The Mother Load: How to Meet Your Own Needs While Caring for Your Family

This book is like the friend you wish was there when you sat on the steps crying because your two year old is out of control, and you feel like you have failed. There are a lot of books about taking care of babies and kids, but this one talks to Moms - about the joys and sorrows of mothering, about our relationships with our spouses, our friends, our children and ourselves. I have bought this book for lots of my special mom friends. It just really nurtures you and lets you see that we are in this together, and it's really going to be okay!

I read Mary's book in just a couple of days. It was filled with practical advice and heartfelt wisdom for mothers everywhere. She spoke to my heart, made me laugh out loud,and challenged me in my faith walk. I found it to be very well researched. Mothers everywhere need to be blessed by this wonderful book as we're negotiating the road of raising children. Mary made sense of the most confusing dilemmas that all moms face.

I just finished reading an inspiring, beyond-my-expectations book about how to handle motherhood. The Mother Load by Mary Byers is all about how to meet your own needs while caring for your family. Mary shares valuable Christian insight on the importance of solitude, friendship, balance, health, order, intimacy, spiritual and personal growth, self-forgiveness, laughter, and getting help. For those of us who struggle with feelings of selfishness and guilt when we take time for ourselves, Mary offers encouraging advice on refreshing ourselves so that we can be more effective moms. She also emphasizes the significance of modeling positive self-care and teaching responsibility to your children. Mary combines personal stories, scripture, research, and practical ideas (I love that-give me the how-to's and I'm happy) to create a resource book to which I will refer often. At the end of each chapter, Mary includes a chapter summary along with group discussion questions, personal reflection questions, and quotes from real moms. I just sent Mary an e-mail, telling her how much I wished she lived on my block! I hope to meet her in person some day and give her a big "thank- you" hug.

The Mother Load is a timely book written with humor and candor for overtired moms. In it, I realized how little I take time for myself and what a beautiful gift it would be to my children if I did. Mary Byers writes with experience and she conveys her mommy advice with a have-a-cup-of-coffee-with-me-and-relax attitude. Moms in need of refreshment will be challenged and encouraged through the pages of this book. Highly recommended!

Looking for something to browse thru one wintry day and found my wife's copy of "The Mother Load." Guys...check it out....don't be embarrassed. Should give you some much needed insight on what your kids' mom face. Well-written; an easy read. Mary has a great touch and her sense of humor and love for her primary job of motherhood shine through in her book. Two thumbs way up!