I should have seen it coming when the rabbit died

I am a 49 year old mother of eight children(ages 26 to 5). I was the oldest of six. I found Mrs. Bloomingdale's books when I was young and loved them. I have collected all of them. One of my daughters wants ten children. I intend to pass them down. Her writings are so real and therefore funny. One of my other enduring favorites is Cheaper By the Dozen. I agree with the reviewer who compared her with Bill Cosby. Both are able to help us see the funny side of life's ups and downs. I particularly like the episode in her first book that is dedicated to the tornado that destroyed their beautiful home. It is funny, poignant and full of family love. God bless you, Teresa.

I first picked up this book when I was 13 and it was very easy reading. I laughed and laughed about the antics of the children, it was funnier every time that I read it....(I had no idea what was in store for me as a parent.)I thought my family cornered the market on the monday morning race before school (anyone seen my ....?) My paperback copy has long since been borrowed, but the mental pictures that the author drew are still with me 25 years later. This is a true keeper...it is like an early Bill Crosby book called "Fatherhood" but it is from a Catholic mother's point of view. I love the way the book got its name -----The rabbit didn't want to have any part of what was coming!!!!!!! and it just got better from there. This is a KEEPER! I am passing this book down to my 15 yr. old to enjoy.

In this heart-warming book, Bloomingdale goes through the trials and tribulations of being a parent of twelve children. It is filled with laughter and a lot of memorable elements. Thru it all, however, the book maintains a light comical tone, having a wonderful perspective on parenting, a perspective that needs to be much more spread out in modern society. Her two other books, LIFE IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU'RE MAKING OTHER PLANS and MURPHY MUST HAVE BEEN A MOTHER, I have not read but have read the blurbs, and perceive it is the same type of material. Bloomingdale belongs to the Catholic faith, so you also get that thrown into the play, making for a nice well-rounded book on the comic misadventures of a large family, and it also shows the beauty and wonder of children, albeit it thrown into a comic light. If you see this in a used book store, pick it up if you're wanting a laugh. The title refers to some type of medical procedure to see if a woman is pregnant and involves rabbits; I don't understand it (Aerosmith make reference to it in their song "Sweet Emotion", after Tyler commits fornication with a woman). If you know what exactly the procedure involves, send some mail my way. Buy the book. Very funny.

I first read this book before I had children and then picked it up again after my fourth was born. Mrs. Bloomingdale really mirrors what life in a large family is like ! This book should be required reading for all new mothers !

I read this book as a teenager (I found it around the house) and even then, I laughed out loud at several places in the book. This was especially good for me as I was the youngest of six children and this woman had ten! Really fantastic. Now that I'm older and planning to start a family soon I'm looking for a used copy so that I can read it again and pass it on to friends. Anyone who is a parent or is planning to be one or has many siblings will love it too.