Book Reviews and Toy ReviewsKids are referred to as “dependants” for a reason—they are exactly that. Dependant. On you. All of the time. Even when they are in their early 20s and out on their own and you think it’s over—it’s not over. Reality: It’s never over, and it’s hard.

Sometimes, we need a break from parenting, because it’s not actually full of smiley family portraits and perfect family vacations and tear-jerking milestones. Sometimes, it’s full of incoherent screaming matches, incessant whining over slightly burnt toast, and vomit-filled stomach bugs.

From NBC’s TODAY Show producers Alicia Ybarro and Mary Ann Zoellner comes Sh*tty Mom for All Seasons, a follow-up to the 2012 New York Times bestselling book, Sh*tty Mom: The Parenting Guide for the Rest of Us. While Facebook exists to put our picture-perfect families on display, this book keeps it real with tips and quips on what parenting can really be like: the good, the bad, and the sh*tty.

Ybarro and Zoellner take readers on a parenting adventure through the seasons, starting with spring, which includes quirky “cleaning” tips, how to deal with the crazy parents of your daughter’s new BFF, and prepping for family vacations. The summer section divulges how to deal with visiting relatives and how to avert the cute babies at the beach and reassure yourself you are done with that chapter in life. When it’s time to fall back into those precious school schedules, the pair dole out the charm on carpooling fails, packing healthy lunches (or just saying “screw it” and handing over a few bucks), and the good ole’ PTO. Finally, the book closes on winter, known for cold and flu season, cabin fever, and those dreaded annual holiday cards.

The book strikes a hilarious tone, reminding us that not only is parenting really hard and sucky sometimes, but also that we don’t always have to take it so seriously. Sh*tty Mom for All Seasons provides hard-working parents a great reminder that we really are all in this together, and other parents feel your pain.

Each chapter closes out with a cute reminder, such as “If any of your children were born on April Fools’ Day, postpone your antics until the next day. Those dwarves are evil, but they deserve a happy birthday.” These reminders do prove that these moms are not actually horrible parents, because just like the rest of us, despite all of the waking nightmares parenting presents, at the end of the day, we love the sh*t out of our kids.

About the author

Laurie Schacht

Laurie Schacht

Laurie Schacht is President and Chief Toy Officer of The Toy Insider, the No. 1 resource for parents, grandparents, and any gift-giver looking for the perfect toys and gifts for the kids in their lives. Laurie has more than 25 years of experience in the toy industry, reporting on and overseeing changes and trends in the business. She has been quoted in major broadcast and print media outlets, such as The Today Show, Sherri, ABC World News Now, Fox & Friends, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Hollywood Reporter, Bloomberg News, and Yahoo! Finance. You can follow her on Twitter @ToyInsiderMom and like her on Facebook.

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