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5 Minutes for Books — The Manual for Motherhood

August 11, 2008 by Jennifer Donovan

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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Can I be honest here?

I think of books like The Manual for Motherhood, edited by Christine Fugate, as books for people who don’t really read books. This book is relatively thin (under 150 pages) and made up of about 30 different essays by 30 different writers. It’s more like a magazine than a book.

Now that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I hope that those of you don’t feel like this stage of life gives you the luxury to read have perked up to read the rest of this review. But fellow book snobs–I hope that you are hanging in with me as well.

I started reading The Manual for Motherhood thinking that I would read it as anthologies like this are mostly intended to be read–a little at a time. You know–bedside or bathroom reading–an essay or two whenever I had ten minutes to spare. The problem with that is that once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. I sped through this book in two sittings.

This collection was compiled from winning entries to the essay contest answering, “What do you wish you knew before you became a mother?” (You can leave a suggestion for the question for the next contest, which will possibly end up as Volume 2 of the Manual for Motherhood, and stay tuned for details on how to enter that contest.)

Of course there’s no manual for motherhood, but this book offers us the next best thing: real experiences from real moms. Isn’t that how we get through those first few weeks with our first baby? the boundary-trying toddler years? potty training? teen rebellion?

One thing that I wish that this book had was a little biographical information about each writer. Many of these essays piqued my interest in the writer. How many children does she have? Is she a blogger? Is she writing a book? (update: Apparently I’m an idiot. There are bio paragraphs, but I just didn’t see them. I looked at the end of the essays, obviously, and I looked at the back, but they are actually about 8 pages in from the back of the book).

Fugate’s website, Mothering Heights, offers links to some of the contributors websites, which is a start. Her blog also offers fun posts on her likes and interests: movies, girlfriends, and gluten and dairy-free cooking.

The following essays are just a sample of what spoke to me in this book:

  • In “Fertilizer” Cynthia Jenkins writes about being herself, not the mom that she grew up with.
  • Diane Compton relates her hobby of snorkeling to the challenges and surprising wonder of parenting in a beautiful essay called “Skimming the Surface.”
  • Judy Berna’s “Letter to the Mother of That Baby” examines the many faces of a baby-admiring mall patron, reminding the reader of our similarities and differences as women and as moms.
  • One of our own 5 Minutes for Mom community, Angela (CPA Mom), has an essay featured in the book. Her “Advice to the Mom-to-Be” is a good reminder to all of us–no matter how old our children–about accepting ourselves the way we are.

This book is not composed of pat “life is busy for a mom” kind of essays, or “I knew life would be different, but I never knew it would be so good” reflections. It covers everything from adoptive mothers, to diagnoses, to the changing of a marriage after parenthood, to losing yourself and finding it again.

I recommend that you buy this book. Buy it to support writing moms finding their voices. Read it yourself, or buy it for a new mom, or for a mom deep in the trenches who needs a little “been there” support. It’s available at amazon.com.

If you’d like to win a prize package including a copy of The Manual for Motherhood, a tiara (because a woman can do everything better in a crown), and a canvas tote, leave a comment here. I’ll announce the winner in next week’s column.

The winners of last week’s book, The Suicide Index, are #85 Dara Nix and #76 Joan Koczon. You should have received an email from me asking for your address.

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About Jennifer Donovan

Jennifer Donovan has been a part of the 5 Minutes for Mom team since 2007. She writes product reviews, covers events, and manages the 5 Minutes for Books weekly column and website. She lives in Houston and blogs at Snapshot about life with her family.

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98 Comments

  1. Janet F says

    August 17, 2008 at 4:52 am

    This is great!

    Please enter me.

    Thank you!

    janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

    Reply
  2. Audrey Okaneko says

    August 16, 2008 at 1:57 am

    Easy reading is wonderful sometimes. Thanks!

    Reply
  3. Amanda says

    August 13, 2008 at 7:41 pm

    this sounds great, enter me please

    Reply
  4. kritta22 says

    August 13, 2008 at 6:09 pm

    I totally love that tiara and wouldn’t mind a book to help me out! Thanks for the chance to win!

    Reply
  5. Debbie says

    August 13, 2008 at 1:20 pm

    That tiara would look so great on me in the carpool. Thanks!

    Reply
  6. tanyetta says

    August 13, 2008 at 3:32 am

    i would love to win this. please, thank you.

    Reply
  7. Cindi says

    August 13, 2008 at 3:21 am

    I have never owned a tiara before. I would love to sit in our home reading this book full of wonderful essays wearing a tiara. Please enter my name in your drawing. Thanks, Cindi

    Reply
  8. Michele says

    August 13, 2008 at 1:09 am

    This sounds wonderful!!! I’d love to be entered to win your giveaway!! I also love the fact that you’re including a tiara, and I definitely agree with you on the reason for that!!!

    Thanks!
    Michele R.(CA)
    [email protected]

    Reply
  9. stampedwithgrace says

    August 12, 2008 at 11:08 pm

    what a fun prize 🙂

    Reply
  10. Jenn says

    August 12, 2008 at 7:15 pm

    Please enter me! This sounds like an awesome read, and I’m quite the bookworm! 🙂

    Reply
  11. Tara R says

    August 12, 2008 at 5:16 pm

    I’d love to win this!

    Reply
  12. Sky says

    August 12, 2008 at 4:29 pm

    This sounds like a phenomenal book! Not to mention a great prize package! I’m keeping my fingers crossed!

    Reply
  13. Lisa says

    August 12, 2008 at 4:22 pm

    Ooooh! Pick me, pick me, please!

    Reply
  14. jenn3 says

    August 12, 2008 at 3:55 pm

    The book sounds really good. And my toddler would probably laugh at me in a tiara, so that’s a must.

    Reply
  15. Jenn says

    August 12, 2008 at 3:16 pm

    I TOTALLY need a tiara! The book sounds great too – count me in!

    Reply
  16. Jennifer says

    August 12, 2008 at 2:36 pm

    Oh, can you please enter me! I need a tiara – definitely helps with the housework ;).

    Reply
  17. Debbie says

    August 12, 2008 at 2:32 pm

    Sound interesting!

    Reply
  18. Maureen says

    August 12, 2008 at 12:11 pm

    Sounds like a nice read. Thanks,
    Maureen (jnomaxx at hotmail dot com)

    Reply
  19. Amy says

    August 12, 2008 at 11:54 am

    I would love to be included! Thanks!

    Reply
  20. Michelle Rosborough says

    August 12, 2008 at 11:35 am

    I’d love to read this

    Reply
  21. Sandra says

    August 12, 2008 at 10:59 am

    This book sounds awesome! A manual and a tiara are exactly what I need! 🙂

    Reply
  22. Angela Young says

    August 12, 2008 at 9:40 am

    I would love to win this…please enter me!

    Reply
  23. Heidi says

    August 12, 2008 at 9:13 am

    I would love to win this. I don’t have the time for a full on book theses days, but some nice mommy bed time stories would be great. Thank you

    Reply
  24. Sharon Humphries says

    August 12, 2008 at 9:06 am

    This book sounds like a fun read and probably will make all mothers not feel like they go through things alone.

    Reply
  25. Tina says

    August 12, 2008 at 8:26 am

    This books sounds inspiring and full of practical wisdom!

    Reply
  26. Rebecca Doherty says

    August 12, 2008 at 8:11 am

    Thank you for the chance to win. Thanks.

    Reply
  27. Amy says

    August 12, 2008 at 6:26 am

    The book sounds great! I love quick reads!

    Reply
  28. MagMom says

    August 12, 2008 at 2:04 am

    Sounds like a great book! Enter me in the contest please.

    Reply
  29. tnchick says

    August 11, 2008 at 11:47 pm

    Count me in, too, please!! =)

    Reply
  30. The Diaper Diaries says

    August 11, 2008 at 10:44 pm

    Well, I would enter for the tiara alone, but the book looks awesome. Count me in!!

    Reply
  31. JHERICA says

    August 11, 2008 at 10:33 pm

    oops…I meant drawing

    Reply
  32. JHERICA says

    August 11, 2008 at 10:32 pm

    That book sounds like so much fun. Please include me in the drewing. Thanks.

    Reply
  33. Naomi says

    August 11, 2008 at 10:24 pm

    I need a new tiara…ha!

    Reply
  34. Kim says

    August 11, 2008 at 9:53 pm

    I’d love to win this. Hearing the thoughts of other mothers always gives me strength to go on.

    Reply
  35. Melanie says

    August 11, 2008 at 9:30 pm

    A tiara? I’m in.

    Reply
  36. Heather says

    August 11, 2008 at 9:08 pm

    I can use all the help I can get. And who couldn’t use a tiara?

    Reply
  37. Lee says

    August 11, 2008 at 8:06 pm

    Count me in! Sounds like a great read.

    Reply
  38. Bonnie says

    August 11, 2008 at 7:57 pm

    The book sounds really good and I just don’t own my very own crown!

    Reply
  39. Sherida says

    August 11, 2008 at 6:09 pm

    Sounds like a book I could find time to read.

    Reply
  40. Shannon says

    August 11, 2008 at 5:33 pm

    I would love to win a tiara and give the book a try. Thanks!

    Reply
  41. Heidi says

    August 11, 2008 at 5:03 pm

    sounds very interesting. I’d love to read it!

    Reply
  42. nicole says

    August 11, 2008 at 4:48 pm

    That sounds like a fun book to read. Thanks for the review.

    Reply
  43. Iva says

    August 11, 2008 at 4:36 pm

    I wonder if I had a book (and a tiara), if I’d be a better mommy? Doubt it…but it’s fun to try anyway.

    Reply
  44. PastaQueen says

    August 11, 2008 at 4:30 pm

    I’d love to win a tiara.

    Reply
  45. Heather says

    August 11, 2008 at 4:01 pm

    It sounds like a great read, I’m always up for a new book!

    Reply
  46. Rachael says

    August 11, 2008 at 3:28 pm

    Sounds like it wuold be a good book to read! Thanks for the contest!! 🙂

    Reply
  47. Mary_Freebies says

    August 11, 2008 at 2:42 pm

    This sounds like an interesting read.
    Thanks for the chance to win.

    Reply
  48. mannequin says

    August 11, 2008 at 2:12 pm

    Well I could certainly use a manual right about now. I read computer manuals, self- help manuals and this would come in most handy!
    Oh And the tiara’s not too shabby either.
    thanks!

    Reply
  49. Joni says

    August 11, 2008 at 2:03 pm

    This sounds like a very good and helpful book. Thanks for the giveaway!

    Reply
  50. Natalie Jane says

    August 11, 2008 at 1:53 pm

    A manual on how to do this mommy thing, and some supplies to look hot while doing to. Um…best giveaway ever!

    Reply
  51. Sara Taylor says

    August 11, 2008 at 1:46 pm

    sounds like a good read

    Reply
  52. Christine says

    August 11, 2008 at 1:35 pm

    Thank you Janice, Susan and Jennifer for your support of the book and moms who dare to write! I LOVE your site and am so honored to have the book featured on it. You have made 31 moms and one dad very happy today!

    Reply
  53. Megan says

    August 11, 2008 at 1:35 pm

    Awesome! Sounds great!

    Reply
  54. Megret says

    August 11, 2008 at 1:30 pm

    How neat! Please count me in. Thank you!
    Megret

    Reply
  55. jen says

    August 11, 2008 at 1:26 pm

    what a great give-away!
    i know a new mommy that so needs that…and i would love to win it for her!
    thanks!

    Reply
  56. Leslie says

    August 11, 2008 at 1:13 pm

    The books sounds interesting, and what isn’t made better with a tiara?

    Reply
  57. Heather says

    August 11, 2008 at 12:59 pm

    Sounds like a good read (and who doesn’t want a tiara)!

    Reply
  58. Belinda A. says

    August 11, 2008 at 12:36 pm

    I like the sound of this book. I’ve heard many times the ‘life is busy, but better than ever’ takes and, while I agree, I’d like to read some other takes on motherhood.

    Reply
  59. Katie says

    August 11, 2008 at 12:36 pm

    this sounds like a great book!

    Reply
  60. Laura H says

    August 11, 2008 at 12:18 pm

    Sounds like a great read!

    laura_licious101(at)hotmail*com

    Reply
  61. casual friday everyday says

    August 11, 2008 at 11:46 am

    It’s nice to have a compact read from time to time. And this sounds like a pretty interesting read.

    :–) Nell

    Reply
  62. Melissa says

    August 11, 2008 at 11:28 am

    I just got the link to this blog and I’m looking forward to the fun things I have been reading. This book does look interesting. Thanks for posting about it!

    Reply
  63. Libby says

    August 11, 2008 at 11:12 am

    Oh, this sounds good! I can’t wait to read it.

    Reply
  64. Michele says

    August 11, 2008 at 10:52 am

    Sounds like a good read. Count me in.

    Reply
  65. Renee aka MekhisMom says

    August 11, 2008 at 10:45 am

    I love the idea of having both the book (I love reading) and the tiara. I am after all Queen of this Castle -ah, I mean humble home.

    Reply
  66. Shelley says

    August 11, 2008 at 10:17 am

    Sounds cool to me.

    Reply
  67. Lisa says

    August 11, 2008 at 10:13 am

    Count me in! Looks like a great read. And I SO need a tiara 🙂

    Reply
  68. Amydeanne says

    August 11, 2008 at 10:09 am

    Enter me! looks like a great book!

    Reply
  69. Blessed says

    August 11, 2008 at 9:57 am

    I’d love to win this book!

    Reply
  70. jenna says

    August 11, 2008 at 9:47 am

    Wow, I’d definitely love to win this one.

    Reply
  71. Mama Zen says

    August 11, 2008 at 9:46 am

    I would love to read this!

    Reply
  72. Stacey says

    August 11, 2008 at 9:42 am

    That book looks great!

    Reply
  73. Stacy G. says

    August 11, 2008 at 9:35 am

    I do have a princess complex, but I love a good book too!! Thanks!

    Reply
  74. DJ says

    August 11, 2008 at 9:26 am

    sounds like a fun read!

    Reply
  75. Tammy says

    August 11, 2008 at 8:59 am

    I’d love to win this, especially the tiara!

    Reply
  76. Sarah at themommylogues says

    August 11, 2008 at 8:55 am

    I’d love to give this book a read, and I think I’d wear the tiara while I clean the house. Or make dinner. Or wash dishes. Or read. Um, frankly, I’d wear the tiara all the time.

    Reply
  77. Doll Clothes Gal says

    August 11, 2008 at 8:48 am

    Sounds like an interesting book – count me in. One thing about motherhood is that they certainly don’t exagerate when they say “you’ll never sleep again”!

    Reply
  78. christieo says

    August 11, 2008 at 8:19 am

    that sounds like a wonderful book! and you’re so right about the tiara.
    🙂

    Reply
  79. Jessica says

    August 11, 2008 at 8:03 am

    Sounds like a good one, count me in!

    Reply
  80. Sarah VM says

    August 11, 2008 at 7:58 am

    I’d love to have this book and the tiara!

    Thanks!

    Reply
  81. Laurin says

    August 11, 2008 at 7:51 am

    I know a new Mom and one in the trenches (me) who would love to read this.

    Reply
  82. Becky says

    August 11, 2008 at 7:45 am

    Everybody says they wish there was a manual! Sign me up!

    Reply
  83. chyk says

    August 11, 2008 at 7:29 am

    sounds funny

    Reply
  84. Katy says

    August 11, 2008 at 7:05 am

    I would LOVE to have that tiara–oh, and the book too. lol

    Reply
  85. Happy Mama says

    August 11, 2008 at 6:58 am

    Sounds so cute!!!

    Reply
  86. Michelle B says

    August 11, 2008 at 6:56 am

    Sounds interesting please enter me in your contest

    Reply
  87. Junglewife says

    August 11, 2008 at 6:38 am

    This looks like a great book – and one that I could read in small chunks while feeding my 5 month old!!! I’d love to win!

    Reply
  88. Rebecca C says

    August 11, 2008 at 3:06 am

    legacyofbrutalitysa{AT}gmail.com

    I would love to win this, it looks like an interesting read.

    Reply
  89. Natalie says

    August 11, 2008 at 2:09 am

    Sounds great and my daughter would love the tiara. Count me in. Thanks! 🙂

    Reply
  90. Noreen says

    August 11, 2008 at 1:35 am

    I could wear the tiara while I read the book

    Reply
  91. Crystal says

    August 11, 2008 at 1:30 am

    I’d like to give it a read. I would love to enter the giveaway. Thanks!

    Reply
  92. Heidi says

    August 11, 2008 at 1:26 am

    Sign me up! I would love to read about all the different “sides” of motherhood in one handy book!

    Reply
  93. rachel says

    August 11, 2008 at 12:30 am

    I fully believe every woman should own and wear a tiara.
    This book sounds like fun, and very interesting. I’m all about supporting fellow moms. Great review, I appreciate your honesty.

    Reply
  94. melissa says

    August 11, 2008 at 12:25 am

    sounds like a great read!

    Reply
  95. Lisa (Morning Rose) says

    August 11, 2008 at 12:23 am

    Sounds like an interesting read. Please enter me.

    Reply
  96. Dawn says

    August 11, 2008 at 12:07 am

    I would love to win this…please enter me!

    Reply

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