Rating: 
Summary: A light hearted take on the stresses of parenthood
Review: This book provides a light-hearted look at a handful of "over-the-top" things some parents do, for what they believe is the good of their children. It is nothing new, it has been happening for generations, but with such a large middle class, in our current society, it has become more pronounced and visible.
I enjoyed the book, though at times I found it repetitive. I have had personal experience with a number of the topics she discusses and both agreed and disagreed at times with her various perspectives. In general, though, I do agree with her concept of simplification and parental instinct; instinct really meaning, do what feels right and makes you, as a parent, happy, because happy parents result in happy children. (On an aside, pretty obvious why the reviewer who does not "even have children" and referred to Jesus, and the manger, did not like the book.)
Rating: 
Summary: total lack of respect for parenthood
Review: This is a total lack of respect for parenthood. The only reason I give it a two-star rating is because I love the design of the book; it's really "chicky." The message is to "let the kids do whatever they want as long as they entertain themselves and I don't have to do anything. If they get hurt, they'll get over it and hopefully learn a lesson." Total nonsense! It's amazing to me that any publisher anywhere would actually publish a book like this with their real name on it. I do agree that kids have too much today and we should cut out some of the activities and hyper parenting...but Muffy (what a name) is off the wall and the one thing we don't need in today's society is "slacking off of parenthood." She has a few good basic ideas and then all of a sudden she changes them to be all about her and what her mom did with her and her brother to make them more responsibile. It just reads weird and the message is totally lost. There's much better books out there on getting your life organized so things will run smoother and cutting out too many activities for kids helping them get a simpler life. This is what Muffy needs: organization and a new outlook on life. Try the Happiest Toddler on the Block and Mommy CEO for getting it right and getting kids wanting to take on "their" roles with zest. My kids have certain things (chores) to do and we have cut out many activities and then I am more of a slacker mom...but unlike Muffy's kind of laziness, I am way into parenting and family time.
Rating: 
Summary: If you're a mom, read this book!!
Review: What a fun book! I laughed all the way through...and nodded my head in philosophical agreement. Mead-Ferro has whittled parenting issues down to their base level, challenging many to review their motives for parenting choices. For us fellow-slackers, she's provided an easy read (making me feel accomplished that I finished a book while raising 3 boys under age 5), as well as constant belly laughs that are key to surviving parenthood! A great gift book, especially for a first-time mom!
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