I was fully prepared to despise this book. It did, however, have its redeeming qualities. Many of the chapters are cleverly written. As I read, I found that Mellor's advice is based on research and advice from medical and child development experts. So, I give her props for getting some good messages out to people who might not normally read as much about parenting as the paranoid, overeducated mother I have become. Mellor basically gives a few excellent pointers on childrearing, but she couches them in the rhetoric of selfish, yuppie soccer moms. While I loathed her perspective, I appreciate her messages.

This book should be required reading for all new parents. It sheds a sardonic light on todays parenting method of making the child the king of the household, by reminding us that it wasn't so long ago that children were born merely for labor on the farm. It's light-hearted, 1950s Good Housekeeping approach is fun, and the writing is breezy, all while tackling topics such as: Child Labor, Our Untapped Resource, Children's Music, Why?

Funny, tongue-in-cheek style with some valid points about not over-thinking the parenting and remembering to be an adult in an adult world. Maybe tries too hard to be funny.

I am not sure what the author was intending with her overall tone. There were a few moments of humorous sarcasm, but ultimately I got the impression that she was actually just a very judgemental person with some super specific ideas about how everyone should be raising their children. The actual advice presented here was filled with the fairly obvious, including takeaways like "it's ok to say no to your kids", "kids should be polite in public", "kids don't need a lot of TV or material stuff to be happy", etc etc. My husband picked this up for me I think because it appeared to be tongue-in-cheek, lighthearted fun, but it came off as the opposite for me and was a bit of a chore to read since it was so snarky.

Definitely cheeky. I will say though that sometimes I found it a little unclear when she (the author) was being cheeky and when she was being serious, lol. Especially in the beginning. At times, I was left going "uhhhh..." until it became clearer. I eventually learned to just take basically the entire book as cheekiness, with understanding that really only the main theme/topic of each chapter was serious (if you read the book, I think you'll know what I mean). Definitely poked fun at permissive parenting and helicoptering, which I didn't mind because those aren't my preferred styles.

I also had to go and look at when this book was written (2004) because some of the language chosen (see chapter 11, for example) honestly made my mouth hang open for a second, lol.

Not really a parenting book to learn from in my opinion, but definitely an opinionated light read you can chuckle at. Even though I didn't agree with all of her opinions, it was still amusing. And it was nice to have a book focused on mom prioritizing a social life!

This book was well written and interesting but just didn't follow my parenting style. I agree that children should not consume life. But I would rather have toys strewn all over the house than fight with my kids to clean up after every toy is brought out. It discourages long-term projects like puzzles and building a city out of blocks. And, well, just takes the fun out of play.

Whether you have children, are thinking of having children or have ever been around children, you should read this book. A ton of really practical advise is presented in a dry, humorous way by a mother who actually gets that ours is an adult world that kids must adapt themselves to (in other words, grow up).

Hilarious!!!

I learned how to not let my kids become the center of the universe! (when I have them, of course) Mase & I read this on the plane to Jamaica and laughed out loud in several spots. Particularly enjoyed the chapter on the complete waste of time it is to safety guard things like your toilet and every possible cabinet. And we have vowed to not let our living room become a toy-ridden jungle gym. (yes, i'll probably eat my words but at least I have a goal)

Sometimes ... Mommy just needs a laugh. This book will do it. No need to commit to sequential digestion. Just pick a chapter when all hale has broken loose and lighten up a bit as the walls of parenthood come crashing down around your ears...as they tend to do from time to time. Unless... They don't. In that case, this is not your book. In fact you will find your self throughly pissed (pardon, "highly offended"), by the lashing that you will receive for your practically perfect in every way home that all "good " mothers should, of course, aspire to.

Too funny! This tongue-in-cheek take on current parenting issues was spot-on. Maybe you aren't a smoker and a vodka drinker, but Mellor made her points with panache. Our children shouldn't run our lives, they don't need to be signed up for every sport and activity, feeding them shouldn't be a challenge beyond making dinner, and no one should get a trophy just for showing up (after their parents fork out hundreds of dollars). Babies are portable. Martinis are shake-able.

Good read. Interesting points about parenting written in a easy to read and funny format