Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son's First Year by anne lamott

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I lingered on this one for as long as I possibly could.

The similarities between our experiences as first-time mothers were truly remarkable. Our age, the fact that our babies' birthdays were just a few days apart, and losing our fathers before our babies were born all made this book deeply relatable.

Maybe it's a cliché to say, but I felt truly seen by this book in ways that I did not expect.

A few examples from the book really stood out to me.

"I'm mental and defeated and fat and loathsome and I am crazily, brain-wastedly tired. I couldn't sleep. This is maybe the loneliest I have ever felt. It's lonelier than Dad's last few months, when his brain was all gone. At least he used to sleep through the night." This passage captured the raw emotions and exhaustion that come with being a new mother.

"He'll stare at my mouth for a minute when he's lying in my arms, and then reach in with these tiny monkey fingers and go tooth by tooth, checking each one for problems. Next he's going to start picking cooties out of my hair. When Sam is doing my teeth, I sit there and bask in our monkey lives." The author's description of her baby's actions was so endearing and brought a smile to my face.

"There were periods earlier when I got stuck in the feelings of darkness that it felt like there were no safe places. I used to feel this a lot when I was a kid and a teenager. All those years I just wanted a family that was okay. And now I have one, a family that is okay, a family of me, a baby boy, and a cat and the people I love most, who love me and are helping me to raise Sam." This passage spoke to my own experiences of longing for a loving and stable family.

God, I love Anne Lamott. Her writing is so honest, relatable, and beautiful. It makes me feel less alone in my own journey as a mother.

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FaeN

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Regarding the sincere description of the hardships of the first year of motherhood; there is no pompous sincerity in the passages about the spiritual life - that spirit is not so great that it can be described in such words (although for each person it is his own core, that is understandable).

Also, I thought that, of course, the dominant experience is very important for people. The author is a recovering drug addict, so all her vivid experiences are invariably compared with one or another relapse. So to speak, humanly speaking, this is understandable, these are rather vivid images, and a very characteristic picture immediately comes to mind. But I very much dislike it when infants are described in the same vein: "He was crawling in the garden and looking around so ecstatically, as if he were on drugs" - and so on. For me, this is immediately some kind of monstrosity. Well, hold yourself in check, this is a baby, he is pure and innocent, you are the ones on drugs.

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SophieAyase

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

This is truly a perfect book for this very moment. As I sit here, my precious sleeping baby is peacefully resting in my lap. The soft weight of the little one adds a sense of warmth and tranquility to the situation. I find myself completely immersed in the words of this book, losing track of time.

Each page turn brings new adventures and insights, captivating my attention and imagination. The author's writing style is engaging and vivid, making it easy for me to picture the scenes and characters in my mind.

It's as if the book and my sleeping baby are creating a harmonious bubble around me, shielding me from the outside world. I am in a state of pure relaxation and enjoyment, savoring every moment.

This book has become a wonderful companion during this special time with my baby, and I look forward to continuing to explore its pages.

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aothesquirrel

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I'm not the kind of person who reads a lot of parenting books, but this one was truly worth it.

This memoir is extremely real. The author doesn't shy away from sharing the really difficult parts and the nasty or dark thoughts that can surface, yet she still remains completely in awe and excited about her baby.

My favorite quote from the book is: "All these people keep waxing sentimental about how fabulously well I am doing as a mother, how competent I am, but I feel inside like when you're first learning to put nail polish on your right hand with your left. You can do it, but it doesn't look all that great around the cuticles."

This quote really struck a chord with me as it perfectly captures the often-hidden insecurities and struggles that many new mothers face, even when they are outwardly praised for their parenting skills. It shows that being a good mother isn't always about looking perfect or having everything figured out. Sometimes, it's about doing the best you can and learning as you go, even if the results aren't always flawless.

The author's honesty and vulnerability in sharing her experiences make this memoir a must-read for any new or expecting mother. It provides a refreshing and relatable perspective on the joys and challenges of motherhood.

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AmadeusCho2021

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Take the incredibly chaotic and out-of-your-mind period of welcoming a newborn into the world. This is a time filled with joy, anticipation, and a whole lot of sleepless nights. Now, imagine tossing this already intense situation into the cauldron of a recovering alcoholic, a bitter leftie, a deeply Catholic, single mom who also happens to be a writer. It's a concoction of emotions, beliefs, and experiences that is bound to create a story like no other.

Fast forward thirty years, and we have the opportunity to read about this unique journey. As we do, we can't help but think, "Okay, people did hate Jose Canseco back then, too." It's a strange and somewhat unexpected connection, but it just goes to show how life can be full of surprises and how our memories and perspectives can change over time.

Perhaps this story will offer insights into the human condition, into the struggles and triumphs of a woman navigating the challenges of motherhood, sobriety, and her own beliefs. It may make us laugh, cry, or simply reflect on our own lives and the choices we've made.

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Ryuzaki_34

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I relished every page!

This was my introduction to Anne Lamott and I was truly captivated. Her self-deprecating humor was like a charming and endearing companion throughout the reading.

She has an extraordinary talent for word painting, creating mental images that are so vivid and detailed. It was impossible for me not to picture all her scenes with remarkable clarity.

Moreover, her writing provides deep insights into the complex and often tiring yet incredibly rewarding experience of being a parent. It made me reflect on the joys and challenges that come with raising children.

Overall, reading this work by Anne Lamott was a truly enriching and enjoyable experience that I will cherish.

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SenorUndead

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Once again, I found myself completely enamored with this book. It had me laughing out loud on numerous occasions.

Now, being a grandmother who resides far away from my granddaughter and her parents, I could truly appreciate the delight described in the book rather than focusing on the sleeplessness.

Lamott's ability to notice the tiniest details is truly remarkable. Open any random page, and you're bound to discover a precious gem. For example, "Sam's forgotten how to suck on his hands. Now he just sort of licks them as they spastically pass by."

Another hilarious passage is, "His new thing is that he likes to stick his fingers in your mouth and examine your teeth. He does it every time we nurse. Maybe he wants to be a periodontist when he grows up. It's a little disconcerting. He'll stare at my mouth for a minute when he's lying in my arms and then reach in with these tiny monkey fingers and go tooth by tooth, checking for problems."

Oh, these descriptions brought back so many memories. It's like looking at old photographs and listening to tapes of everything that happened when Josh and Jody were little.

Now, I'm sending this book off to my son and daughter-in-law who are about to have their first baby. I'm sure she'll need some company when the Bean, as they affectionately call him now, arrives.

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leo22334455

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I want to give this book five stars because I loved it that much.

However, I also understand that this book may not be suitable for everyone. It is specifically about Anne Lamott's experience during her son's first year, and yet, it is so precisely what everyone's experience of their baby's first year is like. You might wonder how you never noticed Anne Lamott in the room with you, observing your and your baby's every move when you had your own child.

The juxtaposition of this new life blooming and flourishing in front of her with the devastating cancer diagnosis, treatment, and impending death of her best friend is both heartbreaking and poetic, and it is profoundly human. It reminds me of the story my mom told me about a hospital where they hung a bell in the ICU that rang every time a baby was born in the maternity ward. Hope and cheer were replenished for everyone - the patients, their families, the doctors, the nurses, and everyone else, even if just a little.

Also, and this must be said, when read in the Trump era, Lamott's anti-Republican vitriol directed at the Bush/Cheney administration seems positively quaint. It shows how perspectives and political climates can change over time.

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Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son's First Year

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