I enjoyed this humorous, honest chronicling of Anne Lamott's first year of parenthood. It was very interesting to me to read this book out of sequence, to look back at the love and frustration of a new, single parent, already knowing how she struggled through her son's teen years. I first came to know Sam as a complex, almost grown young man and then got to know him as a beautiful baby learning to smile and make his hands obey his will. Long forgotten memories of my first year of motherhood and my amazing babies came back to me thanks to this book. I was most surprised by how deeply Pam's death affected me, since I knew the how and when of her loss from later books. What a tremendous loss for everyone in this touching journal of Sam's first year. ( )

A refreshing and true look at motherhood and it's ups and downs. Anne LaMott does not become instantly saintly as soon as she squirts out her son. She is still selfish, humorous, and struggling with issues that most of us struggle with (excluding addiction, maybe we don't ALL struggle with that). A wonderful read that flies by. ( )

Hilarious and true; one of the very best motherhood memoirs.

Anne Lamott is one of my favorite writers. She writes with an unflinching honesty and a self-depreciating sense of humor that makes her an incredibly accessible writer. She is probably best known for her books on writing (Bird by Bird) and faith (Traveling Mercies, Grace Eventually), but it is only natural that she penned this book describing her first year of motherhood. A single mother who is woefully unprepared both financially, spiritually and physically (she has some addiction problems), Lamott nevertheless decides to keep the baby when she discovers she has become pregnant. Her journey is both laugh-out-loud funny and incredibly sad as well. A must for any fan of Lamott and anyone interested in good writing about the experience of motherhood. ( )

This book was loaned to me when my son was 5 months old. I found it incredibly comforting to hear the inside story of Ms. Lamott's struggle with parenthood. For many parents, there are some difficult times when your child is so very needy and you are so physically and emotionally drained you think a crack-up is in your immediate future. And whether you have a spouse, a partner, a best friend, or supportive parents of your own, most new parents spend time alone with thier demanding babies wondering when and how their sanity might return. I laughed a little, cried a little, but most of all felt relief of knowing that while parenting a baby can sometimes feel isolating and lonely, this is a common experience from which parents and children emerge all the better. ( )