When I was asked to review Melissa Stanton’s new book, The Stay at Home Survival Guide, I was thrilled. Because, honestly, who couldn’t use a few new tips and pointers on how to be a better mother to your children. Or atleast to stay a little more sane during the days?

This books is wonderful, with chapters like “Money Matters”, “Sex and the Stressed Out Stay-at-Home-Mom” and “Motherhood :Who’s the Expert?”, a must read for all Stay At Home Moms.

I was half way shocked to learn that more couples have a his and hers account when it comes to money. My husband and I see our income as just that, ours. Although his name is the only one on the check, we stash it away in our one checking account that we share and have equal access to. Neither one of us take on the sole responsibility of paying bills, it’s a group effort. We always consult with one another when making big item purchases and I would say (although I don’t know if he would agree) that we’re both very responsible with our money. I’m also lucky with the fact that my husband sees it as our money and not his. That really helps things so much.

As if we don’t have enough little paws grabbing at us all day… Our husband want (need) that physical attention at the end of the day. This book leaves little to be desired when coming up with solutions on how to “be in the mood” at the end of the day. It does, however, have funny little stories about other moms and how they’ve handled their husbands want for a little sexual attention. For me? Well, we could probably go down that road more often than we do. But seriously? Who has time at the end of the night? Not me.

Oh, I loved the chapter called, “Motherhood: Who’s the Expert?”. I can easily go into the better mommy syndrome. I can see a mommy giving their baby a bottle of formula and turn my nose at it. I can hear stories about people letting their children Cry It Out and think to myself that I would never do such a thing. But I also hear about people’s babies sleeping (oh gosh what is that?!) and I hear about people’s children not wanting to eat every twenty-five minutes and jealousy seeps through my pores. But at the end of the day (or at the end of the 18 years) who really cares? We have to ask ourselves, “Did I feed my kid?” “Check”. “Did I love my kid?” “Check”. Because there is SO MUCH more to being a mommy than what we feed our children or what techniques we use as a mother.

This book is great on so many different levels. It let’s us all know (stay at home parent or working parent) that we all are doing what is best for our families. We’re all trying our best. And we all just need a happy place to go to in the midst of all the chaos.  And that we totally shouldn’t beat ourselves up for having a bad day, or for just not wanting to play tea party for the tenth time that hour.

This is also a great book for our working husbands to read. I don’t think they completely get how much energy and life these little children suck out of us!

To read more about Mary Stanton, visit her website.

Posted: 06|11|08 at 9:08 pm. Filed under: reviews.
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