When Did I Get Like This? by Amy Wilson

Published by William Morrow an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers and HarperCollins Publishers Canada

When Did I Get Like This? (The Screamer, The Worrier, The Dinosaur-Chicken-Nugget Buyer & Other Mothers I Swore I'd Never Be) is a book that I wish had been available when I was a mom-to-be and new mom. In this book Amy Wilson shares her thoughts and experiences as a mother and how her outlook has changed with each new child.

While reading this book I often found myself bouncing between two emotions. I found it to be an enjoyable and hilarious read at times thanks to Amy's honest and humour-filled anecdotes. The most vivid example was a flight in which Amy and her children flew to Orlando. I'm not going to talk about it here and spoil your fun but believe me when I say that it will stick in your mind for a long time and I think she ought to have recieved a medal for that day.

The second emotion was sadness. I constantly find myself disturbed by the pressure on a parent these days. I feel as though it's not enough to raise a child who is happy, fulfilled, responsible, well-balanced, and with good grades. It seems to have crossed the line into a realm where if your child hasn't been singled out as the second coming of Einstein, then you have somehow failed.

This is a great book. It reminds us what is really important when it comes to our children. It also shows us that you don't have to be a perfect stepford mom in order to be a successful mom. Now this is the kind of parenting book I can get behind! I think a quote from Amy's site says it best:

When Did I Get Like This? is the hilarious story of one mother’s struggle to shrug off the ridiculous standards of modern parenting, and remember how to enjoy her children.

Author's website: http://www.amywilson.com