Relax & Enjoy Mom-Time with These Books

As a mom, you probably don’t have tons of time for working your way through the classics. While it can be tempting to turn on the TV after a long day, however, there’s something to be said for the peace and quiet that can only be attained through reading. If your kid’s screen habits have got your brain feeling jangled, a few minutes with a funny book can help you recover a sense of well-being and humor about life.

Bossypants – Tina Fey: No one makes fun of the trials of being a modern mom better than Tina. Whether you’ve lost track of Tina after SNL or if you’re a 30 Rock addict, you’ll be able to appreciate this memoir. You can see that writing really is Tina’s strong suit, and that she’s got a lot more room to let loose in a book than she can on screen. Take this excerpt from her chapter entitled “A Mother’s Prayer For Her Child”, for example: “First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches.”

Naked – David Sedaris: David Sedaris’ wry humor comes on subtler than Tina’s, but once you get the hang of his style, I promise he’ll have you laughing margaritas out of your nose. Naked is a collection of autobiographical essays, which follow David’s awkward interactions with the world form childhood to adulthood. Do yourself a favor and get this one on audiobook—Sedaris’ comedic timing is impeccable.

Go the F**k to Sleep – Adam Mansbach & Ricardo Cortes: The idea of creating a children’s book for adults isn’t an idea that everyone “gets” right away, but you definitely will after reading this book. There’s nothing to put childrearing in perspective like a little cursing—or the realization that parents all over the world can identify with the exasperated sentiments of this cutely illustrated book.

Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea – Chelsea Handler: One New York Times reviewer described Chelsea’s humor in this book as a combo of Sarah Silverman and Kathy Griffin, and I agree. Chelsea’s effusive, crazy, and funny book covers her thoughts on all sorts of topics, from red heads, to college, to party drugs. This is a book to pick up if you need an irreverent laugh and enjoy edgy humor.

A Visit From the Goon Squad – Jennifer Egan: Music-loving moms should pick up this collection of short stories, which recently won the National Book Award. The characters are wonderfully illustrated, and Egan isn’t shy about experimenting—one of her stories is in the form of a PowerPoint presentation (an amazing one). It’s literary but readable, and can teach you about other’s experiences as only great fiction can.