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Who Peed on My Yoga Mat?
Lela Davidson doesn’t like to brag, but her children are clean and fed, her husband likes to cook, and she is rarely referred to as Troll Toes at the yoga studio. In other words, she’s got it all. Who Peed on My Yoga Mat? peels back the curtain on family life to show that happiness is really a matter of perspective. Between watching adorably annoying toddlers transform into text-obsessed teens, and facing inevitable moments of marital “for worse,” a girl’s got to carve out time for inner peace. As she did in Blacklisted from the PTA, Davidson shows us once again that laughing at yourself and your family is the surest path to tranquility–or at least the most fun.
- GenresHumorNonfiction
200 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2012
12 people are currently reading
322 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 29 reviews
November 20, 2012
I wrote it, and I love it :)
November 11, 2012
Another wonderful collection of funny essays by Lela Davidson. I had many laugh out loud moments as I read this book, especially when I could completely relate to the story. A definite must-read!
November 12, 2012
This collection of essays is hysterical and I love Lela's take on marriage and family. Easy and quick read, perfect for the beach!
March 23, 2016
This collection of humorous vignettes was funny, but their arrangement was frustratingly random. I would have enjoyed the collection more if there had been some kind of sensible order to them.
May 17, 2017
Funny and cute!
February 28, 2013
2.5 stars. I think this collection of blog posts/essays is one you’re either going to love or hate. I have to admit, I struggled with this book, and in trying to write a fair review, because I have hot buttons, and this collection pressed them. Hard. Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.
Most of the writing is clever, witty, even brilliant in places. Some samples: “the scent of Newborn Ass lingered in the air,” “Santa was long ago replaced by a kid in a blue Best Buy polo,” and in a section about the kids’ tape obsession, that they would be having a: “double wedding with Scotch and masking. Duct will be the maid of honor.”
But to me, quoting the author and a story connecting Hooters and youth ice hockey, “there was tone.” I had difficulty emotionally connecting to someone whose biggest worry seemed to be arranging carpool for cotillion class, or her husband’s separation anxiety when their brilliant teenage son went away to an expensive engineering camp. For someone like me who spent her motherhood years replacing bald tires on the car two at a time (when I had a car that ran), this felt like #FirstWorldProblems at best. There seemed to be much price dropping: how trendy and fashionable the first condo was, how great the first house was, the drama of spending $83 for a steak at a fancy restaurant, bewailing writing checks for said engineering camp...
YMMV (your mileage may vary). My struggle with the material may be due to my personal hangups and jealousy/reverse snobbery. Ms. Davidson does know how to write well on a technical level; there are many funny bits, each essay flows and makes sense. So I encourage you to read this book for yourself and make up your own mind as to whether you like it, or not.
Most of the writing is clever, witty, even brilliant in places. Some samples: “the scent of Newborn Ass lingered in the air,” “Santa was long ago replaced by a kid in a blue Best Buy polo,” and in a section about the kids’ tape obsession, that they would be having a: “double wedding with Scotch and masking. Duct will be the maid of honor.”
But to me, quoting the author and a story connecting Hooters and youth ice hockey, “there was tone.” I had difficulty emotionally connecting to someone whose biggest worry seemed to be arranging carpool for cotillion class, or her husband’s separation anxiety when their brilliant teenage son went away to an expensive engineering camp. For someone like me who spent her motherhood years replacing bald tires on the car two at a time (when I had a car that ran), this felt like #FirstWorldProblems at best. There seemed to be much price dropping: how trendy and fashionable the first condo was, how great the first house was, the drama of spending $83 for a steak at a fancy restaurant, bewailing writing checks for said engineering camp...
YMMV (your mileage may vary). My struggle with the material may be due to my personal hangups and jealousy/reverse snobbery. Ms. Davidson does know how to write well on a technical level; there are many funny bits, each essay flows and makes sense. So I encourage you to read this book for yourself and make up your own mind as to whether you like it, or not.
March 6, 2013
This hilarious book dives head-first into the ugly world of suburban motherhood. And while Lela would be the very first to point out her problems are very first world, she doesn’t dodge the tough questions. She refreshingly admits that all grown women are still scared of the mean girls. She also offers the pleasing insight that with wisdom (read: age, like the one I am fast approaching, the big number I refuse to admit is on the cusp of the downhill slide), comes the confidence to ignore those mean girls, once and for all.
She admits to not exactly loving Yoga taught by teenagers (GASP! she could totally get kicked out of the carpool for that!!!) and she also admits that suburban moms have sex (and sometimes like it). Don’t worry–it doesn’t get all Shades of Gray-Haired Cougar; she is far too classy and young for that. What I think I love most is she gave me a woman to emulate who is 1) a mom (and has survived intact as a woman) 2) knows about mom jeans and would avoid them 3) can carpool her kids to hockey and soccer and maintain her mystique 4) can dance til dawn and coquettishly relish (and reject) the advances of young men she has the smarts to see right through.
This book is laugh-out-loud, lift-you-up funny. The chapter on His Holiness the Dali Lama is freaking awesome (and useful, because I, like Davidson, will get to see him at a large venue here soon and I’m trying, but will surely fail, to read anything the man has written before I see him). She’s real and she’s real funny, you all. Please read!
She admits to not exactly loving Yoga taught by teenagers (GASP! she could totally get kicked out of the carpool for that!!!) and she also admits that suburban moms have sex (and sometimes like it). Don’t worry–it doesn’t get all Shades of Gray-Haired Cougar; she is far too classy and young for that. What I think I love most is she gave me a woman to emulate who is 1) a mom (and has survived intact as a woman) 2) knows about mom jeans and would avoid them 3) can carpool her kids to hockey and soccer and maintain her mystique 4) can dance til dawn and coquettishly relish (and reject) the advances of young men she has the smarts to see right through.
This book is laugh-out-loud, lift-you-up funny. The chapter on His Holiness the Dali Lama is freaking awesome (and useful, because I, like Davidson, will get to see him at a large venue here soon and I’m trying, but will surely fail, to read anything the man has written before I see him). She’s real and she’s real funny, you all. Please read!
March 11, 2013
I enjoyed this book, but I didn't love it. I wanted to, but never really did. It's an odd thing, to almost like a book and frustrating too. I kept reading, wanting to connect, to laugh out loud, but I just never quite got there. I think the first issue for me is that the essays in the book read more like blog posts which I suspect would be a far more forgiving medium.
My other impression was that Davidson was playing it safe. For me, so many of her stories were on the verge of being very funny, but I had the sense that she was holding back. There were times when I longed to sit down with her and a couple of bottles of wine and say "ok, now tell me what you really thought!" My favourite chapters were those where a more biting sense of humour started to peak through - for example I really liked her tales of travelling in Spain, or where Davidson talks about meeting one of her reader's and goes on to describe the way in which that experience influenced her views on her own writing, and her sense of self as a writer. In both cases I felt a much closer connection to the writing.
I've had Lela's first book Blacklisted from the PTA on my Amazon wishlist for a while and I wonder whether I should have started there or perhaps even on her blog, which I have only recently discovered and which I really enjoy.
My other impression was that Davidson was playing it safe. For me, so many of her stories were on the verge of being very funny, but I had the sense that she was holding back. There were times when I longed to sit down with her and a couple of bottles of wine and say "ok, now tell me what you really thought!" My favourite chapters were those where a more biting sense of humour started to peak through - for example I really liked her tales of travelling in Spain, or where Davidson talks about meeting one of her reader's and goes on to describe the way in which that experience influenced her views on her own writing, and her sense of self as a writer. In both cases I felt a much closer connection to the writing.
I've had Lela's first book Blacklisted from the PTA on my Amazon wishlist for a while and I wonder whether I should have started there or perhaps even on her blog, which I have only recently discovered and which I really enjoy.
February 9, 2013
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
Have you ever heard of mommy humor? Well I believe it could be a whole genre of its own and even though I may not entire the realm of motherhood, I still absolutely love this genre - it makes me giggle out loud all of the time.
Lela Davidson takes the reader into her home as a mom and the different things she encounters due to motherhood. I think she did it perfectly without oversharing about her children; they can't be too embarrassed by the things she shared. Moms and mom to bes and just fans of this humor should pick up her two books, you will laugh from beginning to end. I also think she wrote these books with moms in mind because the stories are short simple and sweet - with only a few pages to each story. I know because of my sister that she doesn't have limitless time to read each day, so short stories allow her to enjoy a book, but also to put it down and be easily picked back up again at another time.
Have you ever heard of mommy humor? Well I believe it could be a whole genre of its own and even though I may not entire the realm of motherhood, I still absolutely love this genre - it makes me giggle out loud all of the time.
Lela Davidson takes the reader into her home as a mom and the different things she encounters due to motherhood. I think she did it perfectly without oversharing about her children; they can't be too embarrassed by the things she shared. Moms and mom to bes and just fans of this humor should pick up her two books, you will laugh from beginning to end. I also think she wrote these books with moms in mind because the stories are short simple and sweet - with only a few pages to each story. I know because of my sister that she doesn't have limitless time to read each day, so short stories allow her to enjoy a book, but also to put it down and be easily picked back up again at another time.
March 9, 2013
I'm SO behind in reading both of Lela's books, but finally read them both a few weeks ago. I think knowing her in person and picturing er in many of the situations made it extra funny. Nobody nails a witty retort like Lela, and her tag line "what you were thinking, only funnier" describes her and her books to a T. I recommend them both for light, fun reading and a hilarious take on everyday life... but not the tiresome version so many other writers attempt. Lela is MY kind of mom of the year - the one who doesn't give up her own life to create a happy one for her family.
Good stuff!!
Good stuff!!
September 3, 2016
I have to say it was the catchy title that first attracted me.... I mean you just have to find out where that is going to go. I read the synopsis and thought that a humorous book about 40 something motherhood was for me, finally I can read a book for which I am the target audience. It was funny at times, nailed certain mothering obstacles on the head, and also left me thinking a few times "I never feel that way". That is the whole point though everyone's motherhood is different and there is a little essay for just about anybody in there.
July 9, 2013
I picked this book up on one of its free promotion days but only just got around to finishing it. It's short essays lent itself to reading on the train commuting back and forth from work.
There were some embarrassing moments when I burst out laughing and startled my neighbour on the train!
I really enjoyed this book and the author's style of writing. Down-to-earth, grounded and authentic.
Enjoyed it very much. Thanks for sharing.
There were some embarrassing moments when I burst out laughing and startled my neighbour on the train!
I really enjoyed this book and the author's style of writing. Down-to-earth, grounded and authentic.
Enjoyed it very much. Thanks for sharing.
November 16, 2012
You'll love this fun read that will help you not only feel better about yourself and your smelly kid, but will have you laughing as you see yourself in similar situations. Lela has wrapped it all up in a pretty pink cover. You'll probably skip yoga class to read this collection of humor essays about every day life.
May 5, 2013
I really wanted to love this book. I loved Blacklisted, and I wanted this one to be just as funny, just as honest and compelling. It was honest, but for me, not as funny or compelling. I'm worried that I may not be rating it high enough because it only fails in comparison to the author's last book.
February 27, 2014
This is a collection of short essays based on the authors real life experiences. It has everything from PTA to online dating. I really hated the beginning of this book because, honestly, it was lame. I only got into it towards the middle to end and then I enjoyed it. Some of the stories were just plain pointless.
December 6, 2012
Lela has once again delivered an amazing collection of essays that will keep you laughing out loud. Any mom will be able to relate to a number of stories in this collection. So glad I found this wonderful author and truly funny lady.
November 11, 2012
This collection of Lela Davidson’s relatable essays runs a gamut of situations familiar to suburban moms, each one treated with good humor and Lela’s appealing point of view. As you finish each one, you’ll want to text her to meet you for coffee so you can exchange notes on your life, too.
January 20, 2013
Another hilarious book from one of my favorite essayists Lela Davidson. If you're a mom, you'll get a kick out of her books. Blacklisted by the PTA is her first compilation of essays. Both books are down-to-earth, easy to relate to and downright hilarious! Check her work out if you haven't already!
September 29, 2013
This book made me laugh out loud! So loud that my husband made me read him the chapter that is was laughing about. Her life is a lot like mine but she writes about it so much better than I ever could! I have bee telling everyone I know to read this book and I can't wait to read her other books!
August 30, 2014
Somehow I thought this would be funnier. It was more like a bunch of disjointed essays or thoughts slapped into a book. From what I understand, the lady is a blogger, so that makes it make a little more sense, I guess.
April 26, 2013
This is a hilarious and light-hearted book that anybody who has had children can identify with.
May 30, 2014
Not laugh out loud funny...except for a couple essays maybe....but still funny. An enjoyable quick read.
April 3, 2013
The most boring thing I've ever forced myself to read.
August 4, 2013
I was laughing out loud towards the end!
October 12, 2013
Fun, relaxing read, found myself chuckling out loud as I could relate to many parts of the short stories/chapters in this book. Like that parts of it took place in the Seattle area too.
July 6, 2014
Made me literally laugh out loud.
January 17, 2013
I love Lela's humor and style. This is a great gift for a parent or a woman over 40!
August 8, 2013
Enjoyable quick read, but nobody is better at home-maker humor than the late Erma Bombeck.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 29 reviews