Rating: 
Summary: Put your (money) into your "brat's" college tuition fund!
Review: (Actually, the rating I give it is 2.5)Although I enjoyed some parts of the book, I did not enjoy others. Dr. Jeffers does not back up her arguments and claims with documented facts. I would like to have read a more thorough book about the bad side of parenting that, for the reader, is intellectually stimulating. I really did not appreciate her bombarding me with references to her other books. She plugs her other books every time she gets, and in the process she comes off as desperate. I especially liked the fact that she tells society to back off when it comes to people who choose not to have children. I place myself in that category, and I am tired of society telling women that we must have babies in order to be happy and content. It's twin myth is that single womaen can't be happy without a man. We must destroy these two dangerous myths that soceity pushes on us, and live out lives on our own terms. I also liked her care-free attitude concerning her book. She advises to take what you want and leave the rest. Her book's topic is contoversial and she realises that people can and will disagree with her. I would not reccommend buying this book, however...
Rating: 
Summary: Thought Provoking Antedote to Parenthood Myths
Review: A bit of background about me is that I am a "stay-at-home" mother of two children, aged three and one. I struggled with infertility for nearly nine years before (finally) successfully becoming pregnant and having my children. In a way, wanting them so badly and trying so hard has made it nearly impossible for me to admit how terribly difficult it can be. A voice inside seems to be constantly telling me, "Don't complain! You got what you wanted!" I did get what I wanted, and more. If I had read Susan's book before having my kids, I would have really hated it. I wouldn't have believed most of it. I would have said to myself, "these are problems that other people face with their kids, but because I will do everything right, these issues won't affect me." And that would have been incredibly naive. What has happened to me is that when I got my kids, I REALLY got my kids. It is me who takes care of them "24/7." It is unreleived by any job, or very much help from my spouse (although some). Our financial situation makes babysitting help a rare luxury and we are not in a tight community. Now I know why I am going a little crazy, and also a few things to provide myself with some relief. This book helped me to see that although my children do need to have high quality care at all times, it does not need to be provided by me exclusively. Also, taking care of myself in terms of doing some things that are important to me will ultimately help my children more than my constant availability. The section about the "guilt gurus" was also especially helpful. This is the part that made me want to give the book to everyone I know. Because society has drummed it into us that it is all up to the parents, especially the mother. But the fact is that the mothers and fathers need help and support in this job and we aren't getting it. But we might be able to if we see that we need it and start speaking up, instead of posing to the world that it's easy. Well...I have more to say, but it sounds like the kids woke up!!!
Rating:
Summary: Finally, someone tells the truth.
Review: As a kid free person, this book doesn't personally affect me. I've seen what having kids does to the ones who are parents, and the toll it takes on them. My mother would have benefitted from having this book around.
Rating: 
Summary: What a Blessing!
Review: As a mother of a 17 year old daughter, I found this book to be funny and insightful. As with most books, you take want you want out of it and leave the rest, but this book was a page turner. Now I recite "I'm okay, you're a brat" in my head when things get tough. I've recommended this book to many parents and therapists.
Rating:
Summary: Has some good points, but a trifle egocentric
Review: As an adult who has chosen to remain childfree, I appreciate the idea behind this book: that parenthood isn't all it's cracked up to be & those who decide to become parents need to know what they're in for. I also appreciate how the author shows the childfree lifestyle as a perfectly viable alternative. What I didn't like about this book at all were the few chapters in the middle where she sounds like just another selfish, egocentric parent. In my opinion, if you're going to choose to be a parent, do it & accept all the consequences that go along with it. Don't be one of those selfish parents who constantly whine "what about MY needs?" Despite all her "don't get me wrong, I love my kids" comments, Ms. Jeffers seems to really resent having had kids & having to deal with their "bratty" behavior. Her anecdote about her toddler son having a tantrum because he couldn't get a toy, with a passerby's unsolicited admonishment of Ms. Jeffers ignoring him, and Ms. Jeffers' response to the stranger ("what a horrible way for a child to treat his mother!") really drove the author's own selfishness home for me. A 2-year-old does not logically think "gee, Mom's right, I do have plenty of toys at home, and I guess I should be grateful to her that I have them at all", yet Ms. Jeffers reaction to her son's behavior seems to indicate that his reacting as he did makes him a "brat". She encourages parents of adult children who voice any discontent about their childhoods to simply look their children in the eye & repeat: "I'm OK, you're a brat" over & over. Give me a break. If you're going to *have* children (which most people do for incredibly selfish reasons anyway) don't blame *them* because you don't like what you got. Perhaps Ms. Jeffers should take some of her own advice: yes, children should not believe they are the center of the universe, but neither should the parent.
Rating:
Summary: Very Funny
Review: Being CF, I found first of all, the title to be quite intriguing and the contents very funny. I found the author to be quite selfish and self centred at times, but aren't we all at some point. Her honesty is quite refreshing and she tells it like it is as far as being a parent goes. I did find that perhaps she did not really want to have kids and therefore resented them a bit, but that's not for me to say. I found it a good read and very entertaining...I wonder if ALL parents can realate! This book mirrors "The Mask of Motherhood" by Susan Maushart which I found to be a more "mature" representation of parenthood.
Rating: 
Summary: I'm Okay, You're a Brat
Review: Excellent book. Dr. Jeffers breaks down the truth about parenting. It's not like The Brady Bunch or The Cosby Show! There are a lot of overwhelming challenges and problems. This book should be required reading for teens--maybe it would cut down on so many out-of-wedlock births. It also should be read by anyone who is being told they "are supposed" to have children. I love Dr. Jeffers' writing style. She is straight forward without being overbearing. This book totally cuts through the fantasies people have about parenting.
Rating:
Summary: Challenge To Think First Before Acting
Review: Excellent book. Dr. Jeffers breaks down the truth about parenting. It's not like The Brady Bunch or The Cosby Show! There are a lot of overwhelming challenges and problems. This book should be required reading for teens--maybe it would cut down on so many out-of-wedlock births. It also should be read by anyone who is being told they "are supposed" to have children. I love Dr. Jeffers' writing style. She is straight forward without being overbearing. This book totally cuts through the fantasies people have about parenting.
Rating:
Summary: This book is a life-saver!
Review: For those of us who have struggled and felt incredible guilt for our negative feelings about parenthood, at last, we realize that we are not alone, nor are we bad, we are just human. Yes, this book tells the downside about parenting. As Dr. Jeffers states at the beginning of the book, that was its purpose. There is already too much out there telling us that becoming a parent is the most "fulfilling" thing we can do in life. For some of us, this is true. But for some of us, this simply is not true. The author describes what changes occur in your life once a child is born. She is absolutely right on that score. And for some of us, it isn't a pretty sight. For would-be parents, this is a God-send, and for those of us already in the fray it is reassuring to know that we aren't crazy for wondering where our adult life went. What I was most impressed with was her talking about the "mad myths of parenthood" and the guilt-gurus who do their best to make us feel guilty. It all makes so much sense. By the way, this book should definitely be read by men as the author points out how sexist the world is when it comes to men and their children. It also reaffirms how important men are to the lives of their children. I closed the book realizing how much we are brainwashed about the ideas of parenthood and how important it is to think for ourselves. I also came away feeling that my children have their own course, their own calling, and that, while it was important for me to do my best to give them loving care (whatever that means for each of us), I must let go of the outcome. There are so many factors that affect them body, mind and soul. We all have to learn what those factors are and get involved in helping society move toward a more loving place. For anyone out there thinking about having a child or wanting to remain childfree, this book is a must. For those of us who already have children, it is a ray of hope and a source of peace of mind.
Rating:
Summary: IGNORE THIS BOOK!!
Review: Here is my answer to Susan Jeffers book...If your foolish enough to think raisingkids are easy buy a dog not this book!
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