When I first received my copy of Stefanie Wilder-Taylor's new book, Naptime Is the New Happy Hour and Other Ways Toddlers Turn Your Life Upside Down (hitherto referred to as Naptime), I found a review (somewhere, which I now can't find to correctly credit) that said the book would make me wish she were my new best friend.
"Hm," I though, tersely, "We'll just see about that." I can't help it. For all my Pollyanna-ing, I'm contrary that way.
The book starts of a teeny bit slower than I expected, which allowed me to smugly believe that I may actually avoid the aforementioned desire to declare Stefanie my "BFF". But then she warms up. And what can I say... after her account of her first Pampered Chef party in the beehive of suburbia, how she was seated next to a woman who looked a bit like Lisa Loeb, but couldn't carry a conversation with a bucket and a shovel, who then, of course, turns out to really be Lisa Loeb who was likely put-off by Stefanie's somewhat abrasive attempts at conversation... well, I was hooked.
Because if I lived in L.A., that would be me. I would be the chick making those kinds of impressions. Open mouth, insert foot. And then run home to write about it on the blog.
So there. I admit it. I have a cyber-crush on Stefanie. And she loves me, too. I have proof! Look! She commented on my blog! And our kids both have curly hair, which totally means it's destiny.
I feel it's only fair as an impartial journalist that I admit this crush upfront, as it may color my perception of the book. Ahem. Now, where was I?
Naptime is a hybrid of girlfriend gossip-meets-girlfriend advice that's good for the soul. It's not really a how-to or a manual, but she does have some good suggestions mixed in with the humor. But who are we really kidding? What we're really after is the humor. At least I am. Because I can find all the advice I could ever need - and more. way. WAY more. - on the internet. Whereas finding good humor that steps over the line every so often with a well-placed swear word every now and then, well, that's much harder to find. Though clearly, not impossible. And if it's one thing that mom of toddlers need, it's a good laugh.
Stefanie writes in a tone and format that feels familiar to all us because it reads much like a good blog, with one well-thought-out post after another. Minus the comments, obviously. Which makes sense, since she writes a blog: Baby on Bored. See, witty, no? In fact, Stefanie is one of those urban legends we hear about in blogland. Apparently, she was just writing her blog, minding her own business when WHAMO! an publisher said, hey, I know! You should write a book!
Can you tell that jealousy figures largely into my crush?
But really now, back to the book. As a resident of L.A., hot-spot and petri dish for all forms of extremism - Stefanie acts a bit like a wildlife guide, identifying, tracking, and observing various species of mommy, from the Too Cools (or "Tools", for short) to the Superliars (often know as Supermoms instead). Her New Mommy Math is a handy tool for deciphering what other moms are really saying when they claim that processed sugar never touches their toddler's lips and that their television viewing is limited to a half-hour of educational content each day. Sure, her descriptions are over super barely inflated, and stereotypical, but who cares?! They're funny! And they go a long way towards alleviating any mommy guilt you may be holding on to. It turns out there really are lots of normal moms out there. We're just to shocked by the more strident hardliners to speak up.
Stefanie also throws in some handy quizzes and bulleted tips to help you navigate the world of toddlerhood. My favorite was her Playdate Quiz, which helps you identify whether or not another potential playdate mommy will fit with your sensibilities. A sample:
"1. I show up at your door with a bottle of Pinot Grigio. Your response:
A) What kind of a mother are you?
B) Oh, I would never drink this early, but I'll store it for you in my two-thousand-dollar Sub-Zero fridge.
C) Pop that sucker open, bitch!"
As it turns out, Stefanie and I would get along like gangbusters on playdates. Though I do have to admit to actually liking the Wonder Pets, who make her list of top shows to avoid.
I'm tempted to turn this entry into a long list of favorite quotes (I kept snorting out loud and forcing quotes on Todd as he lay in bed next to me trying to watch High Stakes Poker - a good sign for the book, but a bad one for my husband), but I suppose that would defeat the purpose.
In summary, Naptime may not be deep, but it is good. It's funny. You'll laugh. And it's a quick read. Score!
So go get it, and tell your friends the same.
