Hi Readers — Jen Singer runs Mommasaid.net, etnbtybibe
a blog that manages to be funny, moving (like, seriously so) AND perkily helpful AND pleasantly ironic all at once. And this she does while raising two young boys and writing, it seems, a book every other week. Like Stop Second-Guessing Yourself — The Toddler Years, and Stop Second-Guessing Yourself — The Pre-School Years and, oh yeah, Stop Second-Guessing Yourself — Baby’s First Year. Then there’s You’re a Good Mom (And Your Kids Aren’t So Bad Either): 14 Secrets to Finding Happiness Between Super Mom and Slacker Mom. And you know what? She tells me her next book is on cancer — something else she has found time to deal with in her own life.
Did I mention she’s hilarious and her Tweets make me laugh? Like, “Witnessed two poodles on the loose, attempting to herd deer in my yard. (See: grandeur, delusions of.)” And, “(Jen) Doesn’t feel like coaching in the rain. Sadly, they don’t let you yell from the car.” She Tweets  @JenSinger
So she’s an amazing gal. And even rather productive. As if to prove it, she’s even got a new video: “Momma Said Trust Your Gut” — a message we can all get behind. Go Jen! — L.[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7XynXIPK1E]
I like the concept, but I think it’s funny that she wrote five books to read to learn how to “follow your gut” and that “you’re a good mom.” Is it really following your gut if you have to read five books about it first? 😉
I LOVE the video, and I’m guessing that the books are to hold your hand during the second-guessing stage that will follow bucking the hyper-parenting trend.
not related,
but today – friday 7 May is Walk Safely to School Day in Australia.
We did. Here is the website http://www.walk.com.au if your interested.
Do you have similar in the US?
I’m going to snicker all day about the image that goes with “trusting your gut”. The kids are going to be wondering all day what is soo funny. That is just a bonus.
She seems like a witty writer i’d enjoy.
I’m not so sure about her message that our mothers did it all so effortlessly though. I’ve been talking a lot to my mom and mother-in-law, and what they say is not that they did things without worrying, but that they did things *despite* worrying. My mom worried about us going off on our own all day. Mainly because she thought we might be smoking or becoming delinquents (we weren’t) than because we might be snatched by a stranger, but she was worried. My mother-in-law has told me of thousands of things she worried about, but her kids had plenty of freedom regardless.
I don’t think parents should beat themselves up for worrying, it seems like a natural part of parenthood. We just need to remember that a lot of it is paranoia and there are good things about some activities that hold risk.
I really enjoyed this video, and plan to wander over to her site today for a little fun reading. Thanks for posting her information. I know it wasn’t “easy” on my mom, but emotionally – I think it was, and she verbally confirms that it was. She often says she was glad she didn’t know all that we know today. My mom was not a big news watcher or reader.
Thanks for all you pass on to us!
Everyone worries. Even the parents of free-range kids. The difference is we don’t let it become fear and paranoia as other parents do. And when you don’t stress over that fear, it does come off as “easier”. It’s one less thing to worry about.
I like this post and the video. I wish Jen Singer had been a presence when my children were born instead of the What To Expect…series. I remember actually wailing the words “I want to be a good moooommmmm…” at some point. My very supportive and sympathetic mom really didn’t even understand that perspective. Of course I was a good mom: I fed, clothed, snuggled, played with (Sort of!) and loved my babies. What else was I supposed to do? I really hope today’s young mothers have more sense than I did.
I love the video, and thanks for sharing her books. I immediately bought You’re a Good Mom and can’t wait to read it!
Talk about trusting your gut. My 3.5 year old son and I were in the grocery store the other day and he had to go potty. He really wanted to go in the boys’ bathroom all by himself, so I let him. There was one other guy in there and he happened to be a store employee who came out telling me how cool it was my little boy could go all by himself.
When I told some friends how prooud I was of my son, they scolded me and told me I had better be careful b/c the mensroom is where little boys get molested and kidnapped. Sigh.
In response to the first post, I think that all of the outside voices have gotten so loud that it sometimes becomes hard to hear that little voice inside. Sometimes you need a little (or, for the more worry/guilt-prone among us, a lot) of reminding that you know best, after all.