If It's Not One Thing, It's Your Mother

by Anita Renfroe

Take a look at the humorous side of motherhood with comedienne Anita Renfroe.

Genres: Humor, Christian Living

205 pages, Paperback

First published July 5, 2006

About the author

It's been a wild decade going from "stay-at-home-mom" to "YouTube comedic Phe-mom-enon" but Anita Renfroe doesn't mind. With her unique brand of estrogen flavored musical comedy and blend of sass, edge and slightly offbeat takes on All Things Female, audiences at her comedy concert tours, viewers of Good Morning America appearances and the YouTube masses who enjoyed her William Tell version of everything a Mom says would say that Anita just tells it like it is. Some would say she just says what everyone else is thinking, but won't say out loud.

"I'd rather people laugh because they relate to something I say than because I wrote a clever punchline, " Anita says. "All my stuff is about my life – it's real and it connects people - and that's a wonderful thing."

Renfroe and her husband John live in Atlanta and have three children, Calvin, Austin and Elyse.

Reviews

[Tami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent title. It grabbed my attention right away and made me want to find out more about this book. The title also held promises of a touch of humour and real insight into the nature of mothers and daughters. Even with these extremely high expectations, I was not disappointed. I laughed, I cried, I remembered, and then I handed the book to my daughter to read.

If It's Not One Thing, It's Your Mother is a collection of memories and tips about being a first time parent. All those little things that took us completely off guard and that we wish our mother, our sister, or a really good girlfriend would have told us. Many of these situations made us cry at the time but are now our most cherished memories.

The book also tells the other side of the story, as well. Many Baby Boomers are part of that Oreo lifestyle: raising children and taking care of elderly parents at the same time. The author has some experience in that aspect. Her household contains three generations. In fact, much of the author's life has been spend living in multigenerational homes, often by choice. There are a lot of benefits, but like any family, it takes a little work to keep chaos from ruling.

[Joanne Timm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 2 out of 5]

She is not as funny as she thinks she is

[Hillary · Rating 1 out of 5]

I haven't quite finished reading this yet, but I can easily say that this is one of the worst books I've ever read. I pretty much hate it. I don't think it's funny, or clever or original. It's self indulgent and cliched. Granted, I am not a mother, but I can't imagine myself ever enjoying this book, even after giving birth. My baby boomer mother would also despise this book. While I've certainly heard my mother utter some "momsenses," I don't find that they make me at all nostalgic. I am not religious, so I don't appreciate her numerous references to God. The writing, while grammatically sound, is not compelling. Furthermore, I am an intelligent human being, so I don't feel like all of her jokes need to be capitalized or put in quotation marks. If you're playing with words, the smart reader will pick up on that without those not so subtle cues. Maybe if her jokes were actually funny, she wouldn't have to resort to such tactics.

The only reason I read this was for my bookclub, and the only reason why I will finish it is so I can truly justify my loathing of this work of Utter "Nonsense."

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've enjoyed Anita Renfroe's humor and her "Mom sense" video on Youtube. Her wit and wisdom are terrific and her comedy is wholesome and motivational. This is a very good book for Mothers and Daughters, especially as they enter some of the more particularly difficult ages, or perhaps even more so afterward. There is a very heavy emphasis on Christianity in this book, however, which may turn off folks from other religions.

Quotes I found interesting:
"We cannot undo what has already been done, but if we ask God to forgive us and try to make things right, we can do better the next time." (p. 114)

"You tell them that our lives can change with every breath we take." (p. 178)

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think Anita Renfroe is a hoot. This book was a little more serious, with some funny stuff thrown in. Anita writes about the Momwich years, living with and being a mom to a teenage girl, while living in the same house with her own mother. She expresses the difficulties and joys and puzzlement and heartache and embarrassment and understanding and weaknesses and highlights that we as mothers and daughters can feel everyday. At the end of the book it is clear that we are all just crazy and we should just relax and laugh with each other and find some mutual delight and we will end up finding just the relationship we want. She reminds us that God has amazing grace for us, and it is so much easier to deal with the mother issues when we remember we have The Father to guide us.

[Amelia in PDX · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are in sore need of a laugh, Anita Renfroe is someone you want to read or watch (there are a couple of things on youtube of her doing her thing).

As a retired pastor's wife with a houseful of kids, Anita will give you an entirely new way of looking at things going on in your life. She might be giving you so home truths, but she's giving them to you in such a way that you can't do anything but laugh at them.

Go ahead and laugh your way through the book and go and find another one to enjoy.

[Monta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Too funny! If you like a little humor then get ready. Anita Renfroe does such a great job with her examples of motherhood issues from her own experiences. I laughed until I wet myself. We all need a good dose of laughter when sifting through our years of being mothered!! As I am sure my children will too!

[Dina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book at the National Women of Faith Conference in San Antonio. Anita was one of the speakers and she was hilarious. The book is equally funny with insights on mother-daughter relationships.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, light read by a funny lady.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Anita book - I love this woman!

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

funny and tought provoking. many things i could relate to as a mother and as a daughter.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had some funny stuff in it, but I guess I was expecting more since Anita is so funny in person. If you haven't seen her YouTube song video, though, definitely look it up!

[Angie Lussier · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was prety cute but I've read other authors that I thought were funnier and more able to relate to.. I didn't finish this book.

[Kimber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay . . a little heavy on the God stuff . . . I needed more jokes!

[Bcgrad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Favorite Quote:
"If we lose our ability to love, then laughter is not possible. If we lose our ability to laugh at ourselves & w/each other, then eh love will seem duty bound & joyless."

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anita is one funny lady!

[Sherri · Rating 3 out of 5]

She is a Christian comedian so there will be references to God. Told with her wit and anecdotes. This is a quick, funny read.

[Jaynessa Campbell · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really like her stand up acts, but this just wasn't on par with that and it was difficult to finish.

[Sharon · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't finish. I hated it

[M. Sembera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laughed the from begining to end!