Starred review from November 5, 2012
As the attachment parenting craze has hit a zenith in American culture, four very funny momsâcomedy writers, TV producers, and a novelistâblast open a long-locked safe filled with frustrations faced by all modern mothers, with sympathetic and sharp humor. On the grave matter of discovering your kid is merely average, they ask, "Is your child âslow' or is he a boy?" In a section called "Stop Not Taking the Easy Way Out" they offer useful tips on "How to Drop Off Your Sick Kid at Daycare Before the Teacher Figures It Out." The joking confirms the simple truth that in today's world women are often forced to be self-denying or risk the judgment of others, especially other women, that they are bad mothers. The authors' unfiltered candor is a welcome reminder for readers that they're not alone in facing that trap. But if readers takes the advice of the authors to heart, they shouldn't expect a thank-you note (per Chapter 15: "This Tradition Must Die: Handwritten Thank-you Notes"). Agent: Madeleine Morel, 2M Communications Ltd.