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Revelations in the Rearview Mirror
Insightful and poignantly funny, this look-over-your shoulder, laugh-out-loud collection of essays pulls the facade off family life, revealing the true and unvarnished journey of coming to grips with motherhood. Showing that not all mother's instincts kick in automatically, the narratives create camaraderie among fellow moms who fear they have been endowed with the maternal warmth of Leona Helmsley. Covering all the years between play groups and prom, this odyssey of motherhood illustrates that by the time moms actually have a handle on raising kids, they're sending them off to college. This delightful series of reflections is sure to warm a mother's heart.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 7, 2023
Louise is warm, sharp, and honest. Her book is great, too! I particularly liked the final chapter.
July 14, 2011
I plucked this title quite by accident as I waited for my younger two sons to finish a library showing about bugs this week. The title spoke to me, although I have quite a few years before I can count myself an empty nester. I've been looking for inspiration for a while, sensing my own mortality more and more (and increasingly so after the startling death of a friend and coworker earlier in the week). I know my boys' greasy fingerprints won't always be on the diningroom table, and I am sure that I will miss the science experiments masquerading as week-old milk glasses carted out of my oldest son's room when push came to clean. But for now-I need encouragement.
Revelations in the Rearview Mirror has more laughter than it does poignancy, though certainly I dog-eared a few pages for the sheer beauty of the words. Louise Parsley is a local writer, writing what must have been embarrassing tales about her three children's growing up years with the wit of Erma Bombeck, I am not sure how I missed her articles in our paper. Though I enjoyed this quick read, it wasn't the "aha" book I thought it to be.
A champion of children at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, her work with their youngest patients is admirable. I especially liked, "...I realized that I was unable to change the cards life had dealt these young patients, and each time we parted company was challenged to find appropriate ways to honor their journey. I finally came to understand that the greatest homage I could pay them would be to savor my own kids, to appreciate and celebrate the time I have with them...and even to cry with them." This particular passage spoke to me after learning about the untimely death of a young mother/friend/coworker earlier in the year. Gone are her times with her brood. But I can revel in my own times with mine and honor her. I needed to read that.
Other favorite gems not necessarily witty but thought-provoking:
on holiday meals with family- "Family gatherings. Ticking off milestone events. Our stories. As individual as puzzle pieces fitting together to illustrate the larger picture of who we are and why we're here. Bite-size pieces of life, purpose, hope, and gratitude. Tiny sprigs of appreciation for the ones around us. The ones who make us, us...each one a part of everyone else. Blessings in disguise only take a moment to savor-and a lifetime to forget."
on returning summer after summer to their little home on the Guadalupe River to capture lightning bugs in a jar- "The lightining bugs lit my way to maturity. But somewhere along that journey, I stopped seeing them. Perhaps life took on too may distractions. Perhaps I spent my days and nights providing the things one needs to survive and forgetting the things that make us smile.
When I had children, the lightning bugs returned. Maybe they were waiting for me to return, too. As I pulled down from the shelf the container of my childhood, I felt the magic return. Watching them cup their small hands around these creatures confirmed the value of holding things you love loosely...and learning to let them go."
on her son's graduation from high school- "On the teachers, the men and women adorned in gowns of black and jewel-toned hoods, a special document of honor should be conferred. While we provided support, they connected the dots, outlining boys-to-men, giving them the tools to color in with their dreams. Our task, a labor of love; theirs, an answer to a higher call.
Believing in potential-of what 'could' be--I handed my son to them. On their walk together, potential blossomed into purpose...and he has emerged full of what 'would' be. The teachers, having achieved their goal yet another year, remain behind to push the next class up the mountain."
Revelations in the Rearview Mirror has more laughter than it does poignancy, though certainly I dog-eared a few pages for the sheer beauty of the words. Louise Parsley is a local writer, writing what must have been embarrassing tales about her three children's growing up years with the wit of Erma Bombeck, I am not sure how I missed her articles in our paper. Though I enjoyed this quick read, it wasn't the "aha" book I thought it to be.
A champion of children at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, her work with their youngest patients is admirable. I especially liked, "...I realized that I was unable to change the cards life had dealt these young patients, and each time we parted company was challenged to find appropriate ways to honor their journey. I finally came to understand that the greatest homage I could pay them would be to savor my own kids, to appreciate and celebrate the time I have with them...and even to cry with them." This particular passage spoke to me after learning about the untimely death of a young mother/friend/coworker earlier in the year. Gone are her times with her brood. But I can revel in my own times with mine and honor her. I needed to read that.
Other favorite gems not necessarily witty but thought-provoking:
on holiday meals with family- "Family gatherings. Ticking off milestone events. Our stories. As individual as puzzle pieces fitting together to illustrate the larger picture of who we are and why we're here. Bite-size pieces of life, purpose, hope, and gratitude. Tiny sprigs of appreciation for the ones around us. The ones who make us, us...each one a part of everyone else. Blessings in disguise only take a moment to savor-and a lifetime to forget."
on returning summer after summer to their little home on the Guadalupe River to capture lightning bugs in a jar- "The lightining bugs lit my way to maturity. But somewhere along that journey, I stopped seeing them. Perhaps life took on too may distractions. Perhaps I spent my days and nights providing the things one needs to survive and forgetting the things that make us smile.
When I had children, the lightning bugs returned. Maybe they were waiting for me to return, too. As I pulled down from the shelf the container of my childhood, I felt the magic return. Watching them cup their small hands around these creatures confirmed the value of holding things you love loosely...and learning to let them go."
on her son's graduation from high school- "On the teachers, the men and women adorned in gowns of black and jewel-toned hoods, a special document of honor should be conferred. While we provided support, they connected the dots, outlining boys-to-men, giving them the tools to color in with their dreams. Our task, a labor of love; theirs, an answer to a higher call.
Believing in potential-of what 'could' be--I handed my son to them. On their walk together, potential blossomed into purpose...and he has emerged full of what 'would' be. The teachers, having achieved their goal yet another year, remain behind to push the next class up the mountain."
August 22, 2009
This book provided comedic interludes on getting through child rearing, better yet life. It's biggest take away was came just 27 pages into the book. We take months even years to prepare, spend and plan for a wedding, but not our marriage.
June 4, 2014
Louise hit my sweetspot for mom with this witty look at motherhood. I even put together this little slideshow about the book.
http://www.slideshare.net/writeonbro/...
http://www.slideshare.net/writeonbro/...
August 20, 2009
Wonderful read - great insight to share about motherhood.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews