"The Hot Mom's Handbook" Review

For me, the beginning of the book seems chalk full of nothing more than common sense. However, after giving it a chance, I found myself really relating to the other women, mothers like yours truly. In my opinion, one of the best things about this book was this overall feeling of unity. Though I have never met a single mom in here, I knew they had dealt with and conquered one of the biggest issues we moms face. Guilt. Guilt will suck the "real" women, you are, right out of you.

Toward the middle of the book, I was feeling rather bored. I was actually forcing myself to read. It was jam packed with websites to check out, which would be great IF I had the dough to spend on any of these fancy little sites. I do have to hand it to her though, she included a "Baby on a Budget" section for almost every topic she covered. However, toward the end of all the suggestions, I felt less connected to the women in the book. A complete turn around from the feeling, of unity, I had in the beginning.

I could not bring myself to finish this book. I made it through 3/4's of the way. I'm sure my lack of interest in these types of books had a lot to do with. So was it worth the read? For me, YES & NO. Let me explain. Yes, due to the advice: "let go of the guilt". That made me snap out of the rut I'd put myself in. I also gained a few helpful (& cheap) skin/beauty care tips. No, due to my feeling this book was geared toward a much "richer" audience than I.

What I did love......

The "in your face" way Jessica, plain & simply, said "Hot Mom loves herself and her family but doesn't get consumed by the madness of motherhood."
We've all been there, right? I have. I've been in the "madness" for 3 years. I still had a sense of self when RD was born but was "consumed" during my pregnancy with Gala and I've never gotten it back.

This little insight: "Carl Jung believed our lives need meaning and purpose. He felt that if we don't have meaning and purpose, we acquire bad habits in order to create drama and excitement. Jung called these patterns "low-level spiritual quests."
Oh boy! What a smack in the face?! I can see that in myself, as well as, those around me. This was, for me, just another reminder I need to get to the business of finding my purpose.

And a quote: "Ultimately, children learn by example. They do what they see." -Lauren Holly
Two little sentences. So simple, right? I've heard this before, but why did these words strike me now? Easy. All the sudden, as if it hit me upside the head, I realized the less I take care of me, value me, the less the girls will value themselves. And I will not be the reason they feel less than worthy or beautiful.....