I’m going to continue on with another post about cool stuff I got in the mail. Shut up, you love it.
A few weeks back, Kim Bongiorno of Let Me Start By Saying… sent me a copy of I Just Want to Pee Alone, a collection of motherhood essays by “some kick ass mom bloggers.” No, really, it says so right there on the cover.
I had to put off reading it till I wasn’t nipple deep in student papers, but that certainly didn’t stop Karli from picking it up and reading it when it got here. She then proceeded to read selections out loud to me, which seemed to be a good sign. She read me about half of Karen Alpert’s (from Baby Sideburns) essay on taking her family to Disney World, as well as bits and pieces from some other ones.
That seems like a good sign, right? My wife obviously thought it was a pretty funny book, but they didn’t send it to me to get my wife’s opinion, right? I mean, I’m sure the women who put it together would love to hear that she liked their book, but they sent it to me—a dad blogger—to get a dude’s opinion. They’ll just have to settle for me, though.
Now that school’s over, I finally got a chance to comb through it all during Squatch’s naps and while he was playing with knives his exersaucer toys. And I got to see what it was all about.
The book was put together by Jen from People I Want to Punch in the Throat, a KC-area blogger (represent!) and participant in the upcoming Kansas City Listen to Your Mother show this Saturday (buy tickets), also featuring Ashley Austrew (shout-out!) and some other ladies.
So, the question I would put to you is this: Do you like mom blogs? Or parenting blogs in general? Because that will probably affect your opinion of the book.
Why? Because it reads like a blog. Which, essentially, it is—albeit one that’s been collected, edited, and put out in a more tactile format (a la Angry Birds Star Wars). So if your morning is spent rasslin’ some rugrats and perusing your RSS feed full of blogs, then you’ll probably love this book.
That’s not to say you won’t like it if you’re not in love with the blog format. Because this book is pretty hilarious in its own right. With almost every anthology, you’re going to end up with a book that’s slightly inconsistent. That’s just to be expected with you have different authors for every entry. This one is no different, so I didn’t love every bit of the book. But the ones that were on were definitely on. Like Karen’s Disney World essay. And Nicole Leigh Shaw’s (from Ninja Mom) piece about the absurdity of measuring a parent’s worth by how many kids she (or he) has. Kim’s essay about getting a massage was pretty hysterical, and I found myself cringing along with her discomfort as I also have issues with strangers touching me (whether I may or may not be naked in that room with them).
As a dad, there were some in there I couldn’t exactly relate to because I didn’t have the requisite parts, but I certainly tried. I might have skipped ones like “The Tale of Two Vaginas” and “My Akward Period,” and I don’t think you should hold that against me, either. I’d expect a good deal of you to turn away if I happened to post something titled “About That Itch on my Left Testicle.”
Overall, it’s enjoyable, even for a dad. A great deal of it is relatable for any parent, and especially parents (like me) who find themselves responsible for the day-in, day-out childcare. Mother’s Day is coming up this Sunday, and if you want something for that special funny-lovin’ mom in your life, this book is probably perfect. If they don’t like funny, I can’t do anything for you. And if you’ve procrastinated long enough that you’re reading this on Saturday and just realizing that you haven’t bought your wife a present yet, don’t fret—there’s a Kindle version, too.
A quick reminder that I’m giving away some free toys, and you have till MIDNIGHT (CST) TONIGHT (MAY 8) to enter. All you gotta do is leave a comment on my May the Fourth post saying you want the Angry Birds Star Wars thing, and you’re entered to win it. Nothing else necessary. As of right now, I think there’s only three people entered, so your chances are pretty good. Seriously, you don’t want free stuff?
Maybe I just gotta stop posting stuff on the weekend. You guys have lives or something, I guess.
& squatch makes three 
Thanks for the review. I have been wondering about the book. I have to admit I tend to shy away from “blog books” because, well, I can just read the blogs. I know. I’m a rebel. But it sure does have some funny ladies contributing. I may have to give it a whirl on my Kindle. And I have been meaning to comment on the May the Fourth post…I have been way behind on anything blog related. So I will shut up now and go get me some Angry Birds Star Wars thing. Because I DO in fact like free stuff.
It does read like a blog. But it’s more like a curated collection (since it’s an anthology) blog than just a normal blog. Saves you having to go track down all these funny people and brings them right to your hot little hands.
Thanks for this! I love that you’re honest about how some of the more vaginal/menstrual essays scared you off. No offense taken. 😉 And it’s nice to know I’m not the only person around who can’t stand being naked in public. Seriously, some days I feel like I’m the only one… *shudders*
Thanks for sending it! And stopping by! And sharing my post!
I freak out when strangers touch me when I’m clothed. Thinking about a naked massage starts up a preemptive panic attack. You’re a strong person.
It’s funny…when I’m getting a plain old massage (dark room, strategically placed towels/blankets and the like, no eye contact) I’m fine. But throw water into the mix, or direct sunlight or eye contact or anything other than that and I FREAK OUT.
I get a little weirded out by anything more than a high five or handshake from most people. A massage might send me over the edge.
I loved the title of the collection and your review makes it something I’d read if I still had children at home, but, I don’t. I’m grateful for that fact.
You’d probably like it just for the pure schadenfreude factor. You can laugh at the parental misery without worrying about it coming back to bite you in the ass.
Great to hear a dad’s point of view. Thanks so much for the review!
Thanks for stopping by! My wife can relate to your essay quite a bit. She only had a sister growing up and now is trying to get used to raising a boy. But she’s loving it so far.
She does keep asking me about his twig and berries sometimes, things like “is it normal to be that color?”
How dare you, sir! I demand you read my essay My Awkward Period right this instant or I shall pelt you with feminine products! Sorry. I’m a little premenstrual. You wouldn’t understand.. *sob* Thanks for the review, though!
Ok, I should confess a little bit that I might exaggerate a little for effect on my blog. I did, in fact, read the uncomfortable girl ones and laugh. I didn’t necessarily understand why it was funny, but I knew it was funny.
Thanks for taking the time to read our book!
Thanks for stopping by! I have to say, I was terrified that our baby would be ugly since my wife and I sometimes make fun of ugly babies on the internet, but luckily we dodged that bullet. It’s true. We’ve had his adorableness verified by independent sources and everything.
Bahahaha Rach Riot! Yeah, there were even a few stories that had me cringing through my incessant laughter – even mine. Thanks for the review!
Cringing is just the beginning. Reading it was kind of like being the male janitor stuck cleaning the stalls when a gaggle of women walk into the restroom. Some bells just can’t be unrung.
I’m also bracing myself for the first time Squatch says something inappropriate in public. I’m preemptively training myself to not laugh. It’s not working so far.
Great review. Loved the book, love these bloggers. And I’ve just been introduced to some kick ass dad bloggers too which is pretty cool!
They’re some pretty funny bloggers, and I’ve made it a goal to hunt them down and read them. They’ve gained a stalker.
Thanks for the review! And I’m cracking up at Rach! I won’t hold it against you not reading my ‘two vaginas’ essay though (or at least I wont throw feminine products at you)!
Like the period story, I did actually read it. I think. I might have repressed it because it hasn’t been long enough since we went through that whole birth thing. Talk about bells not being unrung.
Thanks for the review. I hope I was one of the essays that was ‘on’, but I won’t blame you if it was ‘off’. My husband’s fave is Baby Sideburns too.
Thanks for letting me know what I need to do to please a man. Surprisingly little, it turns out.
And thanks for stopping by.
Thanks for the review, and I commend you for even trying to get through all our lady part laden essays.
Thank YOU for not putting your lady bits in your essay. I have my own Pinterest meltdown recorded on this very blog not too long ago, so—you and me—we’re like this.
(You can’t see it but I’m doing the two-fingers-pointed-at-my-eyes-then-at-your-eyes thing. Sympatico.)
You are now my favorite person on the entire inter webs. And not only because you said, I’m paraphrasing here, “Nicole Leigh Shaw may just be the most insightful humorist of this and the last century.” But mostly because of that, yes.
Expect my thanks in the from of some social media sharing. And, from all of us Kick Ass Bloggers, thanks very, very much.
Your version is slightly more sophisticated than what I said. But you made me sound good, so I’ll let it slide. Also because you said I’m you’re favorite person, and I need the validation.
Thanks for stopping by and for sharing. And for writing. And for, um, other stuff.
You should know that nicoleleighshaw is my Blog Wife, so any compliment you bestow on her is a direct result of me, so I should say Thank You for your love of her writing. And You’re Welcome.
You’re welcome?
And thank you?
Thank you for giving us the dad perspective! I promise not to throw feminine products!
I appreciate that. Thanks.
And thank YOU for encouraging women to show off their bodies more often. On behalf of guys everywhere, you’re our hero.
My husband was pretty excited to read “The Tale of Two Vaginas.” He thought it was going to about something else.
Thanks for the review! I loved the genuine feedback.
I thought it was going to be about something else, too. I was so very, very wrong.
I think I’ve become an oversharer since becoming a parent, as well. I never thought I’d have such open and lengthy conversations about someone else’s poop. Parenthood changes you.
Reblogged this on yes, you read that correctly. and commented:
I love this guys blog, and I am about 90% done with this book, and I love it. Dowloaded it for the Kindle and laughed my ass off more than once. Check out the book, and this blog.