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There Are Moms Way Worse Than You: Irrefutable Proof That You Are Indeed a Fantastic Parent
A hilarious and reassuring gift for every because we’re all doing the best we can, and the natural world is filled with moms worse than you!A mom giraffe is pretty nice until the fetus drops.She’ll birth a newborn baby calf, then kick him ’til he walks. Whenever you feel guilty that you haven’t cleaned the beetles raise their kids in a decomposing mouse. A koala mom will feed her kids her own poop. Yes, poop. Panda moms will abandon one twin because raising two is, well, just too much. And every now and then a cuddly little hamster mom will —yup— eat her newborn pups. These and other true facts from the animal kingdom offer a hilarious reality check on what constitutes “good parenting.” So, human mother, time to stop worrying about the job you're doing —because you’re a great mom.
64 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2022
52 people are currently reading
1594 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 410 reviews
May 13, 2025
Once, as a young edgelord, I made my mother a Mother’s Day card with the term Mommie Dearest on the front, dripping with blood. Inside, I thanked her for NOT being any one of a slew of terrible mothers—both fictional and real—including the likes of Casey Anthony and Carrie White’s mom.
Not so tasteful, I know, and not a particularly wise way to honor such a sensitive person as my mother who didn’t share my morbid sense of humor, but it’s the only card I know she’s held onto all these years later.
In part, a practical joke from a rapscallion who detested pre-written sentimental greeting cards, but it contained more than a little earnestness. I think my mother appreciated hearing that whatever her shortcomings, there were far worse mothers.
I relay that story to you in vindicated spirit. This book has the same message my fucked up card did. It uses common traits of mothers in the animal kingdom who abandon, kill, and even eat their young to drive the point home that as a parent, you’re doing your best, and doing just fine.
Parenthood is draining, exhausting, often underappreciated work, but as Ron Swanson said, “You choose a thankless job. You can’t be upset when nobody thanks you. Don’t start chasing applause and acclaim. That way lies madness.”
So here’s to mothers holding it together. Mistakes are normal. Hopefully wisdom is gained from them. You can’t be perfect, patient, and selfless all the time. Keep doing what you have to do. I thank you.
Not so tasteful, I know, and not a particularly wise way to honor such a sensitive person as my mother who didn’t share my morbid sense of humor, but it’s the only card I know she’s held onto all these years later.
In part, a practical joke from a rapscallion who detested pre-written sentimental greeting cards, but it contained more than a little earnestness. I think my mother appreciated hearing that whatever her shortcomings, there were far worse mothers.
I relay that story to you in vindicated spirit. This book has the same message my fucked up card did. It uses common traits of mothers in the animal kingdom who abandon, kill, and even eat their young to drive the point home that as a parent, you’re doing your best, and doing just fine.
Parenthood is draining, exhausting, often underappreciated work, but as Ron Swanson said, “You choose a thankless job. You can’t be upset when nobody thanks you. Don’t start chasing applause and acclaim. That way lies madness.”
So here’s to mothers holding it together. Mistakes are normal. Hopefully wisdom is gained from them. You can’t be perfect, patient, and selfless all the time. Keep doing what you have to do. I thank you.
April 14, 2022
Just a quick read. Sometimes you need a reminder as a parent you’re doing ok well this is definitely a unique one. The cover just cracks me up so I guess at least I can say I didn’t kick my kid till it walked like giraffes do
April 7, 2023
I'd make a really baaaad mum (mom).
Well, for a start, I'm a bloke. Even so, I'd still be a better than a quokka mum. If threatened by a dingo, she'll drop her kid out of her pouch and run off, leaving the dingo a tasty morsel. Or a giraffe mum who kicks the shit out of her baby if it doesn't learn to walk fast enough.
This would be a good book to put in an obstetrician's waiting room...or read to your kiddo at night when you're feeling unappreciated.
Well, for a start, I'm a bloke. Even so, I'd still be a better than a quokka mum. If threatened by a dingo, she'll drop her kid out of her pouch and run off, leaving the dingo a tasty morsel. Or a giraffe mum who kicks the shit out of her baby if it doesn't learn to walk fast enough.
This would be a good book to put in an obstetrician's waiting room...or read to your kiddo at night when you're feeling unappreciated.
December 9, 2022
This is an adult picture book based on bizarre wildlife facts to make you feel better about letting your kids eat toast for dinner. Because you haven't killed your kid yet, so you must still be doing alright. It’s cheeky and amusing and works because it’s true.
August 26, 2023
Where the heck was this book when my kids were little, and no matter what I did in raising them, someone was always around telling me I was going it wrong? Great gift for any expecting mother (and father!)
July 5, 2025
So. Very. Funny.
And true !
And reassuring 😉
And true !
And reassuring 😉
May 13, 2025
Disgusting.
If you're a bad mom, work on yourself. Don't read books that misrepresent everything in it to absolve you of your guilt.
If you're a bad mom, work on yourself. Don't read books that misrepresent everything in it to absolve you of your guilt.
May 7, 2024
Vi uma postagem no Facebook sobre There are dads way worse than you da mesma autora e achei esse aqui sobre mães.
Acho um presente bonitinho para dar às nossas amigas recém mamães, a maternidade ativa muitas neuroses e esse livro é um pequeno alento sobre isso.
Acho um presente bonitinho para dar às nossas amigas recém mamães, a maternidade ativa muitas neuroses e esse livro é um pequeno alento sobre isso.
March 7, 2024
Ok, you can’t really count this as a book, but it’s funny and silly and I liked it. Man oh man, the animal kingdom is WEIRD. I’m not sure how any species survives when they eat their babies all the time! Sheesh!
December 25, 2022
A phenomenal read, lovey illustrations. Not officially parents yet, just reading it to my wife waiting on the little tyke to come out
March 22, 2023
This book is absolute perfection! I will be purchasing it for every first-time mother in my life until the day I die. (It does have curse words in it though so it might not be for everyone.) Just utter perfection.
April 2, 2022
Much needed reassurance that I did the best I could at the time.
April 26, 2022
This book is hilarious.
Want to read
March 25, 2025i need to get this for my mom
also why do i feel like rory gilmore would get this for her mom as a joke
also why do i feel like rory gilmore would get this for her mom as a joke
January 9, 2023
***Actual Star Rating: 1.5 Stars***
This is a book in which the combination of cover art and title will make you stop to think about whether you want to purchase it. Instead of being what it implies, though, it is basically a self-help type of pat on the back for moms of all stages on the parenting path.
There Are Moms Way Worse Than You is a parenting cheer in the form of a poem for parents of either gender although the emphasis is put on mothers that even if you aren't perfect but just an okay parent than you are doing so much better than a handful of other animal parents mentioned. The book then goes on to explain how these parents failed while on each page the name of the animal and their discretion are put in bold so even if you are skimming you will know what they did wrong.
The illustrations are all like the cover artwork although in some cases the animals are presented in anthropomorphic set-ups than otherwise would be found such as the pipefish in the apron at the grill or the hamster mom standing above a bassinet with silverware in her hand. They aren't great but they aren't bad so they rather work for a book cheering on mediocrity.
My main problem, though, with this book and I know that it is to make parents feel good when their world feels like it is crumbling is that we cannot judge most animal parents' behavior upon how it seems to us humans. And furthermore they haven't provided irrefutable proof these are bad parents in the most cases. Take for example the giraffe mother on the cover. First of all it is really dangerous for her to lay down to deliver her calf for her legs are too long so it makes it not only awkward for her to get down but also quite vulnerable in a world full of predators - the same which would be happy to eat a baby giraffe who cannot stand and keep up with the adults after being drawn to a sight where the mother has brought the baby into a world.
And true it may seem savage for bald eagles to allow their young to fight to the death but when you don't have CPS, food stamps, an available grocery store and other resources when times get tough is it really better to lose just the one weaker chick or to lose two chicks in the attempt to keep both of them alive?
So if you don't mind the human snobbery of we are better than the rules of Mother Nature this will surely be a nice bookly reminder that parenthood is hard but average parents who give in to the temptations of parenthood hacks are just as good as the nonexistent "perfect" parents out there.
This is a book in which the combination of cover art and title will make you stop to think about whether you want to purchase it. Instead of being what it implies, though, it is basically a self-help type of pat on the back for moms of all stages on the parenting path.
There Are Moms Way Worse Than You is a parenting cheer in the form of a poem for parents of either gender although the emphasis is put on mothers that even if you aren't perfect but just an okay parent than you are doing so much better than a handful of other animal parents mentioned. The book then goes on to explain how these parents failed while on each page the name of the animal and their discretion are put in bold so even if you are skimming you will know what they did wrong.
The illustrations are all like the cover artwork although in some cases the animals are presented in anthropomorphic set-ups than otherwise would be found such as the pipefish in the apron at the grill or the hamster mom standing above a bassinet with silverware in her hand. They aren't great but they aren't bad so they rather work for a book cheering on mediocrity.
My main problem, though, with this book and I know that it is to make parents feel good when their world feels like it is crumbling is that we cannot judge most animal parents' behavior upon how it seems to us humans. And furthermore they haven't provided irrefutable proof these are bad parents in the most cases. Take for example the giraffe mother on the cover. First of all it is really dangerous for her to lay down to deliver her calf for her legs are too long so it makes it not only awkward for her to get down but also quite vulnerable in a world full of predators - the same which would be happy to eat a baby giraffe who cannot stand and keep up with the adults after being drawn to a sight where the mother has brought the baby into a world.
And true it may seem savage for bald eagles to allow their young to fight to the death but when you don't have CPS, food stamps, an available grocery store and other resources when times get tough is it really better to lose just the one weaker chick or to lose two chicks in the attempt to keep both of them alive?
So if you don't mind the human snobbery of we are better than the rules of Mother Nature this will surely be a nice bookly reminder that parenthood is hard but average parents who give in to the temptations of parenthood hacks are just as good as the nonexistent "perfect" parents out there.
April 14, 2023
A picture book for adults. And in the Dewey Decimal system, it’s a science book, specifically animal habits and behaviors. I’m not sure what I expected 🤷♀️😁 It’s small, like 8x6 and very much like a picture book, just NOT for children.
A humorous pick-me-up when you feel like you’re failing at the parenthood game. Written in rhyme. ‘Fun’ illustrations.
There’s an appendix where the animal behaviors used in the the text are explained a bit more fully.
Content: a little mild profanity; an illustration of a harp seal giving its pup the finger; other actual abhorrent animal behavior.
A humorous pick-me-up when you feel like you’re failing at the parenthood game. Written in rhyme. ‘Fun’ illustrations.
There’s an appendix where the animal behaviors used in the the text are explained a bit more fully.
Content: a little mild profanity; an illustration of a harp seal giving its pup the finger; other actual abhorrent animal behavior.
November 1, 2024
This was just...not good. It wasn't funny. I think the target audience is very much not me. It seems aimed at bougie upper class white moms--it specifically mentions your concerns about your kid eating organic and various other things I've never once worried about. All the 'bad mom' animals just made me curious about the adaptive/evolutionary reasons those animals were like that. The art was also meh, nothing special.
Lots of better books out there (or honestly, just go talk to a friend) that can help you remember that you're not a bad mom when your mom guilt is acting up.
Lots of better books out there (or honestly, just go talk to a friend) that can help you remember that you're not a bad mom when your mom guilt is acting up.
April 6, 2022
the cover made me laugh out loud so i had to try it out. very cute and light-hearted read (while learning some interesting facts!) would be a good baby shower gift :P
July 31, 2022
A must read for any Mom doubting herself after a rough day with her kids.
February 27, 2023
Would be a great baby shower gift.
September 24, 2023
So dang funny!! I feel better already! 🤣
June 27, 2024
I laughed throughout this little book. It's fun to read about animal parents who don't treat their offspring well. A quick, fun read.
November 18, 2025
There Are Moms Way Worse Than You von Glenn Boozan ist für mich wie eine liebe Freundin, die sich zu mir aufs Sofa setzt, mich einmal fest drückt und sagt: „Atme durch – du machst das alles gar nicht so schlecht.“ Mit viel Humor, pointierten Reimen und großartigen Illustrationen wird hier das Mantra gefeiert: Perfekt gibt es nicht, gut genug ist völlig ausreichend – und meistens bist du sogar besser, als du glaubst.
Das Buch funktioniert wie ein kleiner Gedichtband: Auf jeder Seite werden wahre, teils ziemlich krasse Fakten aus dem Tierreich präsentiert – von Panda-Müttern, die ein Baby zugunsten des stärkeren Zwillings aufgeben, über Koala-Mamas, die ihren Babys den eigenen Kot füttern, bis zu Hamster-Müttern, die ihren Nachwuchs im Extremfall sogar auffressen. Dieser drastische Kontrast zu unseren menschlichen Ansprüchen ist enorm befreiend: Plötzlich wirkt es gar nicht mehr so dramatisch, wenn man mal schimpft, das Abendessen aus der Tiefkühltruhe kommt oder der Wäscheberg schon wieder explodiert.
Die Illustrationen von Priscilla Witte tragen ganz wesentlich dazu bei, dass das Buch so leichtfüßig und tröstlich daherkommt. Die Tiermamas sind charmant, witzig und oft zum Schmunzeln gezeichnet – nie eklig, obwohl die Fakten es manchmal durchaus sein könnten. Dadurch entsteht eine perfekte Mischung aus „Ich-lach-mich-kaputt“ und „Oh wow, mir fällt echt ein Stein vom Herzen.“
Am stärksten liebe ich die Botschaft, die sich wie ein roter Faden durch das ganze Buch zieht: Du darfst Fehler machen. Du darfst müde, gereizt, überfordert sein. Du musst nicht immer alles im Griff haben, um eine gute Mutter zu sein. Gerade in einer Zeit, in der Social Media ein unerreichbares Bild von „perfekter Mutterschaft“ zeichnet, ist dieses Buch ein wohltuendes Gegengewicht – ehrlich, befreiend und herrlich respektlos gegenüber dem Perfektionismus.
Auch formal ist es ein Volltreffer: Das Buch ist kurz, knackig und dadurch perfekt für Mamas mit wenig Zeit. Man kann es in einem Rutsch lesen oder immer mal wieder eine Seite aufschlagen, wenn das schlechte Gewissen anklopft. Als Geschenk zur Baby-Party, zum Muttertag oder einfach zwischendurch ist es ideal. Ein kleines, humorvolles „Es ist okay, so wie du bist“ in Buchform.
Für mich ist There Are Moms Way Worse Than You ein absolutes Highlight, weil es genau das schafft, was vielen Elternratgebern fehlt: Es nimmt den Druck raus, ohne zu belehren und lässt einen am Ende mit einem Lächeln zurück und dem Gefühl: Ich bin vielleicht nicht perfekt, aber ich bin eine ziemlich gute Mama.
Das Buch funktioniert wie ein kleiner Gedichtband: Auf jeder Seite werden wahre, teils ziemlich krasse Fakten aus dem Tierreich präsentiert – von Panda-Müttern, die ein Baby zugunsten des stärkeren Zwillings aufgeben, über Koala-Mamas, die ihren Babys den eigenen Kot füttern, bis zu Hamster-Müttern, die ihren Nachwuchs im Extremfall sogar auffressen. Dieser drastische Kontrast zu unseren menschlichen Ansprüchen ist enorm befreiend: Plötzlich wirkt es gar nicht mehr so dramatisch, wenn man mal schimpft, das Abendessen aus der Tiefkühltruhe kommt oder der Wäscheberg schon wieder explodiert.
Die Illustrationen von Priscilla Witte tragen ganz wesentlich dazu bei, dass das Buch so leichtfüßig und tröstlich daherkommt. Die Tiermamas sind charmant, witzig und oft zum Schmunzeln gezeichnet – nie eklig, obwohl die Fakten es manchmal durchaus sein könnten. Dadurch entsteht eine perfekte Mischung aus „Ich-lach-mich-kaputt“ und „Oh wow, mir fällt echt ein Stein vom Herzen.“
Am stärksten liebe ich die Botschaft, die sich wie ein roter Faden durch das ganze Buch zieht: Du darfst Fehler machen. Du darfst müde, gereizt, überfordert sein. Du musst nicht immer alles im Griff haben, um eine gute Mutter zu sein. Gerade in einer Zeit, in der Social Media ein unerreichbares Bild von „perfekter Mutterschaft“ zeichnet, ist dieses Buch ein wohltuendes Gegengewicht – ehrlich, befreiend und herrlich respektlos gegenüber dem Perfektionismus.
Auch formal ist es ein Volltreffer: Das Buch ist kurz, knackig und dadurch perfekt für Mamas mit wenig Zeit. Man kann es in einem Rutsch lesen oder immer mal wieder eine Seite aufschlagen, wenn das schlechte Gewissen anklopft. Als Geschenk zur Baby-Party, zum Muttertag oder einfach zwischendurch ist es ideal. Ein kleines, humorvolles „Es ist okay, so wie du bist“ in Buchform.
Für mich ist There Are Moms Way Worse Than You ein absolutes Highlight, weil es genau das schafft, was vielen Elternratgebern fehlt: Es nimmt den Druck raus, ohne zu belehren und lässt einen am Ende mit einem Lächeln zurück und dem Gefühl: Ich bin vielleicht nicht perfekt, aber ich bin eine ziemlich gute Mama.
August 10, 2025
Libro simpaticissimo e dalle bellissime illustrazioni. Sicuramente un modo simpatico per far sentire meglio le neomamme nel post parto. quando sei sopraffatta da mille cose nuove e non sai dove sbattere la testa.
Read
December 26, 2025Just want to note that my neighbor lent this to my children to read 🤣
December 4, 2022
Original notes, 8/2/22:
I can't stop laughing at that cover, so I think I need to read this.
Review, 12/4/22: I bought this for my sister for Christmas, and is it really a gift if you don't read it first yourself? My grandmother bought me all the Harry Potter books over my teenage years, and read each of them before she gave them to me. That's true love. (At least, of books.)
Anyway, I hope R likes it. The book is short, and rhyming, and includes all sorts of animals that are kinda shitty parents, like the eagles that make their eaglets fight to the death or the pandas that get overwhelmed by having two kids so they abandon one of them. And it's got a few pages in the back about the actual animals if you need more information about just how terrible they are as parents. (Koalas feed their kids their own poop! ... Because baby koalas can't digest eucalyptus leaves until they're older, but still. The author points out - maybe feeding your kid fast food ain't so bad?)
I can't stop laughing at that cover, so I think I need to read this.
Review, 12/4/22: I bought this for my sister for Christmas, and is it really a gift if you don't read it first yourself? My grandmother bought me all the Harry Potter books over my teenage years, and read each of them before she gave them to me. That's true love. (At least, of books.)
Anyway, I hope R likes it. The book is short, and rhyming, and includes all sorts of animals that are kinda shitty parents, like the eagles that make their eaglets fight to the death or the pandas that get overwhelmed by having two kids so they abandon one of them. And it's got a few pages in the back about the actual animals if you need more information about just how terrible they are as parents. (Koalas feed their kids their own poop! ... Because baby koalas can't digest eucalyptus leaves until they're older, but still. The author points out - maybe feeding your kid fast food ain't so bad?)
February 10, 2024
AHAHAHA. A book for adults along the lines of “Go the F*ck to Sleep,” this was a funny little jaunt to cheery up the mom or dad questioning their parenting abilities (there’s a bit on dads in this book also). As proof, the author draws on facts from the animal kingdom of parents that do seemingly unconscionable things (alas, it is Darwin’s way of the world). For biology/animal nerds this book was a gem of hilarious and random animal parenting facts in the cheeky rhyming prose of a children’s book. The end also includes more details on the animals mentioned in the book. Recommend for a quick laugh, which parents could always use.
May 31, 2022
I mean. It's supposed to be irreverent. It's not a children's book. But it's a funny satirical that isn't executed well--so it's kinda' frustrating to walk into it expecting 'Go the F*ck to Sleep' greatness, and getting...whatever that was.
It's poetic lean is off, the sampling is strange and it's just not the best for the witty tally. I recommend others over this badboy. Good idea, fun but not dynamic illustrations, it's a meh one for me guys!
As always, your experience may differ!~
Happy readin'.
It's poetic lean is off, the sampling is strange and it's just not the best for the witty tally. I recommend others over this badboy. Good idea, fun but not dynamic illustrations, it's a meh one for me guys!
As always, your experience may differ!~
Happy readin'.
October 19, 2022
While I may not be a parent, I can definitely appreciate and support the message of this book.
If you feel guilty about your parenting styles, never fear: Check out the animal kingdom and how they treat their kids....
From abandonment, to cannibalism, to sacrificing them to predators, trust me, you could do way worse things.
So if you're looking for a fun laugh, an honestly genuine supportive resource, or a great Mother's Day gift for a special someone, this is for them!
If you feel guilty about your parenting styles, never fear: Check out the animal kingdom and how they treat their kids....
From abandonment, to cannibalism, to sacrificing them to predators, trust me, you could do way worse things.
So if you're looking for a fun laugh, an honestly genuine supportive resource, or a great Mother's Day gift for a special someone, this is for them!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 410 reviews