Living in a Locker Room
Paula Schmitt
(Reviewer - Rebecca Brown)
2005 Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing
ISBN: 1932279156

A mom's tale of survival in a household of boys. 29 parenting stories that will capture your heart & tickle your funny bone.

Living in a Locker Room will do more than that, it'll bring you close to the brink of blood, snot & tears... of laughter. Ah, the joys of tribal life, with a handful of males all in one nest, with Mom the only female within shouting distance.

From the delivery room of her first son & initiation into the post-birth hospital farce -- complete with leaking bosom & “notes to self ” -- to the joys of changing diapers -- complete with a Warholian description thereof -- to her first child's milestones, this New Mom delivers her reportage in a fast, light & funny voice.

Then along comes Boy #2 & this Mom's getting the hang of it until... along comes Boy#3. Now she has a season ticket to the pediatrician & grocery shopping that resemble Dante's Inferno... until -- yup! -- along comes Boy #4.

& lest you think this Mom isn't scientific, there's mention of testosterone, estrogen & PMS plus potty training & of course sports. To give you an idea of what this Mom covers:
It's A Boy!
Another Baby! Another Boy?
Commando Dining
Housecleaning With Toddler Boys
Are We Having Fun Yet?
Rules for Traveling With Boys
When Dad Speaks, Sons Listen
The Universal “Cloud” of Mystery: Are Farts Supposed To Be Funny?
Young Scholar Dreams
Boys And Sports
Boys and Boo-Boos

Read it & weep tears of terror & humor, then give it to everyone you know who's expecting for the first time... or the second... or the third...

When Paula Schmitt isn't digging out from under mountains of laundry, restocking the pantry & freezer or screaming from the sidelines, she's writing about all of the above for her columns Mommy Mediator & The All Sport Mom for The Herald of Randolph, Penwomanship & Adopting for Tomorrow magazines. She is also the co-founder & editor of The Mom-Writers Literary Magazine & lives in Chelsea, Vermont.

Portions of the proceeds from this book will be donated to the Children's Miracle Network at Children's Hospital Boston & Be The Star You Are! a not-for-profit corporation providing books & other media to empower youth-at-risk in their daily lives.
(05/21/06)

Rebecca