Being The Mom - 10 Coping Stategies I Learned by Accident Because I Had Children on Purpose

by Emily Watts

In Being the Mom, you'll learn some practical strategies for building a strong family that can be comfortable in a variety of situations. Beyond that, you'll figure out how to keep you sanity when all about you are losing theirs.
Most of all, you'll find that with a lot of love and a good sense of humor to provide perspective, "being the mom" can be done lots of ways. Your way may just be better than you thought.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Lds, Self Help, Religion, Inspirational, Book Club

149 pages, paperback

First published May 1, 2002

About the author

Emily Watts is a lover of words. She holds a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Utah and has worked as an editor for Deseret Book Company for more than 25 years. Many of those years she spent working part-time from home so she could devote the lion's share of her attention to her two girls and three boys. Now that those children are all in school, she is back full-time and serves as a senior editor.

Reviews

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't read a lot of self-help type books (maybe I should) nor do I read a lot of LDS non-fiction. But I really think this book is a gem. Fun to read with great little tidbits of advice. I've read several times as my children have grown...especially when I just need to feel like someone else has "been there".

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm surprising myself by giving this five stars (it's not my normal five-star fare), but it was so enjoyable to read and has given me so much to think about and revisit that I really think it deserves the five-star rating (from me).

That said, I don't think this will be a five-star book for everyone, so I need to clarify:

First, have you ever absolutely LOVED a book, only to reread it a few years later and wonder what was so great about it? Sometimes, you just happen to pick the perfect time to read a book...where you can relate to everything in it and overlook all its flaws and totally immerse yourself in the writing. That happened to me with this book. I'm sure it has something to do with the fact that I have a new baby and my life is slowly becoming ever more chaotic. I honestly don't think I could have read this book at a more appropriate time...my feelings, frustrations, hopes, fears, anxieties, and dreams were all validated. I feel like it was truly a tender mercy to read this book just when I needed it most.

Second, besides the perfect timing, many of the topics have given me a lot to ponder about. One of my favorite analogies compared life to a video game (ironic, I know, that I would like a video game analogy). There are many sections that I want to write up and post around my house so that I can see and remember them on a daily basis.

Third, I don't want to give this book back to the library. I want it to be my own so I can reread sections and feel those good "mommy-feelings" all over again.

Last, speaking of rereading, I think on a Mother's Day in the future, I will reread the book in its entirety. Nothing says five stars like "I will take the time to read this book again." Depending on what my life is like at that point, I might wonder why I gave this book five stars, or it might be that I will love it just as much but in a different way.

If you are a mom, you will for sure like this book, even if you don't love it...it is full of funny stories and takes a very realistic look at mothering. It will make you grateful for this very special job.

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I pulled this off the bookshelf a few months after my daughter was born. I was in the throes of baby blues and I remember sitting down and reading this. I read it in just a few hours and while it did not make the baby blues go away it helped me feel better about being a mom and helped me get through that one day. I love Emily Watts. I should probably go read this again.

[Brooklyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a foster mom two 2 elementary age children, and 1 teenager, a full time nanny to two newborn twin baby girls, and pregnant with our first, I can say that this book about motherhood is a saving grace. A reminder that we can’t do it all, but that what we are doing as mothers is worth it!

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Throughout this whole book, I was ready to give it 3 stars, but I enjoyed the last chapter so much, that I decided to add one more. This is a great, easy read about all the little things one needs to remember to enjoy their journey through motherhood. It had a lot of fun humor and was chuck full of thought provoking comparisons. I really enjoyed each page as I was reading it, and I laughed and teared up quite a few times. However, I am finding that I can't remember much of what I read, so I must not have taken many lessons away from the time I spent reading it. Oh well. As I mentioned before, my favorite part of the book was Strategy 10: Remember That the Years Fly By, Even Though Some of the Days Are Mighty Long. This book included all the phases of motherhood from pregnancy through your child's adulthood, then it listed out things you'll have to live through, and the things you'll want to remember. I cried all the way through each phase and I really appreciated the thoughts the author had to share. What a great book to remind a woman how important her role as a mother is, even though it doesn't always feel that way. Definitely worth reading once!

[Tanya Wadley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is uplifting and harmless. I don't think the writing or ideas were particularly captivating or that I had any moments of great inspiration reading it as is the case with some parenting books. I didn't particularly enjoy it. I think it had more philosophical ideas than practical suggestions... or the strategies were so obvious that I didn't feel I came away having learned very much. I do agree with her ideas.

I did check out the book and audio version, the reader on the audiobook has one of those syrupy voices that almost makes me choke and made kind of cheesy material seem super cheesy.

It is a quick, easy read. Even though it really wasn't my favorite, didn't lose a lot of time reading it.

[Lesa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books gives such good advice to moms. It is one that I plan to buy and have my own copy. I especially liked the advice she gave on saying yes to a project or task. These are the three questions you should ask yourself:
1. Will it feel me in some way-creatively or emotionally or physically or socially?
2. Is it important to another person's well-being?
3. Can I honestly say that I have the time and money to pursue it?
The only other question that I would add to that is: Do I have the energy to fulfill this task?
This is a quick read, very enjoyable.

Lesa

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emily Watts is hilarious! She describes many true-to-life experiences that any mother could relate to. I found the strategies good ones, but ones that I accidentally learned by myself a few years ago, okay well most of them. Okay, I'd like to think I learned those strategies. All right, I'll be totally honest and say this book was pretty valuable. But I would have to say that it would be better for soon-to-be or new mothers. Altogether, it's an uplifting and fun read.

[Klare · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have come to recently love Emily Watts and what she has to share. She spoke at a Time Out for Women that I went to a couple months ago and she ended up being one of my fav speakers. She is a mom of 5 children and she has gone through just about everything. She is so funny and I feel that I have someone to relate to when it comes to being a mom and the hardships that I have/get to endure.
This is the first book I have read of hers but can't wait to read the other's she has out.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being the Mom has been my favorite book for a long time. It is a good companion when you are overwhelmed by the responsibilities of motherhood. I love the author's humor and willingness to let herself NOT be the perfect mom. Need a little encouragement and a good laugh? This is a great book! On a side note: the author is a Mormon, so there are many correlations to that faith; another reason why it's my fave!

[Amber Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mom just suggested this author to me and when I read this book I realized I had read it before - long before. So, I grazed over it (yummy) and had lots of laughs. She's a very pick-me-up person and I like her style My two favorite chapters are defintely the last two. My goal was to read one new marriage book and one new parenting book this year. Even though I had already read it, it was still good to throw in.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think Emily Watts thinks like me, only she is a few years past some of her life experiences and can put a humorous spin on things. I read this book and I will always remember the quotes that "you are wearing you next load of laundry" and that "the days are long but the years fly by." Both are words of wisdom to me. She was a hilarious speaker at Time out for Women in Seattle many years ago, and I enjoy this quick read that brings motherhood into perspective for me.

[Shanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently went to a Time Out in Philadelphia where Emily Watts was one of the speakers. She had a great sense of humor, and really hit on some points that I could relate to as a mom. I enjoyed this book and got a few great ideas from it. Mostly, it helps me realize that everyone has the same struggles, and the most important thing is how you react to each.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I laughed so many times through this book. It is filled with precious truths! What a great reminder to take it all in stride because the time does fly by. I may have to read it again in a few years when my little girl is older to remind myself again that other people go through the same things, to just smile and let life happen.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up at Deseret Book one afternoon on a "low" day. I found myself laughing, nodding and feeling validated through much of this book. It was uplifting and encouraging (not that I am constant need of encouragement). I think I will have to read it again when my kids enter the teenage years.

[Missy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite strategy is this: when you are faced with the option of doing something really well, over the top, fancy schmancy, or just doing a passing job, ask yourself these questions:

Do I really have the time/money?
Does it fill some emotional/spiritual/creative need?
Is it important for someone's well-being?

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author has a fun sense of humor. I love her insight on motherhood. I've learned a lot of the coping strategies she suggests by trial and error, but it was nice to have someone put it into words. Overall, it was a fun, easy read with good advice on how to be a better mom. I walked away from the book thinking, "I can do that." Good stuff.

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. There are several stories in this book that Emily Watts also shares in her talk on CD, "How to Survive Your Greatest Blessings." The book definitely covers a lot more territory though, and is equally inspiring. This book is a shot in the arm for anyone finding motherhood a bit challenging at times. I highly recommend reading this if you have children.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't usually read non-fiction. But I like Emily, and I picked it up for super cheap. I enjoyed her lightheart look at every day as a mom.
One quote I particularly liked was: " The truth is that our greatest blesings and our greatest trials seem to often come in the same package, if we wish away the trials we forgo the blessings as well."

[Missy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would recommend this book more to moms who have kids older than infants, but it was still a good read. The author had a lot of funny stories, which was great while I was suffering from the baby blues.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book, I need to skim through it again. It had one quote that I haven't forgotten: Being the mother of toddlers is like being pecked to death by baby chicks. (something like that) I laughed until I cried, but it may have been the day.

[Tammy King Carlton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a Mother's Day Gift - a light, fun easy read that gave me some good laughs, and reminded me I am not the only one who made this conscious decision to become a mother and raise my children, with no idea how little I knew.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! What a great book! I was inspired by her wonderful perspective on motherhood and it really validated me as a woman who has decided to be a stay-at-home mom! Great ideas, funny stories and very uplifting!

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book changed the way I viewed my job as a *Mommy*. It taught me to lighten up and have fun with my kids. It's such a fun read too, I have never laughed out loud so often while reading a book. I am a better Mom because I read this!!

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laugh every time I open this book. I wish this lady were my next door neighbor. I would feel so much better about myself. We'd have to put a sign between our houses that says, "Danger! Women living mindlessly!"

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book helped me lighten up about being a mom, and remember to have a little more fun. There were several parts that I was actually laughing outloud. Maybe I could really relate to the author or maybe I was just having one of those days.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a light hearted read with some good insights and reminders for mothers. Lots of funny stories from her own life that most women that have children will be able to relate to. I liked her other book, Confessions of an Unbalanced Woman, better though.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I re-read this book when I was having a hard day being a mom and it just helped me to know that I wasn't the only one who had those kind of days. This book reminded me to not sweat the small stuff and to enjoy this stage of my life.

[Alysia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thought this book was an uplifting read. Nonething too dramatic inside, but it was quick read, humorous, and a good reminder of skills all mothers should have. Every Mom will see herself in many of the stories shared.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really hit HOME! She is so real and down to earth! I loved that I felt so much like she understood me and what I go through daily! It was a wonderful, inspirational, fun read that I needed desperately! Love it!