Moms Don't Have Time to Have Kids: A Timeless Anthology

by Zibby Owens (Editor)

52 SHORT ESSAYS FOR BUSY PEOPLE... BY 49 AMAZING AUTHORS. Too tired to think? No time to read books? Zibby Owens gets it. Award-winning podcaster of  Moms Don't Have Time to Read Books and mother of four (ages 6 to 14) compiled 52 essays by 49 authors to help the rest of us feel understood, inspired, and less alone. The authors, all previous guests on her podcast (go listen!), include 15 New York Times bestselling authors, 5 national bestsellers and 29 award-winning/notable/critically-acclaimed writers. The super short essays were inspired by a few other things moms don't have time to do: sleep, get sick, write, lose weight, and see friends. Read one a week and you'll finish the whole book in a year: accomplishment! Topics range from taking care on aging grandmother, mourning the loss of a family member, battling insomnia, wrestling with body image, coping with chronic illness, navigating writer's block, the power of women's friendship, and more juicy stuff.  You'll laugh, cry, think, and feel like you just had coffee with a close friend. If that best friend were a world-renown author. Contributors include: Aimee Agresti, Esther Amini, Chandler Baker, Adrienne Bankert, Andrea Buchanan, Terri Cheney, Jeanine Cummins, Stephanie Danler, KJ Dell'Antonia, Lydia Fenet, Michael Frank, Elyssa Friedland, Melissa Gould, Nicola Harrison, Kristy Woodson Harvey, Joanna Hershon, Angela Himsel, Richie Jackson, Shelli Johannes, Lily King, Jean Kwok, Heather Land, Brooke Adams Law, Caroline Leavitt, Jenny Lee, Shannon Lee, Elizabeth Lesser, Gigi Levangie, Emily Liebert, Lynda Loigman, Abby Maslin, Sarah McColl, Jeanne McCulloch, Malcolm Mitchell, Arden Myrin, Carla Naumburg, Rex Ogle, Zibby Owens, Camille Pagan, Elizabeth Passarella, Allison Pataki, Lindsay Powers, Susie Schnall, Susan Shapiro, Melissa T. Shultz, Claire Bidwell Smith, Rev. Lydia Sohn, Laura Tremaine, and Cecily Von Ziegesar.

Genres: Nonfiction, Parenting, Essays, Memoir, Adult

264 pages, Paperback

Published November 2, 2021

About the author

Zibby Owens is the award-winning host of the podcast Totally Booked with Zibby and the weekly TV show “Totally Booked” on JBS.

Author of six books including two bestsellers, On Being Jewish Now: Reflections from Authors and Advocates and Blank: A Novel, she owns Zibby’s Bookshop, an independent bookstore in Santa Monica, CA, and Zibby Publishing, a boutique publishing house, all part of Zibby Media. She also runs an events and retreats series, Zibby’s Book Club, and the Z.I.P. membership program.

A graduate of Yale University and Harvard Business School, Zibby lives in New York (and sometimes L.A.) with her husband and four children ages 11 to 18.

Become a Z.I.P. (Zibby’s Important People) today to support her work and follow her on Instagram @zibbyowens.

Reviews

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Zibby’s second anthology on five new topics that mom’s don’t have time to do; sleep, get sick, see friends, write, and lose weight.

After reading this, I let out a long sigh, that yes, I’m not alone in all the chaos. I found so much truth in the telling of these stories. Many straight-from-the-heart essays I could relate to, bringing out all the feelings. I laughed, cried, and I can’t tell you how many meaningful little snippets jumped out at me that I highlighted. And yes, before the halfway mark I ordered myself a paperback copy. I could identify with the majority of these essays, and I know others will too — several of my friends and family will be finding a copy under their tree this year. ❥

*Thanks to Skyhorse Publishing and NetGalley for kindly providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Zibby Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

My new book has essays from forty-nine authors who are best-selling, notable, and award-winning writing on five different things that moms don't have time to do: Sleep, Get Sick, See Friends, Write, and Lose Weight.

If you have time to do all those things, you get a standing ovation right now. But, even if you do, and no matter what your own life is like, it is always wonderful to see the world from someone else's perspective. That is what these essays do. All of them are written by amazing authors who have been on my podcast, "Moms Don't Have Time to Read Books." They open up their minds and their feelings and thoughts for all of you.

For example, Lily King, one of my favorite authors who wrote "Writers & Lovers," sent me an essay for this collection about her daughter's struggle with a severe illness. I had to remind myself that Lily King sat down and wrote a special piece for all of us moms. It's for me. It's for all of you. It's for all of you to enjoy. I'm just so honored to bring the backstory of all these authors into the world.

To listen to me officially kick off the anthology, go to my podcast at:https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/zib...

[JennShesBooked]

I introduce to you THE MOST RELATABLE BOOK I HAVE READ ALL YEAR 🤣 I have six kids, a husband, a cat and one hell of a time trying to juggle it all and still find time for me. SPOILER: there is rarely time for me 😏⁣⁣
⁣⁣
But seriously, this collection of essays are designed to have something for everyone. We are all busy humans! Life is a constant balancing act. And most often the things that are actually the most important get shoved aside for other things. Buckets run empty and we are basically just surviving.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Each of these essays offer insight into other busy Moms lives and perspectives. I laughed so many times, and nodded my head vigorously going “Ya! Ya! Uh huh! It’s me! You see me!”⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Essays aren’t something I usually reach for but this book was just like it’s described, like having coffee with your best friend. ⁣⁣
⁣

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great job, Zibby!This book helped me feel seen and a little less alone as a mother. I lost my own mother 20 years ago at the age of 12. Having my daughter 2 years ago reignited a flame I thought I had completely put out. That flame being: “I’m not good enough” which is rooted from my above mentioned loss. Only difference this time is it became the majority voice to every parenting decision and action vs. inaction I was taking. Moms don’t have time to was a beautifully crafted love letter to all of the mothers out there that are trying to identify who they are, their self preservation in the midst of chaos, balancing the needs and wants of life etc… I recommend every mother take some time to read these stories so you too can experience the empathetic and powerful stories expressed in this literature.

Thank you to NetGalley and Zibby Owens for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of essays on motherhood covers five broad topics: sleep, getting sick, friendship, writing, and losing weight. As with all anthologies, some essays were more relatable than others for me, but I enjoyed all of them. Motherhood is messy and complicated and mothering during the covid-19 pandemic adds a whole different layer to the whole thing. If you're looking for a quick read that will make you feel seen, definitely pick this one up! I look forward to checking out the editor's blog, which I'd never heard of before reading this book.

[Katy O.]

DNF a little over 50%. This wasn’t even close to what I thought it would be. I wanted essays about motherhood and didn’t really get that at all. Also, they seemed very loosely of barely related in the themed sections and since I don’t read about weight loss, I would have to skip an entire section if I continued. A big miss for me.

[Kristens.reading.nook · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Zibby’s first anthology and so I knew I wanted to read this one too. I love that authors are putting their feelings about motherhood, particularly motherhood during a pandemic, to paper. While not all of the essays touch on Covid-19, I feel like this anthology, just as the first, is a great time capsule for this current period of humanity.

I enjoyed reading the essays from authors whose work I am familiar with and equally from those I have not yet met. Discovering new-to-me authors is one of my great joys.

Thank you to UpLit Reads and Zibby Owens for sending me a gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of essays by 49 different authors, many of whom I’ve read their actual books. This was relatable and easy to read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Meredith Lisk · Rating 5 out of 5]

How fitting that I finally finished it in the midst of toddler tantrums, trying to find some peace of mind. A great reminder that you’re not alone in your motherhood.

[Ann]

Zibby Owens has done it again with her new anthology, "Moms Don't Have Time To Have Kids." As the follow-up to her quarantine anthology, "Moms Don't Have Time To", her latest offering shines even brighter than her first. Ms Owens (no-doubt the hardest working person in our current literary world) has this time compiled essays under the headings...Moms Don't Have Time to.....sleep, get sick, see friends, write, and lose weight. Some poignant, some humorous, but all very real, these essays will delight, entertain and encourage every reader. No telling what is next on Ms. Owens' plate, but I, for one, can't wait to see what it is.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Coming November 2, 2021**

Thanks to Sky Horse Publishing and Netgalley, I was chosen to be an early reviewer!

Zibby Owens does it again with another thoughtful anthology this time with the sections Mom’s Don’t Have Time to.. sleep, get sick, see friends, write, and lose weight. Each author describes their own experiences on the topic they chose to write about in a deeply moving and personal way. Each essay is a heartfelt, honest, and real account of their lives. Even some of the authors chose to write about the impact of Covid-19 pandemic had on their lives.

I especially resonated with the topics Mom’s don’t have time to get sick and sleep. As a mother, there are times where sleep Is overrated and it seems when we get sick, it’s at absolutely worst time. It’s nice to read about other mom’s experiences as it makes it feel more normal and not so alone.

This book is perfect for your nightstand, where you can read the book from start to finish, pick it up and read an entire section or even just read an essay that resonates with you at the time. It’s a book that you can keep coming back to for reflection. #Zibbyowens #skyhorsepublishing

[Kelly Hooker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Does a book ever find its way into your hands at precisely the right time? Ironically, I finished 𝗠𝗢𝗠𝗦 𝗗𝗢𝗡’𝗧 𝗛𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗛𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗞𝗜𝗗𝗦 during a covid quarantine that left me with all the time in the world.

Prior to getting sick, I was at a point in my mothering where I felt constantly exasperated by my toddler boys. Why does it take me 90 minutes and half of my sanity to leave our home? Why does that dump truck toy sound like a dying animal crying out in the night? Why are you jumping on his “solar plexus?” …..Why is my three year old using “solar plexus” correctly in a sentence? 🧐

Enter COVID and the abrupt change of pace that comes with isolation and bedroom confinement. These essays written by various mothers and authors felt like a balm to my soul. The anthology covers various things moms simply don’t have time to do: sleep, get sick, see friends, write, and lose weight.

A few essays by favorite authors include @espassarella , @elyssafriedland and @laura.tremaine . I couldn’t help but nod along with these musings on motherhood.

Naturally, the essay that resonated most deeply with me was WHILE I WAS SLEEPING by @camillepagan as she recounts her time in quarantine separated from her family. I found solidarity in her words and gleaned my silver lining: this gift of time is rare.

When I emerge from quarantine next week, I’ll enter the chaos with a renewed thankfulness for this season of life (but probably not for the loud dump truck toy).

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: 4.5/5 ⭐️
𝗣𝗨𝗕 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: 11/2/21 (available now!)

A big thank you to @zibbyowens and @uplitreads for the gifted copy!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for those of us deep in the throes of parenting, no matter how old your child is. Its relatable for the most part, and includes some fantastic authors. With different sections on topics like sleep, losing weight, getting sleep, and more - it covers a wide range of parenthood. Some of my favorite essays were "While I was Sleeping" by Camille Pagan, "A Son, Not My Own" by Gigi Levangie, and "I Diet, therefore I Am" by Elyssa Friedland. Each essay is 2-3 pages long, so its really easy to pick up anytime and read a bit at a time or even a section at a time. I really enjoyed reading all the various perspectives, and discovering new authors. Thank you to Uplit Reads for the free copy and including me in the campaign, all opinions are my own.

[Jacque · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am loving this anthology of essays about motherhood. It’s relatable and comforting to read others accounts of motherhood and their way of dealing with whatever situation they’re presenting. I found the Moms Don’t Have Time to be Sick section especially poignant. I also really enjoy the essay format. I’m not usually a person that can read more than one book at a time, but with this format I’m able to do so. This is perfect for taking along to errands or appointments as you can read an essay or two at a time and put it down and come back to it with no problem. Thank you so much to netgalley for an early copy of my own as I know there are passages I will want to read over and over again.

[Jennyfer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I downloaded this book expecting a light-hearted, somewhat satirical, tongue-in-cheek poke at Motherhood and the demands therein.

Instead, it was filled with essays from a circle of bloggers highlighting their "Mom's don't have time for..." sections. I was hoping to find a book that resonated with me, and the generalised experience of Motherhood, but sadly that was not the case with this book. Possibly it is due to my being outside the USA - cultural differences at play even now.

Three stars, because while it was well written, it wasn't for me.

~Many thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review~

[Saumya Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic, heartfelt, and moving collection. The insights and lessons are meaningful to both parents and non-parents. I appreciated being able to read perspectives by some of my favorite authors and getting another vantage point on their experiences. I often recommend having a "bedtime book", which I define as a book that makes you feel better about the world and is ideal to read before going to sleep. This is definitely a top "bedtime book"!

[Alissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect

Loved this book of short essays. Some of them were super relatable, others were deep and some were funny. I read this on my Kindle and liked that each one only took a few minutes to read. Some authors packed a LOT into three minutes. Amazing.

The only essay I didn’t care for was the lady who wrote American Dirt. She is so cringe. Other than that, great essay and author choices!

This is the perfect book for moms who don’t have time to read :).

[Melissa Levens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moms Don't Have Time to Have Kids, A Timeless Anthology
Edited by, Zibby Owens

Thank you @uplitreads @momsdonthavetimetoreadbooks and @zibbyowens for my #gifted copy!

Have you listened to Zibby Owens's award- winning literary podcast Moms Don't Have Time to Read Books yet? There are so many episodes on such a wonderful variety of books with so many authors! Not only have I listened to many, my voice is even in one when I commented during one of Zibby's virtual book club interviews. (Not sharing which one!)

Moms Don't Have Time to Have Kids is a fabulous collection of essays written by 49 authors from Zibby's podcast that are edited by Zibby. She has a few in here too! The main themes of these essays are inspired by a few of the things moms just don't have time to do- sleep, get sick, see friends, write, and lose weight- but they also include so much more- balance, insecurities, vulnerability, empathy, compassion, love, loss, and humanity.

A comforting collection written for mothers to make us feel whole again- to share, relate, and commiserate some of these feelings that we may not always talk about- maybe we should...

They each had their share of wit, humor, and insight that were timely and powerful. I highly recommend you read and savor these essays and I'm positive that you'll come back to them again and again.

A few of my favorite quotes:
~ "In every aspect of my life, I began to ask how it related to the main point, and anything that was unclear had to go."

~ "That secret is this: Abundance is tucked within scarcity."

~ "I want to build a different world. A world where women collectively decide to disbelieve the lie that we must lose weight in order to be worthy. A world where women make friends with their own bodies. A world where we exchange all that self- hate for love, liberating a storm of energy to pour into creative, professional, and social justice pursuits. That is the world I want to build with you."

[Rachel Rouleau · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wasn’t what I was expecting it to be. Some of the essays were great (including Zibby’s), but some just had absolutely nothing to do with motherhood. There were too many where I was just dumbfounded as to why it was included in the collection. Some of them were by women who didn’t seem to be mothers (or didn’t mention their children or motherhood at all), and some were written by men (?). And even the ones written by men weren’t all even about their own mothers. I guess maybe the idea was they were all supposed to be essays mothers could enjoy and relate to, but to me many were a stretch from the theme of the book.

There also wasn’t as much humor as I was looking for. Many of the stories were more…bleak? The funniest tidbit I’ll remember is ironically written by one of the male authors, about how his mother claimed she needed naps when he and his brothers were teens because she was “still tired from giving birth to them.” I wanted more of this fun silliness. Many of the authors just seemed extremely self-obsessed. It seems to be a mindset or culture of LA and NYC writer-types. They’re all successful writers, but I don’t think I’ve read a single book by any of these people (from glancing at the bios), so maybe these just aren’t my type of authors.

It kind of solidified that I don’t want to bother giving the podcast a try, or the other anthology. But 3 stars for the good ones. The sleep chapter was the best one; I really enjoyed all of those essays.

I also wanted to note that I didn’t understand these would be so heavily Covid-themed when I bought the book. That wasn’t really something I was looking for either.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝘔𝘰𝘮𝘴 𝘋𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘏𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦⁣
⁣
Moms don't have time to sleep.⁣
Moms don't have time to get sick.⁣
Moms don't have time to see friends.⁣
Moms don't have time to write.⁣
Moms don't have time to lose weight.⁣
⁣
Q: What would you add?⁣
⁣
In 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐬 𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐓𝐨 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐝𝐬, Zibby Owens shares essays from 49 authors she has interviewed on her podcast, including Camille Pagán, Kristy Woodson Harvey and Lily King. In these extremely relatable excerpts, moms (and dads, caregivers, adults, etc.) can break away from our responsibilities for a few minutes at a time, to laugh or cry, to be reminded that we aren't alone in our struggles and joys.⁣
When Covid-19 hit, the entire world shifted, whether or not we were ready for it. And while each one of our experiences during this pandemic is personal, this book serves as a reminder of its collective impact. ⁣
This anthology addresses topics ranging from mental health, chronic illness, body image, grief, navigating friendships, rejection and writer's block. ⁣
This book is a breath of fresh air! Perfect for anyone that has felt overwhelmed with balancing work and life. ⁣
Pairs well with coffee that's been reheated in the microwave more times than you can remember, and messy buns.⁣
Thank you Uplit Reads and author Zibby Owens for this gifted book in exchange for my honest review.⁣
⁣

[Sherri Puzey · Rating 5 out of 5]

171 // MOMS DON’T HAVE TIME TO HAVE KIDS is the newest anthology from Zibby Owens! A collection of essays from 49 different authors, this book is the epitome of what @zibbyowens does across all her platforms: she celebrates authors and their stories!

I love reading personal essays—it’s like getting a glimpse into the innermost thoughts of some of my favorite authors I admire from afar. I always think I’ll just read an essay here or there but inevitably sit down and read huge portions at a time because the essays are just that engaging! So many of the authors who contributed to this anthology also wrote books I’ve read this year! Authors like @camillepagan @kristywharvey @lilybooks @carolineleavitt @emilyliebert @espassarella @chandlerbakerbooks @melissagould_author @nicolaharrisonauthor @jeankwokauthor @sarah_mccoll @clairebidwellsmith @laura.tremaine @elyssafriedland @therealshannonlee and more!

Aside from these authors I already knew I loved, I got to know some other authors whose works I’m excited to pick up. I’m confident that an author you love has an essay in this collection! This is also the perfect gift for any reader in your life!


#momsdonthavetimetoreadbooks #bookstagram #anthology #momsdonthavetimetohavekids #authorlove #newrelease #amreading #bookstagrammer

[Emily | booksandbedtime · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun and relatable anthology for every mom/parent! Zibby Owens gathered essays from lots of well known writers with topics every parent can relate to - sleep, getting sick, seeing friends, writing(or working), and losing weight. I knew I was going to relate to this book, but what I didn’t expect was to get so emotional with so many of these short four page essays. Who knew the waterworks could come with so few pages. These writers are GOOD.

A lot of the essays also focus on motherhood through COVID-19. It’s a perfect little time capsule to relate to in this unique environment we’ve been parenting in for two years.

Thank you Uplit Reads and Zibby Owens for the book. I had fun reading it!

[Katelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ate up this anthology of short essays written mostly by women and organized by different aspects of their lives--read, work out, breathe, etc. I loved that I could read a few here and there, and get completely unique perspectives and voices on issues that I related to. I laughed, and sometimes cried. For the essays I liked best, I looked up the author's books, which introduced me to new favorite books. Highly recommended; this is a favorite that will live on my bookshelf. The contributers are all featured on Zibby Owens' podcast "Moms Don't Have Time to Read Books." I also loved Zibby Owens' memoir "Bookends."

[Becki Sims · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book wasn’t at all what I expected. It is a collection of letters/memoirs from people about important times in their lives and some about the trials of parenthood.

I thought that some of them were very amusing and I related to them, others were a little sadder to read and came across as a little more serious.

I enjoyed reading the book and would look out for other titles by this author.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

[Milinda Yount · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve only recently discovered personal essays and normally catch them one at a time and usually online. Moms Don’t Have Time to Have Kids is one of only a few anthologies I’ve read. I enjoyed these and appreciate the different perspectives. What I liked most is that these are written by authors, some that I know and enjoyed hearing about their backgrounds (like Jean Kwok) and some that I don’t know but noted and have added to my want to read list. Thanks to Net Galley and Skyhorse Publishing for a copy to read and review; all opinions are my own.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own.

I picked up this anthology because it was different from what I usually read, and because the title caught my attention. Very clever. I enjoyed most of the stories, but one in particular about the author's grandfather leaving her a gold coin got to me pretty hard. Maybe don't read that one in public at work!


"Moms Don't Have Time To: Another Author Anthology" will be published on 11/2/22.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The essays in this book are separated based on five topics mom's don't have time for: sleep, get sick, see friends, write, and lose weight. There were lots of different perspectives represented, and I enjoyed most of the essays. Just based on the time we're living through, I did find there to be a lot of mentions or focus on COVID-19 and also grief. There were some essays from men, and some that didn't specifically mention motherhood but were on topic. It was a nice compilation, and good to read of others in similar situations.

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for a prompt for a reading challenge (an anthology) and I chose it because I have listened to Zibby Owens podcast and followed her in social media.

This was an anthology of different authors writing about different aspects of motherhood. With a variety of authors came some essays I enjoyed and some that fell flat. I think my biggest complaint about the book though was personal in that it was published close enough to the pandemic that many essays mentioned Covid and I just am not interested yet in commentary on that time.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of essays about motherhood was fantastic. It was so relatable. The collection is broken up into five sections. I loved the sections “Moms Don’t Have Time to Sleep” and “Moms Don’t Have Time to Get Sick”. Some of the essays were humorous. It was great getting different perspectives on various topics. This is a great book and I highly recommend it.

*Thanks Netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.*

[Joy Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I usually dont read any non- fictions but really enjoyed reading this book. Different women came together to tell similar stories based on their life, how to sleep, go out, diet, work even cope with illness as a mom. Some stories were laughing out loud funny, some are tear jerkers, all of them resonated deeply with me.