Operating Instructions

When I gave birth almost 2 years ago and was trying to figure out how to do this mom thing, a friend sent Operating Instructions. After having read endless sleep training books, and the What to Expect series, this book was a funny, intelligent read, but also brutally honest. The author, Ann Lamott, would sometimes express the events around her first year with her colicky baby in ways that we would probably never admit to anyone in real life. This book isn't for everybody, particularly if you're turned off by political rantings and wince when vulgarities are used in the same sentence as a baby, but that's why this book was refreshing. We all know that parenting can be one of the most joyful, rewarding things in life, but it's also filled with hair-pulling, frustrating, confusing and even torturous moments. Having not-so-nice thoughts about our babies when times are difficult is normal; Lamott wasn't afraid to put the whole spectum of emotions in writing.

Buy it at Amazon.