Book o' the Month: Operating Instructions

This month's title is Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son's First Year by Anne Lamott. This book easily fits into in my Mommy Lit section (which I first introduced with the wonderful Catherine Newman, because of whom I heard about this book!). Reading it took me back to the early new baby days, especially after Valerie was born. I found so many passages I could relate to, I was taking notes like it was a college textbook.

Here are a few:

• "...but one of the worst things about being a parent, for me, is the self-discovery, the being face-to-face with one's secret insanity and brokenness and rage."
• [while the baby is napping] "I start to think about the millions of things I could do around the house or at my desk that could really make a difference in the quality of our life, and then I usually end up thinking, Gee, that sounds like a lot of work for a woman who hasn't brushed her teeth in three days."
  
• "...one thing about having a baby, is that each step of the way you simply cannot imagine loving him any more than you already do, because you are bursting with love, loving as much as you are humanly capable of--and then you do, you love him even more."

If you can relate, you must read this book! Then, call up a friend or acquaintance with a new baby at home and offer to help however you can. I think it is so important for mothers to remember the early days, and to be there for other mamas.

P.S. Today I'm joining in the fun with Turn The Page Tuesday over at Some of a Kind. Take a peek!