Ready to laugh about motherhood and be encouraged? Tired of feeling overwhelmed and stressed out in the baby and toddler season? Need some fresh vision and perspective so you can enjoy—not just endure—your young children?
Stop and Smell Your Children: Laugh and Enjoy the Little Years offers moms-to-be and moms of young children short, real-life parenting stories that encourage and inspire. Leah Spina, mother of three children ages five and under, and former journalist, unleashes humor and perspective for tired moms who are parenting the “little” years. From the excitement of the positive pregnancy test to morning sickness and the banes of pregnancy, to childbirth, babies, toddlers and new parent struggles, the stories will make you laugh and see beauty in the chaos. Each story also includes thought-provoking takeaways to help busy moms gain a fresh outlook.
Strangers remind us that our children will be small only for a short time and to enjoy each moment. But then we return to the wild reality of parenting young children! All-night crying sessions. Never-ending laundry. Every-three-hour feeding schedules. Diaper explosions and projectile spit-up. Teething. Potty training. Yes, we enjoy our children, but we’d also like to enjoy a shower that lasts more than two minutes, or a meal that isn’t lukewarm (if we’re lucky). The truth is, pregnancy and parenting young children can be hard at times. But it can also be one of the best chapters of our lives, if we can learn to laugh and change our mindset.
Young children are one of life’s greatest gifts. Each page of this easy read will help you truly enjoy the “little” years!
Buy the book: Amazon – Barnes & Noble
Youtube Video:
Author’s Bio:
Leah Spina is a former journalist of a national newsweekly magazine and also worked as a childbirth coordinator at a large adoption agency. She has her B.S in Business Administration from Thomas Edison State College. She has two adorable children – Samson and Esther – and resides in Dallas, Texas with her husband, David. When she’s not changing diapers, she enjoys singing Broadway, sun tanning on Italian beaches and riding horses.
Connect with Leah: Website – Twitter –Facebook
My review: [rating=4]
Perhaps I had no business as someone who is not a mom to be opting to review this book. But I love to get a peek into ‘other worlds’. Having watched aunts, cousins and friends mothering their children and attempting to live ‘normal’ lives simultaneously, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Leah’s humorous, yet ever so wise advice on parenting.
Starting with the pregnancy test and taking you the various stages of pregnancy and raising a toddler, I’m sure that the various anecdotes and emotions shared will resonate with many parents. What was really nice about the book is the little space for reflection at the end of every chapter. Simple questions to get parents reflecting. I think this took the book to another level.
This is the kind of book I’d like to give to parents-to-be and to Moms who are still trying to find some sense of this wild adventure of parenting that they’ve embarked on.
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Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from iRead Book Tours to review. However, the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
As a childless aunt, I appreciate your book review. Well done! It’s excellent information.
Darla M Sands recently posted..How to Win at NaNoWriMo
I’m a childless aunt too, Darla. That’s why I loved the book!
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..Kindness Begins With Me
Hey! Being a mother of two i am desperately looking forward to reading this book.
I think that what I enjoyed the most was the title of the book. And if you think about it, you could use it to everything, like stop and smell your food, stop and smell your life and so on. Hehehe
Early motherhood is like going on a very tumultuous amusement park ride. You’re so busy holding on for dear life you don’t get the full experience as you’re actually going through it. Its only later when you’re safely on the ground you realize what fun you had.
Laurie Stone recently posted..The Night Edgar Winter Taught Me Some Life Lessons
What a great analogy, Laurie! Yes, I see lots of moms holding on to dear life…but so worth it in the end!
Agree to your views, Corinne! Life is all about enjoying every moment, especially so with the kids for they have a special corner in our lives!
So true, Alok. They grow so fast too! Thanks for stopping by on my blog.
I liked your review. It would make a great gift to new parents because most of us were totally clueless! I read one book before Alpha Son was born – one my mom used for both my brother and I. While it was a lifesaver, it was more technical than humorous!
nan recently posted..Smokin’ Hot S*x
I hope someday to be a mother.I love the smell of babies just after they have a bath.