What the Other Mothers Know: A Practical Guide to Child Rearing Told in a Really Nice, Funny Way That Won't Make You Feel Like a Complete Idiot the Way All Those Other Parenting Books Do - Softcover

Michele Gendelman; Ilene Graff; Donna Rosenstein

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0061139866 ISBN 13: 9780061139864

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks, 2007

Synopsis

Written by three mothers who've been through it all, What the Other Mothers Know gives you straight, funny, realistic talk on:

• getting drool stains out of clothing
• finding the perfect babysitter and maintaining her loyalty
• taking car trips with toddlers
• recognizing how to set limits and holding to them
• sucking up to preschool directors
• keeping your child off ihatemymom.com
• And much, much more

The maternal wisdom of the ages is right in your hands—delivered with a heaping spoonful of humor.

About this title

About the Authors

Michele Gendelman is a comedy writer, with credits on “Newhart,” “Facts of Life,” and “Ghost Stories,” among many other shows. A part-time professor of screenwriting and film history at Los Angeles City College, she also writes animated series for Cartoon Network and PBS, and is married to writer/producer Andrew Guerdat. Her crowning achievement is having instilled a strong sense of humor in her children, Marc and Abby, and, above all, teaching them to laugh at themselves. Marc and Abby, however, prefer to laugh at their mother. And as far as they’re concerned, her greatest accomplishment is her mashed potatoes.

Ilene Graff is an actress and singer, best known for the six seasons she spent as the mom in the ABC-TV comedy, “Mr. Belvedere.” Her Broadway stage work includes “Promises, Promises,” “Grease,” and “I Love My Wife.” She co-starred with Glenn Close in a film version of “South Pacific,” and has appeared in mini-series and feature films; her CD, “Baby’s Broadway Lullabies,” was nominated for a Grammy. Married to composer Ben Lanzarone, her finest production is their daughter Nikka, who is a musical theater performer in New York. Ilene is shocked but grateful to suddenly be one of the “other mothers.”

Donna Rosenstein is a television casting director in Los Angeles, currently working on “The Ghost Whisperer,” starring Jennifer Love Hewitt, and numerous other television and film projects. As a Senior Vice-President at ABC Television for many years, she oversaw the casting of such hits as “NYPD Blue,” “Roseanne,” “thirtysomething,” “The Practice,” and “Twin Peaks.” She has worked with Sylvester Stallone, Oprah Winfrey, and the Muppets, but her most successful project to date is her 16-year old daughter, Georgi. A single mom, Donna has juggled full-time work and hands-on parenting; never missed a teacher conference, recital, or buying a pair of pointe shoes; and lived to tell the tale due largely to an entire village of “other mothers.” She is thrilled to be able to pass along their sound, loving advice.

From the Back Cover

Written by three mothers who've been through it all, What the Other Mothers Know gives you straight, funny, realistic talk on:

• getting drool stains out of clothing
• finding the perfect babysitter and maintaining her loyalty
• taking car trips with toddlers
• recognizing how to set limits and holding to them
• sucking up to preschool directors
• keeping your child off ihatemymom.com
• And much, much more

The maternal wisdom of the ages is right in your hands—delivered with a heaping spoonful of humor.

Reviews

Gendelman, a comedy writer; Graff, a singer and actress; and Rosenstein, a casting director (combined mothers of four children), put their heads together to create this jaunty volume about the secrets "other mothers" know. Interviewing friends, colleagues, relatives and acquaintances in an intimate, casual manner, the three authors seek to provide a "maternal E-Z Pass" for inexperienced mothers. Advising novice moms to "always ask other moms for guidance, even if you don't know them personally," the authors believe that experienced parents will harbor tips and methods that new moms can't possibly know. Indeed, the authors do unearth plenty of worthy nuggets, such as sharing babysitting with another mom to get the grocery shopping done solo, or keeping a car seat in each family vehicle. But they also stumble upon some advice that, while original, seems questionable (e.g., use a speakerphone while expressing milk in the office (why not just take a time-out?); offer a toddler Daddy's ancient outdated baby underwear as a potty-training incentive). Written in a breezy, fun-loving style, the authors concentrate on the early years, working their way up to school-age kids. This self-described "mother of all mothering books" contains some useful and unique ideas, but it certainly won't stand alone on the parenting shelf. (Apr.)
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Edition details

• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
• Publication date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0061139866
• ISBN 13: 9780061139864
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 336