One Sour Momma!
Written: May 17 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: the binding has fallen apart yet (is that a con?)
Cons: bitter bitter bitter
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| jcgrow's Full Review: I Wish Someone Had Told Me: Realistic Guide to Ear... |
Happy Days, Clueless Days
When I recently learned that I was going to become a father, I told my family as soon as I could. My brother's son was born just 8 months ago, and so he kindly sent me a box full of books on pregnancy and parenthood.
The problem with so many of these books is that they're written solely for women. Their covers may say that they're for expectant mothers and fathers, but then they go on to talk about the changes "your" body is going through. The authors presume that expectant fathers don't need or want to know anything. WRONG!
I Wish Someone Had Told Me This Was A Postpartum Wallow Fest
I Wish Someone Had Told Me is the worst of these books my brother sent. Like most others, this book is for mothers. The problem is that the author purports to give the lowdown on relationship issues as well as pregnancy and birth issues. To cover relationship issues only from a woman's perspective (and only the individual perspective of the author at that) will tend to promote relationship problems instead of solving them.
Apparently the author doesn't respect her husband very much at all. She implies that men "almost universally" are inconsiderate, irresponsible and unskilled as partners and parents. She warns pregnant women that their male partners won't understand, won't help and will make being a new parent very trying. Not once does she even ponder the possibility that she and other mothers might have any personal failings that could contribute to relationship problems. Nope, as far as she is concerned, it's always the guy who gets it wrong.
Too Negative For Moms As Well
As you can probably guess, the chapter on relationship problems during and after pregnancy really got under my skin. Nonetheless, I felt guilty for feeling so offended at the writings of a woman who has obviously had to endure the influence of some very negative emotions. So, I asked my partner to read the book and tell me what she thought.
While taking a walk the next morning, she told me that she couldn't stand the book either. "Honey," she said, "that book is awful. It's negative about everything. I don't want to feel that way when I'm pregnant. I want to feel happy about this, and I want help and support, not whining from someone who can't handle it."
I couldn't say it any better than that. If I could give this book a zero star rating, I would.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
jcgrow
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Location: Trumansburg, New York, United States
Reviews written: 238
Trusted by: 50 members
About Me:
Editor of IrregularTimes.com, looking at the world at through an irregular lens.
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