Rating: 
Summary: An answered prayer for the mother of a very small maniac!!
Review: We don't call my son "Connor the Barbarian" for nothing! Vicki Iovine's new book couldn't have come at a better time for me. My son is almost two and as a first time parent, I'm often at a loss as to what to do with him!!! My sweet cuddly baby has been replaced by a tornado in diapers! Reading about some of her own mistakes and experiences reminded me that none of us are perfect parents and that a sense of humor is absolutely crucial in order to survive this stage of their lives. She offered excellent advice and had me laughing all the way through the book. Her guide to Toddlers has made me feel more confident as a mother and reminds us that this stage of their lives will pass all too soon. I wish I could thank her personally for such a wonderful book..
Rating:
Summary: A humorous and uplifting book about parenting a toddler.
Review: I loved this book!! Vicky Iovine makes you feel like you are not alone in the trials and tribulations of raising a toddler. She is very funny and had me laughing with her anecdotes about her family and her "Girlfriends" families. Reading her book is very much like talking to one of your friends. She gives you advice and scenarios without telling you that her word is law. I thought her stories were great!I enjoyed reading about her mistakes, which she takes full credit for, and hearing that no one is the perfect mother and that a sense of humor and some relaxing go a long way! I hope you enjoy her book as much as I did.
Rating: 
Summary: So much rings true.
Review: I recently finished this very witty, informative "guide", I wouldn't exactly consider it a true manual that one would want to live by, this is also due to different points of view on a couple of issues. I don't believe in terrorizing, mistreating, disrespecting, or smacking around sacred little creatures that we've put on this earth, but I sort of found her disciplinarian approach to be a little too wishy-washy. Even though she does suggest stooping down to where you are at eye-level with the child and looking and sounding like you mean business (even when at times you're about to bust out laughing), that works at times, but not always, childre are much smarter than we often give them for credit for being and therefore they often take advantage of this "putting them on an equal" level. This is the part of the book where I have to agree with what she says about her father who said that he would resort to occasional spanking, not to hurt his children but to get their attention. At times this alternative seems to be the only solution for many of us parents and it's not one bit fun for us either, as a matter of fact the less used the better for us too. Unfortunately, a lot of people out there choose to classify an occasional smack on the hand or bottom as a form of child abuse. Child abuse is treating a child roughly or cruelly, something most of us could never, ever do in the first place.
However I think Vicki Iovine hits the nail on the head on a numerous selection of subjects, and she does so with tact, straightfowardness, wit and wisdom. Okay we do gather that she is socioeconomically at a higher level than many of her readers, but so what! Who cares? I don't see many readers' problem with it. I think she's still very grounded, basically relates to all socioeconomic levels and makes her point many a time. Come on! This lady has a heck of a lot on her plate with four children, you can have a maid, butler, nanny, whatever, but the responsibility of your little ones is still YOURS. All the nourishment, hygiene, doctor/ dentist appointments, overall organization, education, direction, and preparations for big world are solely YOURS (and your spouse's of course). How does a woman raising four kids with all those concerns find time to write so many books? We can't say she doesn't have it together that's for sure!
I recently finished this very witty, informative "guide", I wouldn't exactly consider it a true manual that one would want to live by, this is also due to different points of view on a couple of issues. I don't believe in terrorizing, mistreating, disrespecting, or smacking around sacred little creatures that we've put on this earth, but I sort of found her disciplinarian approach to be a little too wishy-washy. Even though she does suggest stooping down to where you are at eye-level with the child and looking and sounding like you mean business (even when at times you're about to bust out laughing), that works at times, but not always, childre are much smarter than we often give them for credit for being and therefore they often take advantage of this "putting them on an equal" level. This is the part of the book where I have to agree with what she says about her father who said that he would resort to occasional spanking, not to hurt his children but to get their attention. At times this alternative seems to be the only solution for many of us parents and it's not one bit fun for us either, as a matter of fact the less used the better for us too. Unfortunately a lot of people out there choose to classify an occasional swat on the hand or bottom as a form of child abuse. Child abuse is treating a child roughly or cruelly, something most of us could never, ever do.
However I think Vicki Iovine hits the nail on the head on a numerous selection of subjects, and she does so with tact, straightfowardness, wit and wisdom. Okay we do gather that she is socioeconomically at a higher level than many of her readers, but so what! Who cares? I don't see the problem with it. I think she's still very grounded, basically relates to all socioeconomic levels and makes her point many a time. Come on this lady has a heck of a lot on her plate with four children, you can have a maid, butler, nanny, whatever, but the responsilibity of your little ones is still YOURS and all the healthcare and dentist issues, organization, education, direction, and preparations for big world are solely YOURS (and your spouse's of course).
How does a woman raising four kids find time to write so many books? We can't say she doesn't have it together that's for sure.
Rating:
Summary: A hilarious look on raising toddlers!
Review: As a first-time mom of twin toddler boys (they will be two in three weeks) ~~ I have literally thought I was losing my mind till I found this book. When I picked it up and read the first paragraph on when to let your toddler sleep in a "big" bed, I was hooked. Thank goodness for an author like Iovine ~~ she definitely knows her toddlers. And not only is she humorous about the situations we all face as parents with toddlers, she is also reassuring that we are not nuts. That all of a sudden that our sweet little infants turned into these demons running our lives. =0) She has made lots of valid points about raising children, discipline and how to deal with it. She also reassures me, as a first-time mom, that it is all normal. She points out the humor of the situations ~~ in a gentle way as if to remind us that it's not all bad. I am just glad that I am not the only mom out there who feels like she's the meanest and baddest mom dealing with two toddlers running ramshod all over the house/world. This is not only a helpful guide ~~ it's a reassuring guide. It's light-hearted enough to get me out of the doldrums to laugh again ~~ and it's serious enough to give me pointers that I may not have considered before. I am definitely buying this for my niece who is expecting her first child this fall ~~ I sure wish someone had bought all of these Girlfriend's guides for me! 6-26-04
Rating: 
Summary: Fun book to read
Review: I enjoyed the girlfriends guide to parenting. It was a fast, easy book to read. Another MUST Book for parents, especially when your parenting style differs from your spouse is "Good Parents Bad Parenting" by Lisa Dunning
Rating:
Summary: Vicki's Wit Provides Belly Laughs for Moms
Review: As a parenting author myself, I do not often recommend other parenting books and yet, this one couldn't help but catch my eye! Vicki has a wit that any mom can use particularly on those days when she is about to go off the deep end.
Like the last reviewer, I don't suggest that readers use this book as their primary resource for effective discipline and yet, it is a fun read that gives the reader a chance to really get into the mindset of our cherished toddlers.
I applaude Vicki for giving moms the gift of escapist humor that can put everything back into perspective and help moms to realise that they are rarely alone.
Rating:
Summary: Not What I Expected.... Much Better!
Review: Let me begin by saying this is NOT the book for you if you're looking for a "How To" Manual. Babies and toddlers don't come with manuals, not even after the sale. ;) Every child is so dramatically, wonderfully different, and this book celebrates that.
I bought this book as a first-time mother of an 18 month old little boy. I am a worry-wart, as I am realizing all first time Moms are. This book has really helped me lighten up and slow down. It's funny, insightful, and assures you that no matter what, you will survive toddlerhood.
All in all, I was delighted with this book. It's an easy read, funny, and heartwarming. She doesn't sugar coat anything, but she doesn't spend time trying to force all the latest tips and tricks of the trade down your throat that probably won't work anyway - as I said before - each child is dramatically different.
At the end of the day, it helped me realize what I suspected was true. Always follow your intuition, and be the kind of Mommy that feels right in your heart to be. You don't need a how to manual, you just need a lot of love.
Rating:
Summary: So much rings true.
Review: This very witty, informative "guide", isn't something I would actually consider a true manual that one would want to live by, also due to different points of view on a couple of issues. I don't believe in terrorizing, mistreating, disrespecting, or smacking around precious children whom we've put on this earth, but I sort of found her disciplinarian approach to be a little too wishy-washy. Even though she does suggest stooping down to where you are at eye-level with the child and looking and sounding like you mean business (even when at times you're about to bust out laughing), that works at times, but not always, kids are much smarter than we often give them for credit for being, they may try to take advantage of this "putting them on an equal" level. This is the part of the book where strongly agree with what she says about her father who said that he would resort to occasional spanking, not to harm or scare his children but to get their attention. At times this alternative seems to be the only solution for many parents and it's not one bit fun for them either, as a matter of fact the less used the better for both. Unfortunately, a lot of people out there choose to classify an occasional smack on the hand or bottom as a form of child abuse. Child abuse is treating a child roughly or cruelly, something most of us could never, ever do in the first place.
However I think Vicki Iovine hits the nail on the head on a numerous selection of subjects, and she does so with tact, straightfowardness, wit and wisdom. Okay we do gather that she is socioeconomically at a higher level than many of her readers, which many seem to comment on, but so what! Who cares? I don't see a problem with it. I think she's still very grounded, basically relates to all socioeconomic levels and makes her point many a time. Come on! This author has her hands full with four children, you can have a maid, butler, nanny, whatever, but the responsibility of your little ones is still YOURS. Nourishment, hygiene, doctor/ dentist appointments, overall organization, education, direction, and preparations for big world are solely YOURS (and your spouse's of course). How does this lady find time to write so many books? We can't say she doesn't have it together that's for sure!
Rating:
Summary: A Tidy Dose of Sanity
Review: I'm on my 3rd or 4th reading of this book - I lost count somewhere along the way. It has saved my sanity on many occasions when I thought either my toddler must be possessed by aliens or I am surely the worst, most inept and meanest mom in the whole world. Vicki's book made me see that all toddlers and their behavior can drive you to these feelings, and best of all, that most of the problems work themselves out in their own good time. Vicki calls her approach "non-neurotic parenting" and that's something I've always strived for. Her book helps me put my experience with my daughter in perspective, and enjoy the journey with her as she grows to a self-sufficient child.
Rating:
Summary: Fun, relaxing and helpful !!!
Review: I am glad that I bought this edition of the Girlfriends' Guide! It has made our life much easier! We have a new baby at home, and tackling with a toddler at the same time is not easy at all. This book is just awesome in a way that it helps to understand the busy toddlers' behaviour and also it helps calming the parents down to make the most of these hard years. Thank you for putting all these information down about these lovable little creatures and sharing your own experience with the wide audience!
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