This is the kind of book no one really wants to get as a present and it's one that people give when they have no idea what to give but feel they must give something. A totally useless, cutsie book with hardly a good idea in it. The kind of mom that can do most of these suggestions is the kind of mom that has mucho disposable income, doesn't have to work, and is as selfish as can be. For example, one idea is to take your baby to a 9pm movie. The "noise" of the movie will lull the kid to sleep and then you can enjoy pizza and frappucinos that you smuggled in. Yeah, right! I've been to the movies where someone thought it was a good idea to bring the baby (rather than pay for a babysitter) and ruined everyone else's night out. I suppose it is supposed to be humorous, not to be taken too seriously, but though some of the ideas are harmless, there is something very condescending about the book as a whole. It's so unnecessary. Do you really need a hardback book to tell you to "get to know each child individually"? In many ways this book is insulting to moms, and to receive this as a mother's day gift is especially so. I'm sure the person who gave it meant no harm, probably thought the ideas were charming. I need the space on the bookshelf. I hope someone else can "enjoy" it. ( )

I got this book at a thrift store. It was marked as a dollar but, I got it in a bag sale and was struggling to find books I wanted to toss in the bag. The cover is so pretty! Oh, it's a hardback too! Aww, a book for moms and family! How could I go wrong?

Well, I somehow managed. The drawings are simple and cute and many of the quotes are nice. Yet, it still fails for me. The author is witty at times but, it still didn't win me over. I think only one of these activities was for boys and that would be the one about taking your son on a test drive of a fancy car. Everything else is geared towards girls and involves getting your nails done, shopping, and tea parties. Plus, much, much more girly stuff that excludes any mother with a son.

And I'm not saying that boys can't have tea parties or go shoe shopping, I'm just saying that the author and artist make it clear that girls do this and boys do that and this book is really about what we do with girls. Things that both boys and girls can do were normally said as "your children". So, take your children on a bug hunt, would be an example.

This book originally runs for almost 13 bucks and not only is it a 10-minute read but, you can find better ideas on Pinterest. Many ideas are so overdone and common that they are nothing new. Yes, let your child play with your hair and pretend to be at a beauty parlor. Sorry, let me correct that-Let your daughter play with your hair... And of course, water balloon fights, chalk drawings, going to the library. Really? 13 bucks to suggest a trip to the library?

I thought about giving it 2 stars based on the quotes and the images. Then again, they aren't even the authors quotes so why give her credit for taking another's words?

But the pictures are sooooo cute! ( )