Funny, snarky yet surprisingly practical guide to parenting that counters some of the excesses of today’s overboard parenting styles.

There need to be more parenting books like this! One of my favorite chapter titles is "Bedtime: Is Five-Thirty Too Early?" Although this book is meant to be tongue-in-cheek, I think a lot of parents need to take its advice to heart. Sometimes parents need to stand up to their children - like the author says, parents were here first! I can't wait until my son is old enough to mix my husband and me a martini (only kidding...or am I?)

Through a bit of snark and sarcasm, the author does give some insightful tips on parenting. This was an enjoyable read, the style reminiscent of an etiquette book I once read that was published in the 1950's. I agreed with a lot of what the author conveyed. I wish a few of my parent friends would read this book, although because they have lost all adult common sense after having their kids, I wonder if they would enjoy or understand this book at all.

This was good for some laughs. Refreshing and tongue in cheek. And, I think it's a swell idea to weed out parents of playdates according to their response to martini's being served. Bombay Sapphire for me, please.

Very cute tongue in check approach to parenting. Fun read between tantrums

Really funny book. I liked the advice about not letting kids rule your life, teaching them to play alone, and enjoying adult time at night. The last few chapters were a little dry but 90% of the book was really good.

Somewhat toungue-in-cheek, but funny and true. I don't think I'll be teaching my son to mix up martinis anytime soon (also seeing as I don't drink them) but the points about children should act like children and respect adults are on target.

I found this book to be mildly entertaining. I found out quickly that this book was not to be taken seriously. She must be joking (I think?) because her advice and suggestions seem really outlandish. I agree that parents need to step back and realize that they had a life (a fun, good life at that) before baby and things should not come to a complete halt once baby is born. This book emphasizes that opinion in many different crazy scenarios. She suggests at one point that you should pour dry cereal into a bowl at night and keep a little container of milk on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator so that your kids can wake up in the morning and be self-sufficient enough to make their own cereal because momma needs to sleep in! (parents deserve it, right?) That is absurd; there is no way my kid is going to be making a mess and doing who knows what while I am sleeping away. She also encourages kids to clean up after adult dinner parties and to learn how to make basic cocktails for adults. Basically, be like little servers for the adults. She has to be kidding, right!? No way my kid is going to handle and break my dinnerware! So if you take this book seriously, you are in for a rude awakening because kids are going to be, well, kids. Train them, yes, but expect them to be self-sufficient and not sway from what chores and orders you give them...not going to happen. I would not recommend this book though; it was entertaining but not entertaining enough to pay money for the book.

Snarky, sarcastic, and quite entertaining if you’re into that sort of thing. Some chapters are a little dated since this was published in 2004, but most of the commentary is surprisingly still relevant (and wonderfully ridiculous). I would recommend this one for a good self-deprecating laugh rather than actual parenting advice, although there are a few decent tips thrown in.

This was a very funny book but it had practical and great information. The title is what I thought was so very original and gave a wonderful sense of fun. The approach for telling this story and giving advice to parents was unique. In this manner no one should take offense, as I see it more as a tongue and cheek approach. I could relate to this story and loved the ideas for parenting that Christie shares to help make parenting a happy experience. When raising children you must take each day as it comes and at the end of the day, find the humor. Each child brings a different experience to your parenting style but at least you know there are other families going through the same things, so at least you know you are not alone.

A practical guide to happy parenting indeed. Useful, stern and realistic advice contradicting now-common practices of letting a child wear the pants in the house. Written in a very humerous manner and extremely entertaining. So funny because it's so true!

I found this book Hi.Lar.I.Ous. I was laughing so hard I cried. Just the thing to read at the end of a long day. It's irreverent, witty, tongue in cheek, and a great reminder that WE are the parents and THEY are the children--and let's not get quite so hung up on the whole child-rearing thing anyway, let's not it run our entire lives.