and juicy, "Mom-Confessions," submitted by mom commenters from her blog. Many of Smokler's story details and confessions are "laugh out loud" funny. All of them are honest. Confessions reminds me a bit of I Was a Really Good Mom Before I had Kids by Amy Nobile and Trisha Ashworth, but it has a bit more teeth. Smokler's treatise is more intimate and what's more, the price is right - every mom can afford a bit of sanity, guilt-free! I am a bit a shamed to say that I picked up a few ideas as well that I might try our this weekend.
A couple of my favorite Mom Confessions from Confessions of a Scary Mommy:
"My daughter threw up ALL over Santa's lap. The look on his face makes it my favorite picture ever." p.65 ( I so get this! Motherhood makes you a bit twisted in the sense of humor department)
"I had to jump into a pool fully clothed to help my daughter. I was glad to help her but my white T-shirt was mortified." p.127 (I was so glad to discover through this book that I am not the only mom who hates the pool. I would rather stick needles in my eyes.)
"I think birthdays should be less about celebrating the birth of the child and more about celebrating the fact that we succeeded at keeping them alive for another year." (This sentiment is brilliant!)
"I tell my husband we are out of milk so I can run to the store for ten minutes of quiet time. I don't tell him I drank the last of the milk." (I love where her head is at and I'm disappointed that I didn't think out this myself)
The above are just a sample, Confessions is chock full of these funny bits.
So, does this new phenomena of humor and honesty in motherhood mean that moms don't enjoy being moms? Absolutely not. It is simply this generation of Mom's way of exclaiming that motherhood IS a job and just like with any job there are moments that we love, hopefully, and there are moments that we do not love. That said, we love our children and our spouses very much - we are simply not going to pretend that motherhood is all rainbows and lollipops. What a relief!
The publishers of Confessions of a Scary Mommy were nice enough to share a review copy of Jill Smokler's first book with me. The review, however, is my own.
A couple of my favorite Mom Confessions from Confessions of a Scary Mommy:
"My daughter threw up ALL over Santa's lap. The look on his face makes it my favorite picture ever." p.65 ( I so get this! Motherhood makes you a bit twisted in the sense of humor department)
"I had to jump into a pool fully clothed to help my daughter. I was glad to help her but my white T-shirt was mortified." p.127 (I was so glad to discover through this book that I am not the only mom who hates the pool. I would rather stick needles in my eyes.)
"I think birthdays should be less about celebrating the birth of the child and more about celebrating the fact that we succeeded at keeping them alive for another year." (This sentiment is brilliant!)
"I tell my husband we are out of milk so I can run to the store for ten minutes of quiet time. I don't tell him I drank the last of the milk." (I love where her head is at and I'm disappointed that I didn't think out this myself)
The above are just a sample, Confessions is chock full of these funny bits.
So, does this new phenomena of humor and honesty in motherhood mean that moms don't enjoy being moms? Absolutely not. It is simply this generation of Mom's way of exclaiming that motherhood IS a job and just like with any job there are moments that we love, hopefully, and there are moments that we do not love. That said, we love our children and our spouses very much - we are simply not going to pretend that motherhood is all rainbows and lollipops. What a relief!
The publishers of Confessions of a Scary Mommy were nice enough to share a review copy of Jill Smokler's first book with me. The review, however, is my own.
May 11, 2013
Lets just say I plan on giving this to some ppl for Mother's Day... :) it's that great!!! I'm going to get myself another copy too for the bathroom so visitors can read it too! It's so uplifting, it's wonderful!
This book is PERFECT for the struggling mom - the one with the kid who is teething one tooth at a time, one tooth every month, since about month 5, perfect for the 'surprise, your now a mommy" person.... And anyone who's got a child that is far from "easy".
Yes, there is swearing. Yes, it's a short read (but what new SCARED new mom had time to really read when your child is screaming to the point of puking because you had to put them down long enough to pee?)
Scary mom isn't about being a scary mom... It's how being a mom is scary.
She's not being selfish, she's doing the one thing that every other parenting book out there ISNT doing - reaching out to that person who wasn't ready for motherhood, addressing that your not the only one out there who isn't able to pee in a stick and go WAHOO!! But rather, oh frig.
The perfect world about how being a mom is glamorized she speaks of is the one we see from those women who knew they were gonna have 10 kids and get married since they were 4 yrs old...
If you found the becoming a mom transition easy (you never ever long for your pre-parent life just long enough to be able to take an uninterrupted shower on a daily basis) you may not like the book, as you'll see those of us who struggled like she did to be selfish... Which we are not... Our life plan changed completely and that's rough! This book lets us bring humor to the struggle - if you can't appreciate a bit of short wit humor in a book that's easy to read in bits, you won't get the full effort of this or appreciate what she's trying to do.
The books not for everyone, but if the idea of how the baby comes out and possibly pooping during delivery scares you - this may be the book for you!
This book is PERFECT for the struggling mom - the one with the kid who is teething one tooth at a time, one tooth every month, since about month 5, perfect for the 'surprise, your now a mommy" person.... And anyone who's got a child that is far from "easy".
Yes, there is swearing. Yes, it's a short read (but what new SCARED new mom had time to really read when your child is screaming to the point of puking because you had to put them down long enough to pee?)
Scary mom isn't about being a scary mom... It's how being a mom is scary.
She's not being selfish, she's doing the one thing that every other parenting book out there ISNT doing - reaching out to that person who wasn't ready for motherhood, addressing that your not the only one out there who isn't able to pee in a stick and go WAHOO!! But rather, oh frig.
The perfect world about how being a mom is glamorized she speaks of is the one we see from those women who knew they were gonna have 10 kids and get married since they were 4 yrs old...
If you found the becoming a mom transition easy (you never ever long for your pre-parent life just long enough to be able to take an uninterrupted shower on a daily basis) you may not like the book, as you'll see those of us who struggled like she did to be selfish... Which we are not... Our life plan changed completely and that's rough! This book lets us bring humor to the struggle - if you can't appreciate a bit of short wit humor in a book that's easy to read in bits, you won't get the full effort of this or appreciate what she's trying to do.
The books not for everyone, but if the idea of how the baby comes out and possibly pooping during delivery scares you - this may be the book for you!
June 26, 2013
Confessions of a Scary Mommy is one of the most entertaining books that I have read so far this year. I am a part time mommy to my boyfriend's kids. I have none of my own, and there are a lot of instances where I'm just winging it. I love my boyfriend's kids with all my heart, but sometimes they drive me crazy. I wondered if full time regular moms felt that way. I wondered if my mom ever felt this way. I have also found myself saying things my mother said to me that I always swore I was never going to say when I had kids.
It seems like everyone has advice on how to be a mommy. There are tons of parenting books on how to be the perfect mom and raise perfect kids. These books are unrealistic because there is no such thing as the perfect mother or the perfect child. I love that Jill Smokler wrote a book, and fostered a mommy blog community where it is OK to be imperfect.
Jill's book is full of her experience as a mother as well as anonymous confessions from other mom's on her blog Scary Mommy Community . Jill covers everything from pregnancy and after. Her experiences are funny, honest and relatable on many levels, whether you're a biological mom, adoptive mom or stepmom, there is something you can relate to. I read this book in one sitting and then read it again.
This book is one I will most likely read again and again - any time I'm starting to feel a little over-stressed, need a good laugh, or just need to not feel like I'm going through these experiences alone. I recommend it to mothers everywhere and those considering being a mother.
It seems like everyone has advice on how to be a mommy. There are tons of parenting books on how to be the perfect mom and raise perfect kids. These books are unrealistic because there is no such thing as the perfect mother or the perfect child. I love that Jill Smokler wrote a book, and fostered a mommy blog community where it is OK to be imperfect.
Jill's book is full of her experience as a mother as well as anonymous confessions from other mom's on her blog Scary Mommy Community . Jill covers everything from pregnancy and after. Her experiences are funny, honest and relatable on many levels, whether you're a biological mom, adoptive mom or stepmom, there is something you can relate to. I read this book in one sitting and then read it again.
This book is one I will most likely read again and again - any time I'm starting to feel a little over-stressed, need a good laugh, or just need to not feel like I'm going through these experiences alone. I recommend it to mothers everywhere and those considering being a mother.
January 21, 2020
This was just moms having a vent. There were maybe 4 essays I liked, nothing truly ground-breaking. The rest just painted the author in a bad light. But worst of all were some of the commenters. It just goes to show, when it comes to the internet - DON'T READ THE COMMENTS
If you read this book and think "These are my people!" Go read "Bringing up Bebe" for some interesting ideas for some changes that may get you a little more space and time to feel a little more like your old pre-mom self.
I only finished it because Audible have a promotion on- if I finish 3 books by some day in March I get $20. And I think it's too late to return or exchange it anyways.
If you read this book and think "These are my people!" Go read "Bringing up Bebe" for some interesting ideas for some changes that may get you a little more space and time to feel a little more like your old pre-mom self.
I only finished it because Audible have a promotion on- if I finish 3 books by some day in March I get $20. And I think it's too late to return or exchange it anyways.
April 8, 2012
If you happen to be that perfect mom the rest of us are not, don't have a sense of humor, have never dropped an F bomb in front of your toddler and then fallen down laughing when they repeated it, and are easily offended, I'd suggest you stay as far away as possible from Jill Smokler's book as is humanly possible. If, however, you happen to be real and flawed and IMPERFECT ? grab a copy of this book, a glass of wine, and kick back. It's time to relate.
October 21, 2022
Confessions of a Scary Mommy is an easily relatable read for most mamas. The book is full of stories and confessions from other moms. it really did make me feel less.. guilty for some of my not so great mom moments.
At only 176 pages, it was really easy to get through this book quickly. It was also set up in an easy to read manner with the confessions and short stories.
ill dfinitely read others by this author!
At only 176 pages, it was really easy to get through this book quickly. It was also set up in an easy to read manner with the confessions and short stories.
ill dfinitely read others by this author!
October 9, 2022
She tries hard but it's not funny. She puts out there the details of parenting but not in a humorous way. So disappointing!
June 29, 2012
I would give this book 2.5 stars, maybe 3, though probably not. There are some parts of this book that are very funny, but they are few and far between. The rest is not at all. It is true that parenting is hard, and in some ways this book does get very real, and can be very relatable. However, for the most part, this book is just what the title proclaims: scary. Some of these moms, the author included, go to places I wouldn't even go, and I'm a stay-at-home mom (SAHM), too. Being a parent, and a SAHM, is painted in a pretty negative light in this book. If I weren't a SAHM and didn't know that life could be better than this, I would find it quite depressing. In fact, in the first half of this book, I spent quite a lot of time feeling sorry for her children and hoping they never read what she had to say about them. I even felt a little sorry for her husband, based on the things she wrote about him. I'm not at all saying that I don't have bad or hard days as a parent, but I can definitely look on my life with a more positive attitude than this and feel that being a SAHM is way more rewarding than she seems to.
Some past reviewers have written that the writing is bad, but I didn't find it to be that bad. They have also noted the large amount of curse words, but they seem to radically drop off about halfway through, to the point of being almost nonexistent. Even so, I didn't find the cursing to be that extreme in general. She even seems to write a little more positively and lovingly about her children in the latter half. I would almost say a different person wrote the latter half.
All in all, this wasn't a bad one-time read, but I doubt I would read it again, and I certainly wouldn't pay money for it. Thank goodness for the library.
Some past reviewers have written that the writing is bad, but I didn't find it to be that bad. They have also noted the large amount of curse words, but they seem to radically drop off about halfway through, to the point of being almost nonexistent. Even so, I didn't find the cursing to be that extreme in general. She even seems to write a little more positively and lovingly about her children in the latter half. I would almost say a different person wrote the latter half.
All in all, this wasn't a bad one-time read, but I doubt I would read it again, and I certainly wouldn't pay money for it. Thank goodness for the library.
April 14, 2012
Every mother needs to vent now and then, no matter how much she loves her kids and Smokler provides the space to do so on her website. "Confessions of a Scary Mommy" includes a lot of the statements women have sent her about their kids AND their husbands driving them crazy. Actually, in most of the chapters the husbands come off looking worse than the kids. What is up with men anyway? Did someone tell them that they would seem more attractive if they were inept around the house and did incredibly stupid things?
Never mind, the book is a fun read except for the chapter on bodily fluids which I skipped. However, one does wonder why Smokler had three offspring when the whole kid thing makes her miserable. It's a question she tries to answer by writing nice things about her children but those passages are overwhelmed by her complaints.
Also, there's a dark side to the scary mommy phenomenon that she never addresses. I had a mother who hated being a mother, and yet had 7 kids. Living under the thumb of someone unhappy to the point that they've become emotionally abusive is not pleasant. It's actually quite horrible.
For all the readers out there I urge you to not have children unless you're really sure you want them. Sure, it's okay to vent about your irritation with your teenage daughter on an anonymous web set because you're having a bad day, but blaming a five year old for the cause of all your problems is flat out horrible. Don't become a mother if you think it might turn you into a monster.
Never mind, the book is a fun read except for the chapter on bodily fluids which I skipped. However, one does wonder why Smokler had three offspring when the whole kid thing makes her miserable. It's a question she tries to answer by writing nice things about her children but those passages are overwhelmed by her complaints.
Also, there's a dark side to the scary mommy phenomenon that she never addresses. I had a mother who hated being a mother, and yet had 7 kids. Living under the thumb of someone unhappy to the point that they've become emotionally abusive is not pleasant. It's actually quite horrible.
For all the readers out there I urge you to not have children unless you're really sure you want them. Sure, it's okay to vent about your irritation with your teenage daughter on an anonymous web set because you're having a bad day, but blaming a five year old for the cause of all your problems is flat out horrible. Don't become a mother if you think it might turn you into a monster.
July 11, 2012
This book was OK. Apparently this author has her own "mommy blog". The best part of the book were the short "anonymous confessions" that her blog readers have put on her blog. She included 15 or so of them at the start of each chapter. They are the kind of things that real moms can relate to and laugh at when they hear it has happened to someone else. For example, "Just got back from a weeklong vacation with my family to realize I'm not in a single picture. Was I even freaking there?!" Or, "I forgot today was picture day at school. Yes, my child is the one with uncombed hair and unbrushed teeth."
On the other hand, there are those confessions that make you realize maybe you don't have it quite so bad like this one, "You know it's bad when the baby tries to nurse a fat roll instead of a boob. My number one reason for not wanting to have a thrid baby is that I pee my pants pretty much every day since my second was born two years ago. At this rate, my kids will soon be more potty-trained than I am." Hilarious, but sadly true for this poor mom. Glad that one's not me, but relatable enough that I can find the sad humor in it.
On the other hand, there are those confessions that make you realize maybe you don't have it quite so bad like this one, "You know it's bad when the baby tries to nurse a fat roll instead of a boob. My number one reason for not wanting to have a thrid baby is that I pee my pants pretty much every day since my second was born two years ago. At this rate, my kids will soon be more potty-trained than I am." Hilarious, but sadly true for this poor mom. Glad that one's not me, but relatable enough that I can find the sad humor in it.
June 15, 2015
4.5/5
This was a really enjoyable, fun, and quick read. It contains essays on a variety of topics pertaining to parenthood by Jill Smokler, a mother of three young children. It was a very humorous and honest look at motherhood, although some of it did scare me a bit as a mom to be in just a couple of months. But I digress. Motherhood isn't always perfect, and I appreciate Smokler's approach of looking at motherhood through a humorous lens and taking the good with the bad. This is not a warm and fuzzy book by any means, nor is it inspiring - it is meant for entertainment purposes only, and I did find it highly entertaining. I also really enjoyed all the "mom confessions" at the beginning of each chapter. These were anonymous confessions submitted to Smokler's website from moms all over. Some were funny, some were sad, but all were very, very honest. I'd highly recommend this one for moms and moms-to-be who are NOT looking for parenting advice, but rather are looking to find the humor in motherhood. I'm already reading her second book and hope she writes more in the future!
This was a really enjoyable, fun, and quick read. It contains essays on a variety of topics pertaining to parenthood by Jill Smokler, a mother of three young children. It was a very humorous and honest look at motherhood, although some of it did scare me a bit as a mom to be in just a couple of months. But I digress. Motherhood isn't always perfect, and I appreciate Smokler's approach of looking at motherhood through a humorous lens and taking the good with the bad. This is not a warm and fuzzy book by any means, nor is it inspiring - it is meant for entertainment purposes only, and I did find it highly entertaining. I also really enjoyed all the "mom confessions" at the beginning of each chapter. These were anonymous confessions submitted to Smokler's website from moms all over. Some were funny, some were sad, but all were very, very honest. I'd highly recommend this one for moms and moms-to-be who are NOT looking for parenting advice, but rather are looking to find the humor in motherhood. I'm already reading her second book and hope she writes more in the future!
November 5, 2012
So often in motherhood, we tend to not speak about certain things, or just outright lie about them. That’s where Scary Mommy comes in! In this collection of essays, blogger Jill Smokler introduces her movement of the Scary Mom Nation: moms who aren’t afraid to tell it like it is, but also share hopes, fears, and questions about the complex enigma that is being a parent.
I’m a big fan of the website; and sadly enough, the mommy confessions are the best part of this book. The actual chapters felt very “bloggy” to me, which makes sense, but some parts were difficult to slog through. Also, while in one of the chapters, Smokler urges all moms to not be judgmental, we’re all just trying to raise our kids the best we can, live and let live,…she throws judgment on other moms who don’t live/parent the way she does throughout the entire book. That was a bit disappointing. I’m still proud to call myself a Scary Mommy.
I’m a big fan of the website; and sadly enough, the mommy confessions are the best part of this book. The actual chapters felt very “bloggy” to me, which makes sense, but some parts were difficult to slog through. Also, while in one of the chapters, Smokler urges all moms to not be judgmental, we’re all just trying to raise our kids the best we can, live and let live,…she throws judgment on other moms who don’t live/parent the way she does throughout the entire book. That was a bit disappointing. I’m still proud to call myself a Scary Mommy.
September 3, 2012
just like the subtitle says: a darkly humorous take on the not-so-fluffy side of motherhood. tone-wise, this book was right up my alley. i don't like my parenting writing to be too twee or too bland. the problem is that this book is too damn short! apparently it's another book written by a blogger, & in this case, it really shows. it was like the book equivalent of the time my boyfriend & i went to a fancy history department "awards banquet". he wore a tie, i wore heels. we were expecting linen tablecloths & napkins folded into the shape of swans & fanciness. instead, we got melba rounds topped with some tomatoes & goat cheese, maybe some pita triangles with a side of hummus, chips & guacamole. it was tasty enough, but not exactly a "meal," you know? we wound up going for dinner with a bunch of people after. that is how i felt about this book: tasty, & i would have liked more.
May 29, 2012
There were a lot of really funny things in this book, but there were a lot that just weren't funny. After a while reading about what people hate about motherhood just got a little old. I related to a lot and laughed a lot, but by about halfway through I started skimming and didn't care about finishing. It was loaded with bad language, and during one part when it was mentioned that it helped her to just think in her head "F-you" to your kid's annoying request, I thought that was just a little much. In general, I think I would have enjoyed reading her blog occasionally, but a whole book was too much.
June 11, 2012
Laughed so hard I cried. Then just nearly cried! True stories from the front lines of motherhood, not just from author Jill Smokler, but "confessions" from anonymous moms who posted on her blog over the years. Some of these are hilarious, like flipping off your teenage daughter after she walks out the door for the day, others are heartbreaking like not telling anyone you have postpartum depression. I really wanted more of the confessionals, actually. Some of Jill's essays were fun, but others felt a bit like filler. "Yes, yes, we all do that, uh huh."
I am hoping that she does more books, both for her content and for the confessionals.
I am hoping that she does more books, both for her content and for the confessionals.
September 27, 2016
You know, I actually really like ScaryMommy as a website, and I also liked the other Scary Mommy Book...but this one seemed really..."extra". Some of the confessions weren't just "Oh gee, I'm going against the mommy grain" but actually kind of,...well, scary and unnecessarily crass.
Jill herself has her funny moments, but this version didn't have the humor that helps you swallow the usual "scary mommy" diatribes. Instead this one was a bit more harsh and uncomfortable.
My overall review though is mostly, "Meh".
Jill herself has her funny moments, but this version didn't have the humor that helps you swallow the usual "scary mommy" diatribes. Instead this one was a bit more harsh and uncomfortable.
My overall review though is mostly, "Meh".
March 31, 2012
The antidote to all the "phony" images we get bombarded with when it comes to womanhood, parenting and marriage. A very funny and easy read. I challenge you to not laugh or holler "Hell Yeah!" while reading. Maybe read it in solitude, the first time. You WILL be reading it more than once. Pass it along to new moms. As useful as the "What to Expect" books.
April 26, 2012
I love love loved this book. I could have wrote this book. Thank you for making me feel "normal" or something like that. I think every mom to be should be handed this book instead of the What To Expect books.
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