Sometimes the serendipity in life cracks me up. I was looking for just the right book to review for this week, when I noticed a discussion in one of my many Facebook Mom to Be Groups that mentioned how baby books tend to be very mom focused. A few days later I received such a book in my Bluum box, which arrived yesterday just in time for me to have this to review for today. So, as it’s the newest book to find its way to me, here is a review of with Love from Mom.
Addressing the points in the aforementioned discussion group, yes, this is a book to be written in by mom, about mom and her background, there is very little mention of dad at all. Intrigued by this I tried to find an equivalent book from the same company for dad and was unable to find one, or for that matter one filled in by dad and mom or any combination of parents (two moms, two dads, a blended family with stepparents etc.). While I’d prefer to have one for both Matt and I to write in, as a practical matter, I can see it being mainly moms who would do this.
One thing I absolutely love about the book is the front pocket for special memories. It’s open ended so a mom can put in things like sonogram pics, the hospital admission and/or baby’s bracelet, a lock of baby’s hair, etc. It’s a great addition to the book.
The book is certainly thorough, having lots of questions and spaces to answer them and has a place to put a younger photo of yourself (as it doesn’t say how much younger to put one in some moms would use a baby photo, some a childhood one, some as a young adult, etc.).
Yet interestingly enough, there are many questions about grandparents (specifically the mom’s parents) yet nowhere to put a younger photo of them (which could be quite entertaining.
Later in the book there is a page for dad and a space for his younger photo, but his parents only get one question. I’m assume the author and illustrator didn’t mean to minimize the dad, his family or his childhood per se, but that’s the feeling I’m getting out of it and I bet many dads and kids would as well. This is why having a companion book from dad would be great.
The book has wonderful illustrations and the rare page or two here that is all illustrations.
Mom’s may enjoy having a lot to write, or they may not, seeing it almost as a long and never ending homework assignment. Also, some of the questions may be ones they don’t want to answer such as their worst subject in school (to which I was thinking, way to encourage kids to love all subjects, there) or the most trouble they got in school (again not a message I think most parents want to send).
Some of the questions may be well meaning but encourage feelings of inadequacy in the parents in what they had and/or what they can give their child(ren). What if celebrations and vacations were moderate for the parent or will be for the child? If so, questions like on these pages could be awkward, as well on ones about travel, and even the seemingly innocent enough one about why they left home (I assume the author meant lighthearted stuff like starting a job or college experience) could be awkward for parents who may have had a less than ideal reason for that.
Still, other pages are very fun and breezy. I know I’ll enjoy doing this one on my best friend growing up, Debbie, who I met when I was 6 and she was 5, and we are still (long distance) friends to this day.
I also will enjoy filling out this one on fashions, especially as I have some adorable pictures of me wearing some outfits that either were reasonably fashionable or were total fashion fails.
I want to like this book and use it, and in many ways I do and will. Still, especially due to the interactive nature of it, I have to look at how I’d feel using it and how others might. It’s just too noninclusive and unintentionally hitting possible sore points in the past to give it a great rating.
Rating – two baby booties out of five
~ Danielle
Over 40 First Time Mom 