Why Mummy Drinks: The Sunday Times Number One Bestselling Author

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Most of the observations in this book are full of first world problems. Petty rivalries at the school gate, in the park, amongst the mothers, between the neighbours, facebook stalking, drinkies with an old love. Blah, blah, blah. It was one giant whingefest with lots of sweary acronyms I've never heard of before, which confounded me as they were said after her "adorable moppets" messed something up or her hubby annoyed her. Ouch. Lots of cattiness and spite thrown in for good measure. Yawn. This is a comic insight into the life of a middle class family and the travails of life that disrupt all efforts to be more organised. It is written in the form of a diary, Ellen is a woman looking to change her mess of a life with her recalcitrant young children, Peter and Jane, and her tech obsessed husband, Simon, and family dog. Her turning 39 awakens all her insecurities and fears about the process of aging, she is determined to be more fashion conscious and improve her image, and be the more perfect and organised mother. So she draws up plans, gives us insights into how her actual life has been. Like all the best laid plans, they scarcely survive the realities of life. There are the stresses of the school gate mummies, Lucy Atkinson's perfect mommy and The Coven, always perfectly turned out, with whom Ellen can barely compete. Although the occasional Dad at the gate sends hearts aflutter.

FML. For when you can't even be bothered to swear properly, but abbreviate the words. While pouring another drink. Ellen really could be anyone of us. She's heading towards a big milestone in her life and she is doing her best to try and be the perfect mother and wife. Well as we only to well know, life is never that easy and even though we may fancy ourselves as being a bit of a Mary Poppins, sadly that is probably more just wishful thinking!Right from the start, it sets the tone; outlining the 'ideal day' (offering the 'precious moppets' a choice of 'wholesome homemade breakfasts', serenely walking to school etc.) vs the grim reality of telling aforementioned moppets to 'disengage themselves from bastarding electronic devices' and legging it to school with moments to spare. We're then immersed in Ellen's chaotic, madcap life, raising Peter and Jane, coping with her husband's irritating habits, designing an app, while defending herself against the 'coven' of yummy mummies in the playground. She befriends Sam, an uber-fit dad who happens to be gay, and together, they and her other friend Hannah spend a lot of time getting sozzled, particularly when there are relatives staying at home. spatele rețetelor de socializare știți și voi cum e: multă tristețe și o realitate care nu e ambalată cu niciun filtru.

This book will make you so glad you've read it and make you realise that your own family life is very much a normal one. People may portray a totally different image at the school gate, but what goes on behind closed doors is more than likely very similar to your own. None of us are perfect and we all have good intentions but we do the best with what we have. Through Ellen she reminds of us this but brings a lot of humour into it also. However, the book group did find themselves concerned that drink seemed to be the answer to all of the central character's issues; as a fairly middle class person this mum is the acceptable face of drinking and being drunk. But, if the central character was instead a working class mum, single parent, with no job, then would it seem to be so funny...we doubted it. More like whine. Incessantly. About everything. And everyone. Mweh. I wanted to drink while reading this. Maybe I should have, I may have enjoyed it more.She appears to be obsessed about getting her friend Hannah laid by a new guy she's fantasizing about called Sam, who is actually gay! She's constantly inviting people over to her place and every instance is a complete disaster I.e. Fireworks party, Christmas party, Pancakes... Do we women not know men like this? Do we not know women who work and do the laundry, the ironing, the shopping, the getting the children to school and their after-school programs, who take time off work to take them to the doctor and have dinner ready on the table when the husband, tired from a day in the office, comes in from work? Her appalling sister-in-law and her husband and their unruly, un toilet-trained, "the only thing we own is our soul" (and therefore what's the problem with me using all your things when they aren't really 'your's') and the Great Goddess in the Sky will provide for us says our Coven or some such rubbish. She has no notion of work, but wants to be a free spirit sponging off her brother. Mummy has been a wife and mother for so long that she’s a little bit lost. And despite her best efforts, her precious moppets still don’t know the location of the laundry basket, the difference between being bored and being hungry, or that saying ‘I can’t find it Mummy’ is not the same as actually looking for it. This book raised a few wry smiles, but that's it. The funniest part for me was the Xmas from hell spent with her sister-in-law and her hubby Amaris & Bardo (previously known as Louisa & Kevin). Born again hippies, with an ever growing brood of progeny, they were pretty grubby, annoying & had hygiene habits that left a lot to be desired. But at least they were mildly amusing. Or maybe this part of the book was amusing as it was not filled with the me, me, me angst.

If you feel that you're not one of the 'in gang' and that everyone else's lives are going much more smoothly than yours then you'll find you are not alone. Job dissatisfaction, less than perfect children, extended family problems, money difficulties...are all relatable and laughable topics that can be found in this book. And if you don't mind swearing (or acronyms for swearing usually used in text messages) then you're probably more likely to enjoy this book. Firstly, I really like the cover of this book, and the predecessors in this series, they're all really pretty and I love how they all match up together, and are busy yet minimalistic all at the same time. This book was okay- but I was hoping for so much more. The first few chapters annoyed me, as it was completely reliant on a series of stereotypes- the dad who spends too much time at work, the mum who does all the child care and housework, the stay at home mums, the working mums etc. etc. I was really hoping that this book would break away from this, and have something different to say, alas not! It felt like a bit of a rip off of Bridget Jones if I'm honest with all the above mentioned stereotypes thrown in for good measure.Things absolutely deteriorate when there is a big row over her overspending on the shopping although it is mostly his sister and her insistence on organic, non-gluten wholefood from specialist shops. Mummy says, do you think I have time to traipse around the supermarkets to save a few pence on this item and that? His sister comes with her brood and her campervan having left her unfaithful husband and not wanting to actually work, decides she will leech again off her brother and sister-in-law. She would like her own house in France, but her parents are suddenly short of money. Even though Ellen at times could be very selfish, I loved her character overall. When she needs to step up to the mark she does and she had me routing for her a long the way. From issues with extended family to the everyday issues you would have at home, this book really does have it all and really makes for a highly enjoyable read. I have to start this little review by saying firstly that I am not a mummy. So I guess I may be a little bit more judgemental over this poor pathetic mummy who is quite negative, jealous of the other pretending to be more together mummies and feels victimized by both her kids and her husband.