Just Wait Till You Have Children of Your Own!

by Erma Bombeck, Bil Keane

"She goes a long way with her book to prove that humor is the best -- possibly the only -- way to keep the world on an even keel."
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
Remember the things Mother used to say? Erma Bombeck remembers them all and now she's using them on her own kids! With clever illustrations by Bil Keane, these really funny, too-true observations on family and kids and why it shouldn't work but does, is a wonderful antitdote to the daily problems and crises that every family faces. With Erma Bombeck in your corner, laughter is the best coach you can have....

Genres: Humor, Nonfiction, Comedy, Parenting, Audiobook, Memoir, Essays

176 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1971

About the author

Erma Louise Bombeck, born Erma Fiste, was an American humorist who achieved great popularity for a newspaper column that depicted suburban home life humorously, in the second half of the 20th century.

For 31 years since 1965, Erma Bombeck published 4,000 newspaper articles. Already in the 1970s, her witty columns were read, twice weekly, by thirty million readers of 900 newspapers of USA and Canada. Besides, the majority of her 15 books became instant best sellers.

Reviews

[Justin Tate]

A farcical parenting comedy that both exaggerates and understates the complexity of raising teenagers. Though originally published in 1971, it is as timeless as ever. Particularly in the sections which highlight generation gaps in pop culture and politics. The poignant conclusion is a haunting image of early Empty Nest Syndrome.

Despite not having kids myself, I devoured the book for its wit and social commentary. All the jokes land for me, and the leanness of the scope assures there's never a dull moment. Highly recommended!

[Obsidian]

My mother used to own every Erma Bombeck out there. I used to read them once in a while though I didn't get why they were so funny. My mother used to howl while reading and laugh so hard she start to cry at times. This was available via Overdrive so I thought I borrow it.

Maybe it's just my generation or that fact that I don't have kids. I thought things here and there were humorous, but sadly nothing made me laugh out loud.

The illustrations were definitely interesting and pushed this book to a 3 star read for me.

You should be able to finish this book really quickly too. I think it only took me about 40 minutes from beginning to end to put this aside.

[Katja Labonté]

2 stars & 2/10 hearts. I have the impression this was supposed to be funny. I did not find it funny, but I suppose some might. This book appears to be satire by a mother about what it’s like to have teenagers. I have a hard time telling appart the exaggeration and the truth, but I was pretty disgusted by the kids’ attitudes and, frankly, even the parents’. In my family, we don’t act like this. I felt like it was a hard slam at kids. Still, like I said, I’m not good at picking apart satire. I didn’t really enjoy the book, but I suppose some might. The only thing I found genuinely funny was the part about kids’ memory banks, especially at night! That was hilariously accurate.

Content: a lot of mention of sex; some language… I don’t really remember anymore. I kind of blocked the book out of my memory.

[Lynn Zuniga]

Oldie but goodie

Light, humorous, and a page turner. I love Ermas wit. Some things never go out of style....like loving your kids.

[Sue Tincher]

While this book is dated, with its references to girdles, transistor radios, and sit-ins, it was a nice window into the past to see what regular, middle-class life was like 40 years ago. The jokes were funny, and the situations and feelings about raising teenagers still rang true. She deals with the frustrations and disappointments of parenting teenagers with humor and warmth and that is a winning combination.

[Angie]

I’m going to try to read all of Bombeck’s books. I would memorize some of her essays ingrade school for speech competitions and enjoyed her honest prose. It’s pedestrian. It’s a wee bit dated. But it’s truthful and funny. And if there’s ever a time to lighten up, it’s now.

[Mieke McBride]

Yes, I gave this three stars. But that’s just because I’m so convinced that her other books will be much better. Even with this three star book, I laughed out loud multiple times and have committed to reading as many other Erma Bombeck books I can get my hands on for 25 cents at the library used bookstore. So far I have four. Thanks to Laura for the rec but also no thanks to Laura for holding out on me all these years regarding the “older female Dave Barry.”

[Mark Watson]

Written when I was a little kid by someone about my age now. The references are dated, but feel nostalgic for me, and the content is as fresh and relevant as ever. My mom enjoyed Erma Bombeck's columns, and I enjoyed (and still enjoy) her comedy album, so this was an enjoyable romp. Recommend it for any Gen-X with teens (or older) children. You will recognise your parents and yourself on every page - with a wistful smile if not a belly-laugh.

[Olivia]

OMG. My mom taught me to love Erma Bombeck at an early age. Even before I was a parent, when I was one of the kids Bombeck was writing about, I laughed out loud at her humor.

And it all started with this book. My copy is dilapidated and torn and there's a stain from some kind of liquid on pages 56 and 57. Frankly, every time I read it, I'm desperately afraid it'll fall apart. But I still hang onto it.

My name and address are on the front cover. The nickname I gave up when I entered college and the address I left when I married my ex-husband in 1991. This book has long one of my favorites, and which will continue to be one of my favorites, is part of me.

[Karen-Leigh]

Remember the things Mother used to say? Erma Bombeck remembers them all and now she's using them on her own kids! With clever illustrations by Bil Keane, these really funny, too-true observations on family and kids and why it shouldn't work but does, is a wonderful antitdote to the daily problems and crises that every family faces. With Erma Bombeck in your corner, laughter is the best coach you can have....…

[Gigi R.]

I read this book in high school. Many times. While her humor stories were about the difficulties of raising children, her deep love of her children clearly undergirded them all. Reading her books just made me want to have kids. Which I did go on to do. And many times, over the years I have experienced what she experienced and remember what she wrote, and I smile.

[Dawn]

This book was a quick easy read. One part amusement, because apparently, things never change -- adults say roughly the same things about "kids these days" as they did fifty years ago. And one part nostalgia, because I am certain I heard almost everything in this book when I was a teen.

[Jeff]

Cracked me up

[Lea]

It reminded me of Jenny Lawson if she had written in the '60s.

[Cindra]

Another trip down nostalgia lane. Have a birthday on the way and it has put me in a reminiscing frame of mind.

[Karen Graves]

Not surprisingly, this is LAUGH OUT LOUD funny! Until the end, and then grab a tissue. Because they do grow up. And they leave.

Just yesterday when checking out at the grocery store I looked over and saw a friend who just sent her son off to college. Her usually coifed hair was in a messy pony tail. Her normally tidy outfit had been replaced with two-day-old gym clothes. I recognized the look: the first week of the empty nest, when the mom feels like her arm has physically been removed. I paid for my groceries and walked over with open arms. We both just stood and cried.

Then last night, I finished Erma Bombeck’s book . . . And I grabbed a tissue and cried again. Because all the parenting books in the world cannot prepare a mom for that moment. We know we have launched them. We are proud of their accomplishments. We posted all the pictures and all the acceptance letters and the big move-in day. And then we are home. Without those meddling kids. And oh how we miss them. Sigh. . .

[Michele]

Whether you have children or not is irrelevant because the situations that she writes about are just funny. You will either identify with them as a child or as the parent or as both. I found Erma Bombeck back when I was in middle school. I remember laughing so hard at the situational moments she had found humor in. I was hooked. Bil Keane did the illustrations and those were funny too. I have read and reread her books so many times that I have lost count.

[Linda Crow]

Her writing makes me nostalgic. Although my age would put me somewhere around her own children’s ages, mothering is timeless. There are moments in her writing that don’t age well, but for the most part, it’s still comically relatable. And Bil Keane’s illustrations are comfortingly familiar. I particularly like the one of the mom seated under a wall-mounted phone as the teenager strolls through the room, as I lived this scene many times with my own mother.

[Alex Shrugged]

The author was hilarious. I just love her writing in this book. Some of the situations were a little dated... like dated to the time when I grew up. At the time of publication I would have been old enough to have been one of her teenagers so I recognize the attitudes and absurdities of the day. Most of them still apply today.

I'd be happy to read this book again.

[RebL]

All teenager humor, a good deal of which revolves around haircuts. The illustrations are "generation-gappy": LOL these kids wear florals and listen to The Who! Ain't that wacky? To picture the illustrations in your mind, picture The Family Circus but the three older children are hippies, and drawn with disdain.

Not as good as Erma's books of straight essays.

[Jennifer Mitchell-Shirley]

If you want to laugh till you cry, just read one of Erma Bombeck's books. I read most of her books when I was younger and enjoyed everyone of them. Time to revisit the past once in a while, especially the good parts, like reading a good book when the kids were away visiting someone.

[Alaina Keck]

Erma Never Disappoints!

Her stories and lessons are still relevant in 2020. I can never get enough of her humor and wit. I've loved reading Erma since the 7th grade, and I love it even more now that I'm a mom.

[Nancy Bandusky]

The illustrations were good - especially the last one showing time passing so quickly. The same can be said for the written sections; the last one which was of a more serious nature was the best. The others are tiresome with totally expected "punchlines."

[Ryan Barretto]

A humorous read about the joys and pains of parenthood.

It's a must for parents and to-be-parents. The added bonus in this book are the wonderful cartoons by Bill Keane which show the travails visually.

Thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Kris]

Again, nostalgic read. Someone on here said that Erma Bombeck was the Jenny Lawson of the 70s, and I love that. While Erma definitely doesn't swear as much, she has that same irreverent quality. Dated references aside, this is enjoyable.

[Connie]

I used to think Erma Bombeck’s writing was hilarious. Maybe it’s just because I’m getting older & the world has changed so radically (picture here a wall -mounted phone with the cord stretched until the user and handset disappear behind a door in the next room) that it’s not so funny anymore.

[Carmen]

2.5 stars

[Lillian Slater]

Thumbs up!

[Neena]

Erma Bombeck wit and wisdom. Loved it.

[Danni]

funny