Smotherhood: Wickedly Funny Confessions from the Early Years

by Amanda Lamb

Television crime reporter and full-time mother tells it like it is in this raw, irreverent collection of essays—just what mothers are asking for when they curl up with a book at night after a seventeen-hour day. Amanda Lamb, a regular contributor to Dot-moms.com, lauded by the New York Times and Time magazine, writes about the reality of raising children, working, and keeping a family together, sharing some wickedly funny moments along the way. “Parents will never get enough sleep until they're dead. Osama Bin Laden would come out of hiding if he could listen to your baby wail all night.”

 

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Parenting

211 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2007

About the author

In addition to being an author, Amanda Lamb is an accomplished public speaker, podcaster and veteran television crime reporter. She worked for an award-winning NBC affiliate in the southeast for nearly three decades. She also hosted, co-wrote, and co-produced three true crime podcasts including "Follow the Truth," "What Remains," and "The Killing Month August 1978." "Follow the Truth" won the regional Edward R. Murrow award for excellence in journalism. Currently, she hosts and produces "AGELESS: Opening Doors with Amanda Lamb" which is about women transforming themselves personally and professionally after fifty. This is the focus of her keynote speech about not allowing age to define your value and your potential. She shares her wisdom and inspiration with audiences across the country.

Amanda's newest thriller, Whispers on the Mountain, is due out in September 2025. It features a dogged newspaper reporter who arrives at a mountain resort only to learn there is a missing hiker. She can't ignore the tug of the compelling mystery swirling around her in the beautiful but dangerous North Carolina mountains. Amanda hopes this will be the first installment in a new murder mystery series.

Amanda has published twelve books in dramatically different genres from murder mysteries, to true crime books, to touching and humorous memoirs, to children's books. From murder cases to motherhood, Amanda examines life through the lens of a curious journalist who is constantly observing and documenting everything in her path with deep interest, insight, and compassion.

She has written a murder mystery series about a tenacious television journalist seeking truth and justice all while juggling her own intriguing backstory. These novels from Torchflame Books include "Dead Last," "Lies that Bind," and "No Wake Zone."

As a journalist, Amanda can only report about ten percent of what she knows, but her novels peel back the veil of the news industry and give readers an intimate peek into the world of journalism through the eyes of a crime beat reporter. While the people and stories in her books are fictional, they are all loosely based on real-life scenarios Amanda has encountered in her more than three decades in the trenches.

Amanda has also penned three true crime books which include "Love Lies," the saga of a young mother who disappeared after her husband said she went jogging and never returned home. In a desperate search for the truth her friends and family circle the wagons demanding answers-answers that ultimately expose a grim tragedy in the small, idyllic southern town. "Evil Next Door" features the story of a brutal rape and murder case Amanda covered as a news reporter. The victim, a young woman who was just beginning to live into her potential, was stalked and killed by a suspected serial killer who left copious amounts of DNA in his path, but little else for investigators to go on. They play a dangerous of game of cat and mouse with the police trying to lure the killer into their trap. "Deadly Dose" is a true crime story about a young up-and-coming scientist who was poisoned by someone in his inner circle. A dogged, old-school investigator refuses to give up in his relentless pursuit of the truth, a truth far more gruesome than anyone could have imagined.

Amanda's memoirs include "The Living Room" which chronicles her 80-day journey caring for her mother who was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. In the midst of tragedy, Amanda learns how to live from her dying mother. The darkness is tinged with light as her mother's departure becomes a celebration of a life and an inspiration to those around her.

Amanda's parenting memoirs include "I Love You to God and Back" which chronicles her young daughter's prayers giving the reader a glimpse into the way adults see the world through a child's eyes. There is also a companion child's book of the same title. "Girls Gone Child" chronicles Amanda's daughters' sometimes outrag

Reviews

[Kym · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. I actually got this book as a gift, about 10 years ago, when I first had new babies. I didn't get it read and saw it again while cleaning out my books. I flipped through and a relavent chapter caught my eye that had a couple funny lines, so I decided to read the whole book. Overall, her humor and views on parenting weren't for me.

[Sharla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a book I picked up at a garage sale, and was drawn in by the title alone (Smotherhood - Wickedly Funny Confessions from the Early Years). The writing was definitely relatable, as a working mother (how is there time to get it all done?) and I thoroughly enjoyed the humorous tone throughout the book -- absolutely some laugh out loud moments.

Here are some quotes I enjoyed:

"In the end, we can't control our kids. We can only control how we react to them. And because we're human beings, we are not always going to react well."

On birthday parties - "What you end up with is a two-hour frenzy of kinetic motion that makes you wish you could unplug the little bastards."

"Neurosis flows down my family tree like sap."

"That's why it's so important for me not only to remember but also to record these precious moments. They are gems, nuggets chipped away from the parenting journey and delicately stored. Or maybe like scraps of fabric that pieced together make one big, crazy patchwork quilt. It is an imperfect quilt that is worn and faded in some spots. It might smother you at times, but ultimately it keeps you warmer at night than a roaring fire."

[Jennifer Miera · Rating 3 out of 5]

While portions of this book did cause me to leak a few tears while laughing, I have a "thing" about moms who a) work more than full-time b) manage to maintain a collegesque social life involving drinking and partying. I'm not a prude, not an evangelical Christian (not Christian, at all, for that matter), but I do think that if at all possible, mommies belong home with their kids. Aw, heck. I have all kinds of opinions about "how" moms should be - and yes, it does involve cooking (the author doesn't), being there for major portions of the day, and sacrificing some of your personal time. That being said, I could relate to several of her essays. Some things about being a mom cross boundaries.

[Fran · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amanda Lamb is very frank and very funny (and often explicit!) in relating what it's like to be a working mom today. She's quite courageous in some of the things she reveals, such as with the vasectomy story; I recently heard her speak and she said her family hasn't read the book - I can certainly see why!!! My favorite snippet is the visit to church when her daughter speaks up to answer the minister and Amanda expects the worst, only to be surprised by the child's reply. Very poignant. Lamb has a very nice writing style and I am still chuckling over her Crackberry addiction, even as she sits in the courtroom or takes her daughter to a public restroom.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was amusing, dare I say funny at times. It kept me entertained through my wee hours of the morning nursing. It touches on some funny aspects of motherhood. A bit heavy on the "working mom" aspects of motherhood, and Im not a working mom, so I couldnt relate as well. The BEST part of the book was the "scrotum holder" portion. I was roaring with laughter. SO FUNNY and definitely the highlight of this book.

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could really relate to this book even though it's been a very long time since my kids were that young. There were so many things Amanda did or thought that I did and thought back then, especially all that soccer mom and ballet mom stuff! wow, thanks for making me smile every time I picked up the book Amanda!

[Elizabeth Caran · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was wonderful to read an honest representation of motherhood. Lamb admits to all her flaws, many of which are also mine, and I imagine are also the "flaws" of many other working moms. I laughed and felt reassured at the same time. My favorite essays were those on traveling with kids, becoming the "anti-mom" and mommy brain.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book so closely paralleled my life it was a bit creepy. In fact, the youngest in the book also had the same name as my youngest! The author definitely gave a realistic depiction of the struggle of a working mom to maintain a balance in her life.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laugh out loud funny. All mom's and people who have no children of their own, but have friend's who are mom's with small children should read this. Freakin' hysterical, and TRUE! This woman has my life!!

[Jalice · Rating 1 out of 5]

A little boring, a little gross, and I find the author herself to be neurotic. I was looking for something light and charming with perhaps a touch of contemporary wisdom thrown in. I was sorely disappointed with this one.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny (and accurate) musings from a mother of 2 girls. Humorous, insightful, and often touching.

[Carley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent fast read of various situations that most moms are bound to find themselves in.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably one I'll re-read again and again. It's funny now, but it may not be so funny in a couple of years with older kids!

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title says it all! I laughed my ass off, and I'm not even a mother. It does make me appreciate all the moms out there.

[Deanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Makes me smile - and not feel like a total failure as a working mom! Fun, easy read.

[Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

You will enjoy this book if you are a mom. A funny look at everday experiences.

[Shawna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Horrible, author thinks she is creative and funny and it really just seems like she had a friend in the publishing world...

[Dorothy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable memoir about mothering young children

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Amanda Lamb's observations are so true she had me in stitches. A great book for reminding you that you are normal and your children are not the only ones driving their mother mad.

[Katrina V. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amanda Lamb came to my library for a lecture, so I picked up her book. Pretty funny -- I enjoyed it.

[Karen Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious! Felt like I was talking to a best friend about all the craziness of motherhood.

[Lori Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how real it is, lol!

[Hina · Rating 5 out of 5]

so refreashing to see someone writing so honestly about the trials of motherhood while balancing a work life. i could picture everything so clearly exactly like it was written.

[Sharon Zukoski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It's great to see that the chaos isn't unique to you.

[Laura McGregor · Rating 4 out of 5]

very inspring book for busy moms