I Should Have Seen It Coming When the Rabbit Died

by Teresa Bloomingdale

Hilarious trials and heartwarming joys of big family life by a mother who can still laugh about toddlers sharing ice cream with the dog, first graders who curl their hair with bubble gum, sixteen yr olds with goggles for eyes and headphones for ears, the summer the chauffeur (guess who) went on strike and the teenagers had to take walking lessons..and all those priceless moments no mom will ever forget- no matter how hard she tries!

Genres: Humor, Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, Parenting

252 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1979

Reviews

[Bebe Burnside · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I read it about 15 years ago and I can still remember some of the lines. Teresa Bloomingdale discusses raising 10 children and it's funny from the title to the last page. If you have children you will nod your head as she talks about things like: who would put peanut butter in the refrigerator? If you don't have children you will understand why sometimes your friends who do have children seem just a few fries short of a happy meal. Worth every second!!!

[Priscilla King · Rating 4 out of 5]

What today's young mothers miss by planning to have only one or two children! LOL. I laughed at the adventures of this large Catholic family, and gave thanks for sterility. But they're a very nice family, fun to read about.

(Admittedly, I've not reread this one recently. I logged into Goodreads, it popped up, and I thought, "Hey, I remember that one.")

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my go-to book when I need to laugh, feel better about motherhood, or just need a boost. Bless this Nebraskan mother of ten!

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second time I have read this book and just like the first time I found it as enjoyable from the first page to the last. Mrs. Bloominton has you smiling from page one till the end. She shares her life with you. She lets you seen how she raised 10 kids with her husband and still kept her humor and wit about her. This is a very quick, easy, funny ,witty read

[Stacy culler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Humorous, slice of life book published in 1979 by a mother of 10 children. I chose it for the hilarious title, and laughed out loud at many parts. It was funny to see how attitudes about parenting have endured or changed from my mom’s generation to mine.

I would love to know what became of this woman’s 10 unruly children!

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet humorous recounting of motherhood and life with 10 children in simpler times. I read this book several decades ago as my grandmother had a selection of G-rated humor books stashed in a shelf near the ironing board. Reading it brought back nice memories of quite summer afternoons in her basement. I can imagine her sneaking in a few pages between ironing grandfather's shirts.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did Not Finish

A client told me about this book, and I thought I'd enjoy it. Read the first 7 chapters, then lost interest. I was hopeful cause the first chapter made me laugh. But then it got boring, plus I think her having 10 kids is ridiculous.
It's an old book from 1979. The content and writing are probably good and funny. But not for my current mindset.

[Ashleigh Tomlinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is hilarious and reminds me of all the sweet reasons why motherhood is so lovely and so hard. “Cheer up, sweetheart, the best is yet to be” - what a sweet reminder that there’s beauty in every season of life and that even after all the fun and beauty of this life we have even more to look forward to in our eternal life to come.

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

really enjoyed this read... All the joys of motherhood in the eyes of a lady with TEN kids! I couldn't relate to everything considering I only have 2 kids and it's not the 1970's but I laughed a lot and could relate to so many different situations.

[Neena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laughter, tears and crises of raising ten chilrdren. Wonderful, easy read. (A kinder, softer Erma Bombeck.)

[Kathie · Rating 1 out of 5]

dated - cannot recommend

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

1955-1969 Nebraska True story about a mom of 10. Hilarious

[Cathy Greenlaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny romp through life when you need some humor.

[Stephen Fodor · Rating 5 out of 5]

very much like Erma Bombeck but with more kids and higher faith. Definitely enjoyable! would definitely recommend and lend it out!

[Thapan Dubayehudi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a HEARTWARMING book! Definitely would re-read it!

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful little pick me up!

[Tia · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 stars


I got a kick out of the beginning, but then it was a struggle to finish… which I didn’t. There’s some good humor, but sometimes things were dragged out, in my opinion.

[AmeliaReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious

[Joan]

I read this book many years ago, when I happened to see it in paperback and was intrigued by the title. The book is about a family - a growing family - that kept growing up to and including ten children. As Teresa Bloomingdale wrote, in the mid-West, back in the fifties it was quite fashionable and acceptable to have a huge family. The book was extremely enjoyable for me because it gave a humorous, but true portrayal of life in a large family. Looking back, it, sadly, was reflective of an era that is gone forever.

I would recommend this book.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very dated at this point but omg is it funny as hell!!!
Unfortunately you'd have to get it from an out of print dealer.
The references to naming children and the havoc that picking wrongly can create alone makes it worth reading.
Bloomingdale is very much like Bombeck. Loved the book when I was a teen and still love it, even moreso now that I have kids of my own.
Find it, buy it, read it!!!

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

A woman has 10 pregnancies in 12 years. And she tells about what it is like to have such a house full of little ones. Hilarious book. I could relate on so many levels and the way she tells it just makes me realize that being a mom of lots of kids can be fun and funny. A good reminder to look on the bright side. And it makes me a bit scared about what life will be like with teenagers!!! If you want a quick, funny read- go for this one!

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this a VERY, VERY long time ago. I saw it on a shelf at the thrift store I frequented at the time and the title caught me. I read the flyleaf and decided it sounded like a fun read. And it was! I don't remember a whole lot of detail, but I do remember laughing as I read the antics of that large family!

[Carrieuoregon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laugh out loud funny in parts--well if you yourself have a lot of kids. Droll storytelling from a mother of 10. I preferred the first half of the book to the second, but that may be because I'm not as far along in this motherhood stuff.

A lot of delightful quotes, plus a lot of proof that this business hasn't changed much in the last 60 years.

[Sheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I began reading this series when I just had one baby. I laughed and laughed. I bought copies of all her books and even wrote the author a fan email which she answered. I am now passing these books down to my children who are having children.

[Atlantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very special book, written by a woman from the area I currently live in. While dated, it is a splice of catholic life in the midwest. Funny, admirable and unforgettable. I was so sad to hear that this author has passed away and her books are out of print.

[Teri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up at a bookstore with my dad many years ago and I have to wonder how it influenced me. I was probably in 5th or 6th grade reading a book on motherhood. I remember it being funny and making large family life seem attractive.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a great pick me up! I love her conversational writing style...good read for mom's or ladies wanting to become moms.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very funny

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious!

[Kathy Orr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish she had written more books, I loved them all.