I have big news!!!!!! No, I’m not pregnant. Every time a “mom blogger” says she has big news, people think she’s pregnant. I’ve learned to caveat all “major announcements” with the #notpregnant hashtag. Otherwise, everyone is disappointed.
Well. Hopefully this isn’t disappointing, because it has been in the works for over a year (six years if you count all the time I’ve been blogging) and to be frank, that is way longer than the gestation period.
What’s bigger than my tummy on week 39?
MY BOOK!!!!
Yep, today I finally get to reveal the title and cover of my book, plus I’m announcing that it is available for pre-sales!
Oh my god, it feels so good to get that out there.
Remember when I said writing the book was hard? And then I said laying out the book and finding high res versions of my photos was even harder? Well, deciding on a cover is the absolute hardest. At one point, everyone wanted to go with a cover of Harlow on the iPad and I was like— I CAN’T JUST HAVE ONE OF MY KIDS ON THE COVER!!!
Call me crazy but I think Mazzy would hold that against me for the rest of my life.
Can you imagine Thanksgiving dinner in 2042? I’d serve Harlow turkey first and Mazzy would shout, “I knew it! You’ve always loved Harlow more! You put her on the cover of your book!!!!”
Finally, just a week ago, I thought of something that fits my experience as a mom perfectly— an image that says I’m far from perfect but I’m doing the best I can and I’m okay with that. I took the photo in my kitchen while Mazzy and Harlow, were like, “MOM! What are you doing???!!!! MAKE US LUNCH!” Which seemed to really bring the cover photo home.
Here is my book:
Just to be clear, this book is not me coming down on myself or hating on my kids. It reflects my personal philosophy which is that the average parents (not the ones striving for perfection, hovering in the playground or overdoing it on the Pinterest crafts) are the people having the best parenting experience of all.
It’s a celebration of parenthood in general, while still being honest about the many struggles of new moms and dads. It’s also a love letter to my two daughters, which is something a reader called my blog a few years ago and I never forgot it. That’s another reason why having “Love, Mom” right on the cover feels pretty perfect.
Hopefully, that will help Mazzy and Harlow forgive me for the potty training chapter.
I think I had the most fun writing the first few chapters because those were about a time before I started my blog (I started Mommy Shorts when Mazzy was about 9 months old) so you will find lots of fresh content inside along with a lot of your favorite stories, charts and photo series.
They say that raising a child takes a village and I’ll add that writing this book took a village too. Throughout, you will find pictures and quotes submitted by my readers (aka you guys) over the years, because Mommy Shorts has never been a one-sided venture. Your contributions, advice, support and witty comments have been the backbone of my blog for over six years.
As I say in the intro, “You will learn a lot in this book, but maybe not all of it from me.”
The book will be on shelves on September 27th but if you’d like to buy an advanced copy, or more than one copy (one to read, one to give as a gift, one to put out on your coffee table, one to give your baby to chew on, etc.)…
You can now purchase it online by clicking on any one of the retailers below:
Thank you all for bearing with me during the book writing process. It was no joke. I honestly never even considered that I would one day write a book so even if nobody buys it, it still feels like a great accomplishment of which I am pretty proud.
Just kidding. BUY MY BOOK!!!!
I am so excited for your book! Having other “average” parents tell it like it is is so refreshing in the days of social media snapshot perfection. Thanks for all you do!
Congrats! I can’t wait to get my hands on this book. I think you do a great job of sharing your experiences without having a judgy eye.
I love the cover – perfect: simple, clever and funny. Can’t wAit to read the book!
Cannot wait to read this!
Congrats! So excited to read the book.
The cover is great! Very bright and graphic / just what our tired mummy eyes need to grab our attention. I’ve got no idea what the content of the book will be like but if it’s like your blog/social media it will be funny and real. Your girls may cringe at the book when they’re teenagers but when they’re grown they will love having such a special record of their childhood 🙂
Congratulations! Can’t believe your book is already #4 on Amazon list, long 4 month before its release day! Anyway, i’ve already pre odered it and now anticipation is killing me! The highlight of my suburban life as a stay at home mom is reading YOUR blog! Thank you!
Yay! Congrats! Can’t wait to read it!
Can’t wait for the book! Love all your posts!
I love the book and can’t wait to read this book and give it to all my mom friends! Thanks so much for writing a book on how parenting really is.
Perfect. Average parenting all the way.
I love the cover! Can’t wait to read it!
Congrats on the book! I think the cover is great and I’ve been reading the blog for a little over a year when I happened to find it. I can’t wait to read the book because most of your posts make me laugh out loud. Even the girls at work love to read them with me. I’ve even read some with my boss who was laughing pretty hard at some of them. I’m sure you’ll be #1 in the mommy books section in no time.
I preordered the book today! I love the cover. The only thing better would be a burnt Harlow waffle ?
I cannot wait to read your book! I’m going to pre-order mine today and I just suggested it to my local libraries for purchase. Gotta get that book out and about! 😉
I CANNOT wait for the book! I’m a new mama, and recently started following you on Snapchat… Love, love, love!
Congratulations on your book. I think the cover is simply perfect. Cannot wait to read it.
Ordering! So happy for your success and this huge milestone!
Congratulations! I’m a fan of smearing peanut butter to disguise the burnt toast but etching love notes is something to consider. I love following you and your beautiful family on Instagram. Good luck!
LOVE the cover as I have spent many mornings scraping toast because my little cherubs wouldn’t eat it with “da dark spot”!!!!
Congrats on the book!! I love the cover and cannot wait to read it!!!
I love the cover!!! It’s so great. I cannot wait to have it in print! Your children have the ability to brighten anyone’s day- one day they will thank you for being such a great mom and taking the time to write an awesome book about them!
Thank you for not trying to be super mom and allowing us normal moms to feel good about ourselves instead of feeling like failures lol. Can’t wait for the book!
Congratulations!! Cover is perfect!
Congrats!!! Can’t wait to read your book!!! And your children are beautiful! I love seeing all the post on instagram! <3
Just preordered! I wish it was already out so I didn’t have to wait for it!!
Can’t wait to read the book!
Congratulations! Love the cover, very excited to read it!
I thought I already commented o n this awesome post but it looks like I didn’t! Congrats! I have already pre ordered this as well and I am defintely an average parent 😛
Congratulations!!! I started reading not long ago and I feel you guys as part of my family! Harlow reminds me of my own toddler!!
Can’t wait to read the book!!
Can’t wait to read it!
Looking forward to reading it!
Congrats! I love love love the cover!!! It sums up most parents I know! Can’t wait to read it!!
Congrats on the book! I aspire to average parenting 🙂
I’m so excited for you and your book. I can’t wait to read it!
Love the cover!! I am so excited to get a whole book of your hilarious take on parenting! Your blog posts are my favorite so a whole lot more of that can only be a good thing! ?
Congrats! The girls will think it is sooo cool to have had th r mom write a book! They may be embarrassed as tweens, but will love having everything documented as adults!
Can’t wait for the book…being released on my anniversary!!!!
I love your blog and I’m very excited to read your book when it comes out. I look to your stories of parenting achievements and failures as tips on how to be a good parent to my future children. Congrats on the book and keep the great stories coming!!
Congratulations on your book!!!
?? That cover pretty much sums up motherhood! At least we try. LOL
I love the cover!
Perfectly sums up how living in the MotherHood can be??
#FloorFood #DontForgetToCutOffTheCrust
Love it!! And you’re right. You can’t just put one kid on the cover!!!
this is so amazing, and I can’t wait to read it! I think Mazzy and Harlow will recognize everything you sacrificed and how hard you worked as they get older!!
Congratulations! I’m sure your daughters will be so proud. I can’t wait to read the book!
Can’t judge a book by its cover but in this case I’m excited to read it just by the design. I like that you used a bold color and a simple yet effective concept. Great job!
Love the cover! I think every mom can relate to the burnt toast. Wether they have had it made for them by their kids or that is all they have had time to eat before running out the door. Great job!
Love the cover! It’s as witty as the blog posts that I stumbled upon while up late at night during my pregnancy & continue to read daily. Congrats on the book. Can’t wait till September!!
Cant wait to read it and see more fun pics of your family. Cover is such a great reflectiom of how you write your posts!
Congratulations! I can’t wait to read it!
Cover is great! Scrape that toast with a knife and it will be good as knew 😉
New. Wow. Awesome typo in my comment.
The book cover is the definition of most average parents when it comes to average problems: completely milquetoast.
(#baddadjokesbymom)
Love the cover! I’m excited about the book even though I’m not planning to have kids in the near future ~3 yrs 🙂
The cover looks great, eye catching! I can not wait to read it. There is nothing average about your talent and ability to make moms everywhere feel connected. Congratulations
Congrats, mama! It takes a brave woman in today’s society to proudly boast their averageness. I cannot wait to read something real when it comes to motherhood and survival.
So excited for the book! Wish I had found you sooner (my son is five) so I am looking forward to reading and seeing the stuff I may have missed!
I love the cover. No, I don’t think your girls are doomed to a life of therapy. ?
My pre-order has been placed. I can’t wait to read it!!
I love the book cover. If your girls have the same sense of humor about life that you share on the blog then my guess is that their therapy bills won’t be *too* extensive. Congrats!
Love your book title and cover photo!
I LOVE the cover! and even more so that you took the photo yourself!
I recently discovered your blog and am loving it. As a new mom it is refreshing to read a blog that shows “real life” and not just moms and babes dressed in super expensive outfits appearing to have the perfect life. I can’t wait to check out the book!
Congrats!!! Can’t wait to read this book 🙂
Congrats, Ilana! I’m looking forward to reading your book on my maternity leave this fall. I’m already an average parent to one but I’ll need to brush up for #2!
I love the cover! I can’t wait to order a copy
Congrats! I love reading your blog and would love to read your book!
Yay!!!!! Congratulations!!!!!! I love your snaps. Your a phenomenal mommy 🙂
I love following your blog. I pre-ordered the book and I am so excited for it. The cover is so perfect!
Congratulations on the book! Can’t wait to read it!
And oh man would I love to win the May swag bag! ?
Congratulations! Can’t wait to read the book!
The cover is very well done, I think all of us are striving to be the best “average” parent we can be. Your positive outlook on making mistakes and still being exactly what your kids need is so inspiring and always reminds me that as long as I’m (at least trying) to do my best then I’m exactly what my kids need too! Can’t wait to read the book!
The cover is amazing! Although it’s giving me anxiety thinking about trying to give that to my toddler… Congratulations and I can’t wait to buy it!
Great cover! This is gonna be great!
I’ve looked forward to reading your blog for the past 3+ years and I am certainly looking forward to the book! I’ve been hooked since Harlow’s epic baby hair days but Mazzy being very close in age to my older daughter has kept me interested – you hit a lot of the same struggles and I think we have the same parenting strategy. I’ve also randomly flipped out in public (similar to the cleaners incident and the mean gymnastics mom incident), so I also connect with you as a fellow adult, not just as a mom. The title and cover of the book are perfection.
Love the cover! We’re having peanut butter burnt toast this morning.
I can not wait to get your book! I don’t know if I can contain my excitement until September. Also, I love the cover. It reminds me that none of us are perfect, and that my 5 year old thinks our toaster is a waffle maker. The first time she saw me make toast she was blown away!
Can’t wait, I’m sure it’s fantastic and very relatable!
The title and cover are perfection! I can’t wIt to read it!
I preordered!!! I can’t wait to read it!! Love following on snap chat
Can’t wait to read it- you’re so funny, I’m sure it will be great!
I love the cover and the philosophy! Congrats!!!
I loooove the cover! I enjoy your blog so much, so I can’t wait to read your book!
Great choice on the book cover. A very familiar sight. 🙂 I’m looking forward to buying your book. I love seeing your girls grow up and how you handle life in general.
Love the cover and excited for the book and you!
Oh my, I can’t wait to read it!! I love the cover, reminds me of when my kids try to fix me food. ?
Congratulations and I love the cover!
I love the burnt toast!
Love, love, love your cover and cannot wait to get a copy!!
Writing a book – what a huge feat!
First of all CONGRATULATIONS!!
Writing a book and puting it out there for everyone to read is something I would never be able to do so I bow down to you!
Love the cover!! Think it fits any moms life pretty appropriate. As for Mazzy and Harlow, I will have to read the book first before I suggest therapy for life.
Thank you for being a true blogger and letting new moms like myself know that mistakes are ok.
I love it, mostly because I’ve made the toast like this many, many times. I don’t have any kids to feed my burnt toast to yet, but remembering the disappointment of receiving burnt toast from my mom and her refusal to remake it, I’m sure my kids will also relish the experience.
Loving the May bag!!
Love the cover. I also love the idea that average parents are having the best parenting experiences of all. Can’t wait to see all your hard work come together!
Congratulations! The cover looks great and I am looking forward to reading your book!
Love the title! Good luck
I am so excited to buy two copies of your book so my mom and I can sit down together and read and laugh and discuss being moms together. Congratulations!
I’ve read your blog for years and can’t wait to read your book! This is so amazing. And hey – if we are all average parenting right – all our kids will be in therapy together!
I love this book cover. Shows the realness of motherhood! Can’t wait to read it
What an accomplishment, Mazel Tov! You are one of the top content creators out there. When people bash bloggers, I say “have you read MommyShorts?” cause i don’t think people realize that doing this job well requires a high level of talent. Its not just snapping photos of pretty things.
Excited for the book!!!! We follow you on snap and feel like we are already part of the family 🙂
Excited to read and remember that some of my random and weird parenting quirks are closer to normal than I realize!
You are doing such a great things for your kids 🙂
Congratulations! Love your blog & looking forward to reading your book.