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5 Minutes for Books: Hell is Other Parents

August 31, 2009 by Jennifer Donovan

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

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Those of you without a little snark gene in your body may know just by reading the title that this book is not for you. However, others of you probably smiled and nodded. Sometimes we can feel like we are doing just fine raising our kids until those other parents and their thoughts and their opinions and judgments weigh us down and make us feel like throwing in the towel altogether, or at least living in a cave where we don’t have to deal with them anymore. Or is it just me?

Well, it’s not just me. Author Deborah Copaken Kogan picked the title of that particular essay for her book Hell Is Other Parents: And Other Tales of Maternal Combustion because it sums up the root of many of the other issues she addresses. And I probably don’t have to tell you that the tone of the essays is a bit snarky and infused with humor, but you might be surprised that there’s quite a bit of heart there too as she examines her role as mom.

These essays read like your favorite well-written blogs: Funny, relevant, personal. Since they are short and light, this would be a perfect book to keep in your car to read while waiting in the carpool line, or waiting at the pediatrician’s office, or waiting at the soccer fields. In all that time waiting for your children, why not treat yourself to another mom’s insight? Or at the very least make your life look easy by comparison?

We have a copy to give away to one U.S. reader. Leave a comment if you’d like to win. The winner will be posted in next week’s column.

The winners of Chicken Soup’s Extraordinary Teens is #14 Val Pearson, #5 Shawntele, #19 Terri.

Written by Jennifer Donovan, 5 Minutes for Mom contributing editor and 5 Minutes for Books Managing editor

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What Are Your Kids’ Favorite Books?
I can’t even listen to a cool song anymore!

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.

Reader Interactions


24 Comments

  1. Chelsea says

    September 2, 2009 at 5:46 pm

    This looks like it is pretty funny! I would love to win!
    Thanks

  2. Name says

    September 2, 2009 at 8:16 am

    I really want to win this book! Thanks for all of the blogging and contests you offer, we appreciate it.

  3. Name says

    September 2, 2009 at 8:15 am

    I really want to win this book! Thanks for all of the blogging and contests you offer, we appreciate it.

  4. Name says

    September 2, 2009 at 8:15 am

    I really want to win this book! Thanks for all of the blogging and contests you offer, we appreciate it.

  5. Staci says

    September 1, 2009 at 10:58 pm

    This sounds like a wonderful read! I love reading books by other moms!

  6. LindaKish says

    September 1, 2009 at 5:57 pm

    This looks like a really fun book and loads of laughs. Thanks for the chance to win it.

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

  7. Tavia says

    September 1, 2009 at 3:41 pm

    Sounds like a fun read.

    Thanks for the opportunity to win! 🙂

  8. lavonnelong says

    September 1, 2009 at 2:13 pm

    This sounds funny! thanks for the chance to win! 😉

  9. mrsbear says

    September 1, 2009 at 8:36 am

    Sounds like an interesting read. Count me in.

  10. Terra Heck says

    September 1, 2009 at 6:27 am

    I'd like to read this book. Thanks.

  11. Gina says

    August 31, 2009 at 9:11 pm

    I laughed at the title. I want to read this and share it with my friends.

  12. carriefox says

    August 31, 2009 at 6:33 pm

    Oh heck yeah….every snarky bone in my body just stood up and saluted that title 😉

  13. tawnda says

    August 31, 2009 at 1:42 pm

    sounds very good

  14. Ellen C. says

    August 31, 2009 at 1:38 pm

    I'd like to give this a read. Thanks for the chance.

  15. brandierudy says

    August 31, 2009 at 12:04 pm

    I'd love to read that book. That is exactly how I feel!
    Brandie

  16. Mama Zen says

    August 31, 2009 at 10:36 am

    This sounds like a fun read!

  17. Buffie says

    August 31, 2009 at 10:05 am

    Just the title of the book has me wanting to read it. I can so agree with it's statement.

  18. TheQueen says

    August 31, 2009 at 9:50 am

    Sounds like a great book; right up my alley. And dance/piano/swimming/tennis are just about to get into full swing, so I'll have plenty of opportunities to read it a snippet at a time. I'd love to win!

  19. Annie says

    August 31, 2009 at 9:36 am

    This book looks like it is right up my alley! I'd love a copy. Thanks for the chance!

  20. melaniesand says

    August 31, 2009 at 9:10 am

    This book looks interesting. I may have to buy it if I don't win it! 🙂

  21. johan6 says

    August 31, 2009 at 6:11 am

    I don't believe in such things. Author wrote this bombastic title just to sell book, nothing else.

  22. lastnerve says

    August 31, 2009 at 5:08 am

    That's awesome! Thanks so much!

    Val

  23. Erin says

    August 31, 2009 at 1:47 am

    I'd like for a chance to read this book.

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