Confessions of a Slacker Mom

by Muffy Mead-Ferro

Parents who are fed up with the pressure to turn their children into star athletes, concert violinists, and merit scholars-all at once!-finally have an alternative: the world of Slacker Moms, where kids learn to do things for themselves and parents can cut themselves some slack; where it's perfectly all right to do less, have less, and spend less. Slacker moms say "No" to parenting philosophies that undermine parents'-and children's-ability to think for themselves. They say "Yes" to saving their money and time by opting out of the parenting competition. And they say "Hell, Yes!" to having a life of their own, knowing it makes them better parents.In this witty and insightful book, author Muffy Mead-Ferro reflects on her experience of growing up on a ranch in Wyoming, where parenting-by necessity-was more hands-off, people "made do" with what they had, and common sense and generational wisdom prevailed. We should all take her sane lead!

Genres: Nonfiction, Parenting, Memoir, Humor, Self Help, Adult, Chick Lit

First published December 31, 2003

Reviews

[Tara · Rating 1 out of 5]

The title was catchy for me - "preaching to the choir" I thought. :) And some of it was, but the further I read, the more confused I became. Wouldn't you think this book would be about NOT instilling more guilt into mothers? Most parenting books are just people ranting about their opinions who somehow managed to get it all published. This book is no different.

First of all, what is so wrong about taking tons of pictures of your kids and scrapbooking them? The author thinks this gives kids an overinflated ego and depreciates true greatness when it happens. I understand, as a slacker mom, that scrapbooking is a time-drainer and isn't necessary, but is it wrong?

Also, toward the end of the book, after she makes her spiel, she reveals that she's a working mom who spends much of her time traveling on airplanes. So a nanny takes care of her kids a lot. Now, in my opinion, you cannot claim the title "slacker mom" when you aren't even around! She's a slacker mom because she has no time left! Not only this, she glories in it. She says it's better for her kids to have a working mom because they see how hard working and successful she is. I do think that working moms can set a good example, but not when it's at their expense. And certainly, it's not better for them!

Sorry this is so long.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book (but I guess you figured that out from my stars). It was a breath of fresh air in this uber child-proof, safe world we live in. Her basic premise is that if we follow the current trend we do too much for our children (or shield them from all pain); we don't teach them to be independent or understand how natural consequences work. This went along very well with my belief in love and logic. It may be shocking to some because she lets her kids fall down and she lets them bonk their heads, but if there's serious danger she interferes. As a teacher I SO believe that parents do too much for their children, try to shield them from every hurt and disappointment. They are always in my classroom on on the telephone telling me how an A- will ruin their child's life. I particularly liked the part about too many toys and toys that do too much.

"Have you ever noticed, though, that when a toy does more, the kid playing with it usually does less? Wow, this violin plays music all by itself! Hey, this book reads the words for me! Gosh, this paper magically doesn't let you color outside the lines! I really wonder if this is good. It might be unthinkably bad. It might be turning our children into dimwits, dolts, and dullards. Not geniuses."

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably should rate this 3.5 stars. The first 3/4s of the book really resonated with me...she lost me a little in a couple later chapters.

I really liked her "has anyone seen my instinct" and "there goes Harvard" chapters. I also like to parent with common sense instead of focusing all my available energy and resources on creating the super genius child. I'd rather raise a well rounded child who has social skills so they are likable; as well as smart, talented, funny or whatever their "thing" turns out to be. I don't feel the need to have my children be the "very best" at every single thing life has to offer (ie the endless parade of extra-curricular activities). I just want them to enjoy doing what they choose to do. Blasphemy...I know!

[Sera · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh - what a terrible book. I recently joined a book group that reads books devoted to parenting issues. The leader of the group thought that this book would be a great place to start because it is short and it is supposed to be funny. Well, she at least got the short part right. Other than that, this book is nothing but a self-indulgent, inconsistent, disastrous mess.

First, the author is so proud over how she buys her kids nothing, takes them nowhere and devotes no time to their education. Hey, she says, kids have too many things, which makes them unappreciative. Hey, she says, I am not a shuttle service and kids don't need to be kept busy with scheduled activities. Hey, she says, I don't care where my kids go to school, or if they can read by 12, they'll figure it out. Leave the kids alone and let them find their way. Am I exaggerating here? No. Does the author have some valid points? Sure. My issue is that she takes a common sense notion and then presents an extreme position of how she would handle it.

For example, the author says that if you see your kid standing on the seat of her tricycle, let her go. If she falls on her head, so be it. That'll teach her and she'll learn not to do it again. However, don't let your kid run into traffic, because that would be crazy and irresponsible of you as a parent. Maybe it's me but I have difficulty distinguishing between these scenarios. I would feel compelled to protect my child in both situations, whereas the author is able to sit back in the first instance and act in the second. To me, either scenario can end up a child landing head first into the pavement, so I am struggling to see the difference between the two.

Another example is letting your kid show up for her school picture with a haircut that the kid gave herself over the weekend. The author advises to make sure that your child doesn't see you laughing at her and to not doing anything to fix it. Let her go and take her school photo, looking like a poodle. Yes, she said "looking like a poodle". That'll teach your kid to cut her hair. I'll note that there is no mention of how a 5 year had scissors sharp enough for cutting hair in the first place, but then again, using adult scissors near the eye, ear and head area is different from running in traffic. A kid needs to learn that the world is dangerous.

There are two more points that I want to mention to further dissuade anyone from reading this book. One is that get this - the slacker mom, who is all chill and not worried about much as it relates to her children, freaks out and hits her kids from time to time to keep them under control. In one scene, she describes yelling and swinging wildly at her kids in the backseat while she is driving. She also states how she would advocate spanking, but you know, "some parents can take these things too far." The author then further states that after awhile she just needed to threaten to hit her children, because they understand that there are consequences to their actions.

There is this whole "I need to be me and have a career" discussion that I will skip over as nothing but further self-rationalization of the author not being present for her children, which I could go on and on about, but I've said enough already and I want to mention one more thing about the book.

The last chapter is a diatribe against parenting books and websites, which is the biggest hypocrisy of all in which the author engages. Muffy, just because you give a book a title that has "Confessions" in it, doesn't make it less of a parenting advice book than the others that you despise so much. At this point, I had to pour myself a scotch to numb the pain that I felt when trying to finish this book last night.

All in all, I live in a judgment free parenting zone unless there is a safety issue. What works for me may not work for you and that's ok. There's no one sure path when it comes to parenting, because kids are unique and react differently to various parenting styles. Much of parenting is rooted in our own familial values that influence how we want to handle things with our children. Education is incredibly important to me, and it is something that I focus on very much with my child. For other parents, it might be art or music, or sports, or farming or fishing. As long as our children are healthy, happy and SAFE, there is no one size fits all solution, and we should support each other as parents and give each other the benefit of the doubt that we are trying to do what we think is best for our kids. After reading this book, however, I am having trouble putting Muffy in this category.

I would not recommend this book to anyone to read - SKIP IT.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy her books. I'll admit I liked Confessions of a Slacker Mom a bit better. I could relate better to it. Since I'm not working full time and trying to be a wife and mother I needed this book a little less. What I do like about her books, aside from the fact they make me laugh, is that she basically gives us permission to let some things go. So often as wives and mothers we feel like we've failed if we don't do everything. Our children should be in dance and soccer and music and school. Our houses should be spotless, we should be gorgeous, always. She says it's ok to not do everything. Everything isn't what's best for you or your family. It's ok if I don't mop my floors daily and if my children are only involved in one activity. I can have friends over without first cleaning every inch of my house (including the areas they'll never see) and without preparing some elaborate meal. Sometimes it's nice to have someone remind me that less doesn't mean I've failed. It's like they teach us in church we should be focusing our energies on the best things not wasting it on too many good things.

[lyndsay ortiz · Rating 1 out of 5]

What begins as a funny tribute to the let-your-kid-cry-it-out method of parenthood slowly evolves into the author's puffed-up version of patting herself on the back while the reader is a hostage eyewitness.
You get the feeling that you are way too neurotic about your child's safety and well-being and Muffy Whats-Her-Face is a cooler mom than you. Came away feeling bad about my child rearing techniques (caring, worrying, watching them sleep and making sure they are safe 24/7, ect, wanting to put them in a plastic bubble, ect...)
Wait, maybe I am too neurotic. Well, I don't need Muffy pointing that out, thank you very much.
We all love our kids differently, right? And each mom is as unique as her grimy fingerprints. So be it! Cheers to motherhood!

[GracieKat · Rating 1 out of 5]

The only reason this book got 2 stars is because I did agree with her on the facts that kids have to get dirty and hurt sometimes. And also the fact that loading too many activities on them can be detrimental. I'd rather have my kid be proud of doing very well at one sport/activity than being mediocre at a dozen because he can't focus all his energy into one.
I do not agree with much more of what she was saying. And the way she writes is plain annoying with her oh-so-superior voice. Apparently nobody raised off a farm could possibly understand the concept of hard work or struggling.
She obviously gets off on thinking she's superior to everyone, especially if they bring toys for their kids to play with for the weekend, but she has no problem mooching those same toys that she scorns off the other parents. Her theory is that children with a lot of toys get bored very easily and don't care about whether or not they break them. That is only true on the way they're raised. My son has plenty of toys but he knows that if they get broken because he's careless with them he is not getting new ones. And he also knows the phrase "I'm bored" will only get him into his room cleaning it. I've found that's a sure-fire way of avoiding boredom whining. I will agree with her about the fact that toys have become much more evolved than they were, sometimes in bad ways, sometimes good. I don't usually buy the toys that require no imagination. I want my son to develop that as much as any other attribute of his.
And can she seriously say that neither her or her husband will be cheering on their kids from the sidelines of their chosen sport? How can that be looked on as even remotely good? Why should it be a bad thing that they play to get praise from their parents? As long as the parents aren't forcefully demanding that their child play that particular sport (stage parents) then I see absolutely nothing wrong with letting your child know that they are there and supporting them and proud of them.
I also would like to know how she can even call herself a "slacker mom" when she uses a nanny for crying out loud. Fine if you work, there are many mothers that do, whether because they have to or because they like to. I've found that most of the parents that I know that have to work really wish they didn't have to so they can spend more time with their kids. Also her little slam on the nannies was pretty low. How does she kow that their life's dream is to take care of other people's kids? Maybe her kids will respect her for working hard. And then again maybe they'll resent the fact that they were raised by their nanny instead of their parent.
She's also pretty hypocritical. In one sentence she (totally out of context so I'm assuming she just threw it in there to show us all what a hard worker she is and what occupation she is) says that she loves her 60 hour a week job as an advertiser then in the very next sentence outlines the evils of advertising. If it disturbs her that much why doesn't she find a different job? And I don't see how a kid having their own room can be terrible for them. Everybody needs their privacy once in a while.
I would not recommend this book to anyone because most of the stuff that she does get right is mostly common sense stuff.

[Molly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I agree with the less-things more-imagination aspects of this book, but I think I would have repackaged the book. Mead-Ferro isn't a slacker--that chiding title really shouldn't be applied here. She paints herself as someone who is passionate about and good at her job, which is absolutely fine and lovely. In many ways, I envy that, as my career doesn't involve money really. I haven't seen an original book of poetry on the bestseller lists. Just Heaney's translation of Beowulf a while back.

I also don't think Mead-Ferro quite understands the point of scrapbooking. Or at least my interpretation of the activity, which I suppose I do, in some senses, with my motherhood blog. For me, keeping up with photos and reflections is much less about Maya and more about the process of becoming a mother and creating a space for memories. I have a faulty brain and most things leak out. Now, I see the world through an internet feed. This isn't really true--I keep a paper journal, I print photographs, I reflect on things with my husband, my recent manuscript is about this experience. And all of these things belong to me. Maya can have access to whatever, but it's not *for* her. It's not a celebration of the first bite because she accomplished something (though, hooray, she will do it and soon!) but because these are warm moments where everything is quiet and good and she doesn't have the ability to slam the door.

I know Mead-Ferro meant to be funny and clever and for us to zip through merrily, but the tone didn't quite pull over The Funny. I'd rather check out Dooce or Finslippy's versions of events. At least I could chuckle while rolling my eyes. I wanted to like this. Ah well.

My favorite moment was the descriptions of the holiday hauls--the amused observation of how we will buy books that read to our children, plastic instruments that play a song with a button-push, etc. Toys that play with themselves, in other words, no interaction required. And she confessed toys of this ilk often entered one door of the house and out the back. This isn't quite the solution I'd hope for (I feel for the earnestness of the gift-giver who wants the latest thing for a loved baby). So far so good though; my closest friends and family know my attitude towards this and I think we've got more balance--some plastic, some pink, but not such an overload as to sink the ship.

[Jennifer Johnson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mead-Ferro is certainly calling for a "quiet riot" in the image of "wifery". In her book she calls out the standards that we, as women, have set for ourselves, and boldly asks "WHY" everything needs to be perfect. She's quick to point out that it's not necessarily all men's fault that wives have become caught up and exhausted in the pursuit of perfection. The author wants women to be independant from the traditional role of "wife" and wants us to get out there and use our brains and pursue what makes us happy outside the lives of our husband, and in her case, her children.

As a "diet coke*" feminist, I agree with Mead-Ferro's ideals almost completely, and appreciate that she sees that women are to shoulder some of the blame for setting our own standards completely outside what is possible. However, I feel like the author draws too many of her examples of the "ideal wife" from her mother. While I'm sure the author's mother was a great person and sounds like an excellent example, I felt more and more that the author thought her mother was the only kind of woman one should be, and that just didn't sit well with me. This book walks a fine line between "helpful advice" and "preachy" and at times the author tends to stumble onto the pulpit a little hard. I like it when I feel like someone is being helpful, I do not like it when I feel like someone is telling me what I should do.

What's very misleading about the front few pages of this book is that the reviews all say that "it's hilarious". I felt like the author had a lot of good things to say, but I felt like there really wasn't anything "comedic" about the book... at all. You want hilarious? Read Laurie Notaro not Muffy Mead-Ferro. You want "good ideas" and a fresh feminist perspective, then this author might be more up your alley. I'm giving this book a 5/10 because it wasn't what I expected. While I felt the author had a lot of good things to say about "wifery" in general, I was looking for something a little more light and funny, and it's not what I got here.

*Diet-Coke Feminist = Women who believein the enhancement of women's rights but do not believe that men are the "devil" and are the ONLY reason that sexism exsists. (I'm not saying they aren't a reason, but I don't think they shoulder all the blame) It's "Feminism Lite".

[Tamra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read Confessions of a Slacker Wife, Muffy's second book, first, and LOVED it. So I expected to LOVE this book, too, but I didn't, and I'll tell you the main reasons why.

First, I'm a slacker and I have no qualms about that. I've known I'm a slacker my whole life and the fact that this attribute spills over into my family life is no surprise. Part of my slacker-ness is an overwhelming "I just don't really care" attitude coupled with a "Do whatever you want, that's great," attitude. Like a tolerant whatever-ness.

So Muffy's Slacker Mom book came across as overbearing. While Slacker Wife let me be however I wanted within the slacker category, Slacker Mom made me feel like I wasn't even being the right kind of slacker and so I can't make any grade. Clearly, I'm not super-Mom, but I can't even be a slacker-Mom because I dig scrapbooking. Suck.

True story about her anti-scrapbooking chapter. I just so happen to be related to Lisa Bearnson, founding editor of Creating Keepsakes magazine, which made scrapbooking HUGE. Part of the chapter talks about her CKU's that she holds. I happened to be with Lisa last week when I was reading Slacker Mom. I read the relevant parts out loud to her and we got a good laugh about it.

Overall, I liked the book. But Slacker Wife didn't make me feel so bad about being insufficient, and I'd recommend it any day over Slacker Mom.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it, it was funny and lighthearted (mostly), but Lenore Skenazy did it better with Free Range Kids. Hence three stars.
Her basic premise--we know a lot more about raising our own kids than "experts," and we've lost a lot of common sense as a civilization--resonated with me. Trusting ourselves and our children to be able to learn what we need to know, get where we want to go--I liked the support. Even her chapter on other caregivers (nannies, babysitters, etc.) makes sense. Not always but too often working mothers deride stay-at-home mothers as lazy, stay-at-homes deride working as selfish, part-timers don't know whose side to take and everyone ends up in a "I'm a bigger victim because nobody supports what I do!" How do you know a [insert mocked group] firing line? It stands in a circle.

I'm not going to do that. If she'll go nuts at home with her kids, then by all means leave them with someone who finds fulfillment for those hours and go write advertising copy. I have to get out too or the walls close in; I just have a different destination (my kids' various activities) and I'm not financially compensated for it.

[Christina, Join Me on Storygraph! · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I bought this book at my library's used book sale, the woman who checked me out gave me a knowing look and said, "You're not a slacker mom." Not sure what she meant, since she knew nothing about me, but I believe I replied, "Maybe that's the problem."

It's super easy for the moms among us to go overboard. Probably the dads too. We want the best for our kids, we want them to have the best, be the best, and on and on, but we lose sight of what's really best for them, and just as importantly, what's best for US. That's right, me right here, the one with the bags under her eyes and the Scunchii in her hair.

With wit and humor, Mead-Ferro describes the ways in which we go overboard, and compares it to the experiences of her mom and grandmom--specific yet easily applicable to all of us. Our moms did just fine without Mommy and Me Yoga, and they likely didn't have a Leap Pad for us either.

So, yeah, I'm embracing my inner (and dare I say true self) slacker mom. My kids will share a room, and they'll be better for it too!

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would rate this book 3-1/2 out of 5 stars. The title seems off to me; I would call a "slacker mom" one who is neglectful or gives in to her kids' unreasonable demands. Maybe it's because of the way I was raised, but I would call Mead-Ferro a tough and effective parent, not a slacker parent. (And I mean tough as a compliment). A lot of the book resonated with me; I wish I had read this book many years ago when my kids were younger. I could have used these good reminders, especially the one about multi-part and battery operated toys. The stories the author related from her own childhood were wonderful. (See my review for the author's memoir "Its Head Came Off By Accident.") One thing was confusing in this book: the author seems to mock certain parents. i.e. the scrap-booking crowd, then in the next breath, says "I'm really just jealous of them." Also, although I agree with many of her parenting philosophies, I would stop short of standing by and watching my children get injured, just so they could learn valuable lessons and make better choices the next time.

[Elision · Rating 3 out of 5]

This pragmatic/cute book of Mom-to-be/Mom essays by Muffy Mead-Ferro is a fast read. I sat in a bookstore for an afternoon, and woosh: finished.

There are a couple reminders I'll take away from the book:
(1) You will never please everyone with your parenting style--don't try; please yourself & do what seems right for your family. Think.For.Yourself.
(2) Marketing for kids stuff is MEANT to make you feel like a terrible parent--but you don't need all of that sh*t. ;) Making due with what you have is excellent for your sanity and for your kid(s)'s wellbeing and growth as creative and resourceful humans.

Oh, one more thing. Remember, remember: Kids love playing with/in/on boxes, and they love throwing stones into water. Remember your love of boxes? I still like throwing rocks into rivers... :)

[Terrah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the Goodreads synopsis says it best: "A slacker wife has the wisdom to accept the following: that a little dirt on her kitchen floor doesn't hurt anyone, that wrinkles on her husband's shirt and on her face are perfectly natural and not worth worrying about, that party guests can be just as happy with a bowl of chips as an elaborate salmon mousse, and that over-scheduled equals under-happy. Above all, a slacker wife lets herself have fun being a wife. She has girls' weekends, orders take-out, and takes leisurely walks. And as a result, she, her husband, and her family are happier and healthier-even with a dirty kitchen floor and a wrinkled shirt."

I thought it was a humorous reality check about how the quest to have perfect homes, bodies, and gourmet food can keep us from what we want most, and how the media can perpetuates the cycle.

[Raven · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first half of this book and found it a refreshing reminder to stay true to your own mothering instincts and not succumb to the world's lists of the million and one items your baby needs. I appreciated her call to let kids learn by making mistakes and to stop smothering them, to let them learn the art of making do, The second half didn't have the same appeal to me, but that's simply because I started disagreeing with some of her points. For instance, she said it's actually a great thing to put your kids in daycare and hire a nanny because then they'll get exposed to lots of different kinds of people. Sure, I want my kids to meet lots of people and appreciate them, but I don't think I would use that as a reason to hire help. If you need to, that is totally fine. I just wouldn't list that as a reason. Does that make sense? Well-written, very funny, and a short read.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved this book. It made me feel really good about myself. Especially the chapter about 'entertaining' where the author says to just serve potato chips IN THEIR BAG so that you can focus on the important things, like enjoying your company.

I swear to you when I read that I hollered out in joy and did a little dance. A few months ago someone at church told me that I had offended a lot of people and ruined Enrichment night by allowing/encouraging chips to be served in their natural form, i.e. in the bag. I should have served them in matching porcelain bowls.

Well, if I really actually did offend you or anyone you know, I apologize. Also, I would like to encourage you to get a life.

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think she has some good points, but I can't get past the condescension in her attitude that if you professionalize motherhood, somehow you are trying too hard. I get that it would be much easier to put chicken pot pies (frozen, not homemade) on the table every night, but I just don't really want to do that (although there are times that this particular dinner happens in my household). I like being a mother and wife, and I like that I'm trying my darndest to do both well. Her points are well taken that we shouldn't make ourselves crazy doing it, but I think the key isn't one extreme or another - more of a balance issue.

Plus, I thought it would be funnier.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not agree with all of the author's points. I think that she was extreme on some things. But I definately got her message. The world tries to convince us that we need to do certain things to be a good mother. I reallized after reading this book that listening to God as well as my own instincts are much more important than listening to media, latest trends & even "professionals." God seems to have trusted me with my children so it's ok for me to go with my "gut insticts" as well as direction from the lord.

[Joanne · Rating 1 out of 5]

While I agree with most of Mead-Ferro's take on motherhood -- simple principles like you don't have to hover, and you don't have to enroll your kid in every activity on the planet -- her tone completely put me off. I think she's angry, or defensive, or maybe both, because her whole "I am a slacker" diatribe is snarky and supercilious. I suppose "Confessions of a Supercilious Snarky Mom," while more accurate, would not be as good a title. I did enjoy her stories of growing up on a ranch and about her parents and grandparents. Otherwise it felt like I was being harrangued.

[Kelly Decoteau · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm currently reading chapter 5 and relating COMPLETELY. AMEN SISTA! ... all about how the wives have to buy all the gifts, write all the cards, send all the invitations, etc. Husbands have no idea how much time this takes! So fitting right between Christmas and my daughter's birthday party.

(done reading)
It was a fun, quick read. Not life changing. I shared many of the same opinions as the author. Nice to know that I'm not the only one!

[Moriya · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were a lot of things I agreed with - because I do them. ha! But she was a little condescending in her tone... and of course I didn't agree with her end message. Which was working Moms set a good example by being good at what they do. I think you can stay home and be an even bigger influence in your kids lives (just my humble opinion).

[Chantel thomas]

I don't feel so bad about my parenting skills after reading this book! The book really shows us how anal society has become about raising "perfect" kids. I like to let my kids climb on the counters. Something wrong with that??

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

So funny! Yet so true!

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author confirmed my feelings that things around the house and in my life don't have to be perfect. She also made me feel less alone in my feelings that 'wife things' are generally those things that never end and are seen as having little value in the overall picture of the world.

Page 13 says it all: "But it's not just the number of wifely chores I have - and the fact that I don't have my own wife to unload them on - that chafes me. It's also the "invisible" nature of my household tasks that makes them a little more onerous."

She's talking about the laundry and the vacuuming and the cleaning and the scheduling and the thank you notes and the birthday gifts bought and all the other things that to the rest of the family just happen and no one recognizes the time they take. And the fact they just keep on coming.


Page 92: "About 5 years ago I dropped the ball on our holiday greeting cards and didn't get them done, but do you think my husband stepped in and did them? No. People simply didn't hear from us that year, and I'm sure they didn't say "That lazy Mike" to themselves.

But she's learned to say no to some things in order to have more time for other things, or for doing nothing at all.

Page 103: "Just because I care about something doesn't mean I need to personally see to it that it is put to bed in a manner that I and only I can achieve."

Anyway...this one was sometimes funny and sometimes sad and in the end she's figured out that she doesn't have to do all those wifely things and that her life is pretty good even when things aren't perfect. And not to read those magazines and books that make being perfect look so easy.

[Lisanne Cozart · Rating 3 out of 5]

This little book provided me with exactly what I expected- a few stories about a mom raising kids. I thought I would find a bit more humor within the pages, but that is neither here nor there. While there may not have been any break through "ah-ha" moments, it might serve as a good reminder that kids need to grow up, as kids. Kids need the chance to fail, to fight, to learn ON THEIR OWN. Parents are meant to serve as guides, children asked to follow, but it is okay for them to stray from the path a bit, as long as they find their way back. Too often, parents are fighting the battles of their children, getting too involved in the he said/ she said- these kids suffer--- how will they ever learn to handle these situations on their own? This does not make for the slacker mom, as our society has now deemed, it makes for the mom that is raising a child that will know how to succeed on their own. I pray that I am that mom.

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm not sure what I was expecting from this book, but I didn't really feel like the book really went anywhere. I enjoyed reading bits about the author's life on a cattle ranch growing up, and about her own mother and grandparents. But, I felt like there really wasn't a whole lot in the book. It is a rather short book at 152 pages, but I was expecting to get at least a little more from the book. The only thing that I really took from the book was, be a slacker mom (don't hover over your kids) and let them experience life and learn from their mistakes and triumphs. Okay...I agree with you, but you could have told me that in a few sentences instead of 152 pages. I mean, really, what was the point of the book?

This review is also posted on the LibraryThing website.

[Marybeth Edgecomb · Rating 1 out of 5]

My first book punt of the year. I gave it about an hour and 40 pages, and I am D-O-N-E done. I thought it would be funny, but it’s not. It’s just preachy. I even AGREE WITH HER and I find her preachy. Hint: if you’re going to call your book “Confessions of a Slacker Mom” you’d better be telling some hilarious stories about your lazy mom days — like the time you left your potty training kid alone just to come back to the room and find him taste testing the product. Ya know ... just for a random, fictitious example. Not just be holier-than-thou and boring-as-heck. Making me think you’re going to be funny, then being so completely NOT FUNNY is an unpardonable sin.

[Sharon Falduto]

("Muffy"?)

A slim read, extolling the virtues of not buying into the notion that we need all the latest toys, activities, exclusive preschools, etc., that some people deem necessary. She's more of a slacker than even me, and one gets the impression that she sips her tea and lets her kids roll in the muck, occasionally throwing them a biscuit. She's one of those "I grew up with no supervision and I turned out just fine!" people, which makes sense, up to a point--but there's slackering, and then there's a complete lack of enjoyment.

And also, no real people are named Muffy.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t agree with everything she has to say about parenting, but I did take away some key points that will stick.
I love her simplicity and modeling approach, everything we do in front of our children is what they perceive as normal and okay. We must set the example!