Book review: "The Magic of Motherhood"

I really enjoy reading encouraging blogs that my friends have found or that others have shared with me. Many times they have reminded me that I'm not alone in the trenches of mothering a little one and that what I'm feeling is not crazy (well, except maybe when I am actually feeling a little crazy). There is a lot of truth in the CS Lewis quote:

Friendship arises out of mere Companionship when two or more of the companions discover that they have in common some insight or interest or even taste which the others do not share and which, till that moment, each believed to be his own unique treasure (or burden). The typical expression of opening Friendship would be something like, "What? You too? I thought I was the only one." 

"The Magic of Motherhood" is exactly like this. It's a whole book full of "What? You too?" moments. Written by the moms behind the blog "Coffee + Crumbs", the 33 entries span the experiences of motherhood. There are stories both joyful and sorrowful, recollections of "mommy guilt" and of hard-fought battles won. It is a beautiful gift-style book with beautiful images to complement some of the memorable moments shared within its pages.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I opened this book. Sure, the subtitle was "The Good Stuff, the Hard Stuff, and Everything in Between" but I still didn't know if it would meet me where I was. However, it didn't take long for me to experience the "what? you too?" feeling as I delved into stories that resonated with me, especially concerning miscarriage or insecurity as a mom. I laughed and cried then laughed some more as I connected with truths about this crazy thing called motherhood and was reminded of the importance in sharing our stories. After all, you never know when someone needs to know they are not the only one. You might even make a new friend ;)

Rating: 5/5 stars!!

Soli Deo Gloria,
Meghan

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Doppelganger

So apparently I have a doppelganger...

Not in the sense of looks necessarily, but in several aspects of our lives.

Meet Meg (not kidding, her name really is Megan). She writes a column called "Right, Meg?" for the local newspaper where my parents live.This photo is just a sample of the columns my mom has sent me with her notes on them. They include topics like how much she loves her Crock Pot (I hugged mine when it came out of storage 6 years ago), how her son was shy on ultrasound (we never saw our Munchkin's face before he was born), and two different columns about two different moves in her life. There have been many more columns over the years about her love of books, planning her wedding, moving, and preparing for the birth of her son who was due almost exactly a year after mine (he ended up coming early).

I really enjoy reading the clippings my mom sends me of Meg's writing. It's uncanny sometimes how similar the situations are that we find ourselves dealing with in life. I almost wish we could sit down together with some pumpkin spice lattes (something else we both enjoy) and compare notes. I don't know if we'd be friends, but I enjoy the articles my mom sends me that exemplify the similarities between our lives.

Have you ever met someone you've clicked with immediately? The kind that embodies the C.S. Lewis quote "Friendship ... is born at the moment when one man says to another 'What! You too? I thought that no one but myself . . .'"? I've had a couple of friends like that and they are truly treasures. Of course, sometimes you have that moment with friends you've been growing closer to over the course of years and they are just as precious.

So grab one of those friends this week and take them for a cup of coffee. Let them know how much you appreciate them and their friendship. :) And follow Meg on Twitter @rightmeg! :)

Soli Deo Gloria,
Meghan