Parenting Books: The Good, the Bad and the Hilarious

A year ago, I started my uncertain journey into motherhood by reading the classics, What to Expect When You're Expecting and What to Expect the First Year.

When my son was an infant, I found some tips on sleeping and eating patterns from On Becoming Babywise and The Happiest Baby on the Block helpful. But I quickly realized that my kid had a stubborn mind of his own. Trying to keep him on a strict schedule proved impossible.

A few months later, Buddhism for Mothers of Young Children helped me to blend meditation techniques with good old-fashioned patience when he was screaming for no apparent reason in the middle of the night. No typical parenting book took the place of my instincts in tough situations.

When I went back to work and had to balance career and parenthood, I really just needed a book that would make me laugh. Sh*tty Mom served this purpose perfectly. It mocked the traditional tomes in a spot-on, hilarious way.

The bottom line is that real-life experience always trumps any book full of parenting advice. I'd rather read something that makes me giggle when I have precious time to read.