The Stay at Home Survival Guide Field Tested Strategies for Staying Smart Sane and Connected While Caring for Your Kids
April 23, 2009 by Stay At Home Mom · Leave a Comment
Melissa Stanton never set out to be a stay-at-home mother.
It just sort of happened as the result of a confluence of events — her husband taking an out-of-state job, her own long commute to a high-pressure New York magazine editing job, and the Sept. 11 terror attacks.
‘I woke up one day and said, `You know what? That’s it. I need to live a different life,’?’ she said.
Ms. Stanton, who now lives in Davidsonville, admits she didn’t know quite what she was getting into when she left the workforce. But she’s gained a lot of experience and is determined to pass it on to other women.
Her book, ‘The Stay-at-Home Survival Guide: Field-Tested Strategies for Staying Smart, Sane, and Connected While Caring for Your Kids,’ came out June 1. It packs plenty of advice for moms who may be feeling a bit isolated and under-appreciated in their new roles.
‘It’s so chock-full of tips (and) practical things,’ said Krista Lyons-Gould, publisher of Berkeley-based Seal Press, which put out the guide.
Ms. Stanton, 43, consulted with about 100 stay-at-home mothers and surveyed more than 60 in detail to gain a broad perspective for the book.
The guide includes chapters on everything from finances and friends to sex and strategies for keeping sane.
‘There’s a little humor and a lot of substance,’ said Ginny Meerman of Edgewater, who has four children and has been a stay-at-home mother for 18 years.
‘I’m still amazed that I did it,’ she said. ‘The book was a lot of work, but it was really good to have done it. I hope it gets attention. I think it’s a useful book.’ — Hometown Annapolis, June 19, 2008
No one ever said that staying home with kids was easy. But now, thanks to this new book by Melissa Stanton, you’ll have somewhere to turn whenever you’re feeling a little lonely, under-appreciated, or overwhelmed. Stanton, a magazine editor turned stay-at-home herself, understands all too well both the joys and the challenges that come with staying home with your children full time. For this book, she draws not only on her own experience, but also on the experiences of other moms, who she spoke to and surveyed at length. With information about dealing with everything from money and scheduling to friendships and marriage, Stanton has the advice you need for every situation and the sympathy and understanding you’ve been hoping for. No one understands a stay-at-home mom like another stay-at-home mom, which gives Stanton the insights to make this Survival Guide a valuable resource for moms everywhere. — Mom Central, June 26, 2008
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Stay at home mothers NEED this book
I stayed home with my children for awhile many years ago when they were small. I’ve never felt so shellshocked and overwhelmed in my life! In my work today I counsel parents and I recommend this book to the moms who stay home. I read it, and enjoyed it greatly, even though I’ve already survived those years. The author is smart, supportive, nonjudgemental and really captures the reality of stay at home motherhood. Also very valuable is that many other stay at home mothers are quoted throughout the book. It helps moms who are struggling with the daily grind of motherhood realize they aren’t alone in sometimes feeling bored, frustrated, lonely, vulnerabe, overwhlemed. I also recommend the book to mothers who are thinking about leaving the workforce, not to change their mind, but so they are prepared.
5 Stars Great gift for moms
I know this author and work at a children’s boutique so we got a few copies and put them out for display. The books were a hit! Although a few moms bought the book for themselves, even more people who came in to buy something for a child wound up buying the book to give as a gift to a mom. Husbands would say, “Oh, I think my wife needs this.” Grandmothers would say, “My daughter really needs this.” It was interesting to see. I’m getting more books.
5 Stars Doctor recommended
Just wanted to say that I work for a specialist in a pediatrics office and the doctor I work with keeps this book in the waiting room to share with the moms. I just ordered three because we try to keep extra copies on hand to give to moms who are really in need of a pick me up. Although we treat children, we can see that some SAHMs are struggling with all that’s on their plate. (Working moms struggle too but we subscribe to a working mother magazine for them.) The moms who had big careers and are now fulltime moms find the book very helpful as do women who maybe always wanted to be a fulltime mom but are struggling with all that comes from caring for children all day, especially when you have a very sick child or have several children. I wish I had a book like this when I was home with my two!
5 Stars Awesome
This book is great! I am a stay at home Mom to 19 month old twins. I love my kids, but the lack of adult stimulation was terrible. I thought something was wrong with me because I didn’t love every minute of staying home. This book let me know I am not crazy and not alone. I am learning ways to meet my needs while I nurture my children. This book was a god-send!
5 Stars a good resource
The author’s background working for magazines is reflected in the style of this book; it’s easy to read, gives information in bulleted form, and relies heavily on SAHM sources.
As a mostly SAHM, i found many interesting and helpful tidbits and reflections in this book, esp. the parts on finances and self-development and entertainment outside of the mothering role. Much of the information i already learned through trial and error and from friends.
Overall, an easy read and a useful guide where not much else exists on this topic.
