One Tough Mother: It's Time to Step Up and Be the Mom

I loved this book because it finally gave me permission to question some of the things that clearly weren't working for me, but I didn't have the nerve to question them myself. I just kept growing more and more frustrated and ended up thinking that I wasn't cut out to be a parent, until I read this book and got some helpful way's of saying NO ... decided to get off of the vicious cycle of 'advice' seeking and feeling guilty because I didn't feel right about making life all about my kids. I feel a lot freer as a parent and less stressed out, better able to make decisions that I'm comfortable with. I really believe that God is using her experience to minister to other mom's like me. (by the way, I am the "ambivalent mom" :)

Just finished ordering a copy of this for my sister. This is One Tough Book to Put Down (there's your sequel, Julie!) I know Julie - she goes to my church. Therefore, I can't possibly be impartial, right? Wrong. You think I agree with every word that's uttered in that building? Only doofuses do that. But, before I go on with my review, I thought I should let y'all know, in fairness, that I know Julie. I would write a long review, but I'm busy parenting. So let me just say this: If you love your kids, and you love the Lord, and you want what's best for your kids, and you seek to do God's will, this is the book for you. Way to go, Julie. Plus, the book is hilarious. I love Julie's candor, honesty (do those two words mean the same thing? I'm an English teacher and ya got ME!), and the conversationality of the words. I can hear Julie's voice as I read. BUY THIS for yourself and for all, yes, ALL of your MOM FRIENDS. NO, not your MOM'S friends, your MOM friends. DO IT NOW. Good girl. Holly (Tucker) White Galesburg, IL

Reviewed by Nicole M. Boals Being a mother can make you a little bit crazy. Listening to all the advice from friends, family, and the nearly endless self-help books, can take that crazy to a whole new level. This book will help calm this craziness with intelligent and sensible advice with a huge dose of humor. It is a quick read that is hard to put down and is one parenting book that you will be very glad you read. One Tough Mother gives no nonsense advice on how to be a strong woman who is a strong mother. Broken down into ten "non-negotiables," this book is packed full of great ideas on how to take back your sanity and build love, trust, and respect in your household. Smattered throughout the advice are real stories that give life and context to these ideas. Seemingly common sense areas of parenting are sometimes so hard to remember or even feel comfortable with, and this book helps bring them into focus. With chapters like how to say no (I know can comfortably say no in several languages to video game playing) to how to start praying for your children, this book offers tips that every parent can use. Throughout the book sidebars present great outside resources and concepts. These little quips and links offer some great ideas for additional research and topics. The book concludes with a great appendix that reminds you that you are a woman and as such, you deserve some self-care time and expense. It offers great tips on hair, skin, makeup and general upkeep that a lot of moms mistakenly put on the backburner. Armchair Interviews says: Great advice, interesting stories, and laugh-out-loud humor, make One Tough Mother one awesome book.

If you have ever found yourself saying, "I've told you not to do that," or "Stop that," for that tenth time in 10 minutes, then this book is for you. Julie offers ten nonnegotiables in our mothering. Written in a fun conversational tone, you will see yourself in the first few pages of this book. After reading it, you too can become One Tough Mother!