Just Kiss Me and Tell Me You Did the Laundry : A Guide to Negotiating Parenting Roles--From Diapers to Careers, Carpooling to Romance

Rating:
Summary: Women owe a debt to author Karen Bouris
Review: By defining the predicament of working mothers who because of tradition bear most of the work load of home and children and by explaining how it causes resentment and stress in motherhood, the author gives a detailed and honest look of what is happening in marriages today.

The book is priceless in that it supplies ideas and information that couples usually only get by spending a lot of money at a marriage counselor. The divorce rate will severely drop in the marriages of couples who use this valuable workbook as their guide.

With great courage, humor and wisdom, Bouris shares intimate details of how she and her husband managed to work out a plan that would allow, in their case, to switch traditional roles and share in parenting and household chores. And she describes how their new roles helped them gain insights, experiences and joy they would have otherwise missed out on.

She writes that needs for every couple are not the same and that they might even change as the years go by. But if couples will honestly communicate their desires to each other, they can put into action the kind of marriage they want. The author goes into great depth analyzing and describing the typical emotional reactions of couples in marital situations. She gives many examples of what life is like for the modern day working parent. This allows the reader to identify and realize their situations are not unique.

This book is not only about how Mothers who want or need to have a career should have the support and cooperation from the father in sharing the parental responsibilites and handling household chores. It also gives many helpful tips to couples on how to nuture their relationship, honor themselves, and cherish each other. It is a detailed and helpful guide how to negotiate with your mate and organize your life so that your marriage blossoms and grows.

Rating:
Summary: Unbelievably Insightful and Challenging
Review: For all of us who are parents and share that journey with a partner this book is an amazing resource. It challenges you to improve your situation and truly create the kind of partnership you want with your spouse. The book is funny, effective and at times can seriously push your buttons. I found myself occasionally feeling stressed as I read it because it really made me assess what I like and don't like about my situation. It has REAL life exercises and suggestions to help you make improvements and changes rather than just discussing the difficulties (and of course joys) of parenting and living with your spouse. A great, enjoyable and (for me somewhat life changing) read!

Rating:
Summary: Great Help for Couples
Review: There are so many books focusing on the "problems" of parenting and relationships--and this book is very much about solutions for couples, which I found refreshing and helpful. The underlying premise of the book is to be intentional in our parenting roles and make your kids a priority without sacrificing women's identities or trapping men in breadwinner roles. This author does this without being overly political or preachy and uses humor, interviews with lots of other women, and her own personal story in an effective way. But best are the plethora of tools--discussion questions, exercises, and lists of housework and childcare duties--so that you can pick and choose what you and your partner need to work on. It's a powerful idea and book, no matter what your parenting choices are.

Rating:
Summary: Great Help for Couples
Review: There are so many books focusing on the "problems" of parenting and relationships--and this book is very much about solutions for couples, which I found refreshing and helpful. The underlying premise of the book is to be intentional in our parenting roles and make your kids a priority without sacrificing women's identities or trapping men in breadwinner roles. This author does this without being overly political or preachy and uses humor, interviews with lots of other women, and her own personal story in an effective way. But best are the plethora of tools--discussion questions, exercises, and lists of housework and childcare duties--so that you can pick and choose what you and your partner need to work on. It's a powerful idea and book, no matter what your parenting choices are.