Moms Go Where Angels Fear to Tread: Adventures in Motherhood

by Joan Wester Anderson

New York Times best-selling author Joan Wester Anderson, in the tradition of Erma Bombeck, shares funny, wise, wacky and faith-grounded experiences of family life. Hysterical one minute and touching the next, the book's bite-size chapters contain hilarious personal stories and observations about the everyday experiences of motherhood that culminate in unexpected insights. Joan Wester Anderson uses humour from her own life to help make sense of a mom's...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0824947819
• ISBN13: 9780824947811
• Release Date: August 2009
• Publisher: Guideposts
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

A Fun Read for Busy Moms!

Over the course of the last year I haven't had much time to read. Sadie's little hands are always busy and they keep everyone else in the house busy too. This lack of time has given me a renewed appreciation for short stories. I've managed to steal a little bit of time each evening and have just finished Joan Wester Anderson's new book Moms Go Where Angels Fear to Tread. Each time I picked up this book I would promise myself that I would just read one story and get back to doing what needed to be done, but most nights I found myself stealing extra time to finish two and sometimes even three chapters. The collection of stories is perfect for moms. Joan takes a comical look at family life and at her years raising five children. The book begins with "Intensive Training Course" which includes projects that would really prepare couples for marriage, like wallpapering a room together or hosting a dinner for both sets of in-laws. The next chapter "What's in a Name" gives rules for naming babies that many couples really need to read including 1) Stay clear of weird names that you'll constantly have to explain 2) Avoid peculiar spellings for the same reason and 3) Consider how the name will wear. Rule #3 reminded me of the summer that I worked as a camp counselor and met an adorable little blonde girl who was going to cheer camp with the given name (as in the actual one on her birth certificate) of Kiki. From buying a "Handyman Special" and getting it fixed up to the joys of life with a twelve year old in the house Joan takes day to day life as a mom and gives it a fun spin, reminding all of us that it's important to have a sense of humor when little feet are scampering through the house.

Mothers, Laughter, Angels and Prayers

This book is a treasure. It might be described as a combination of Erma Bombeck, Christie Mellor (author of "The Three-Martini Playdate"), Our Mother Mary (who gave birth to Jesus) and the comedy routine of "Late Night Catechism." Every chapter leaves a warm feeling in my heart (and stomach). I'm so glad you reminded me, at the end, that "..., there will be years to get out of debt, to organize the closets, to go on a cruise. But your children will be with you for only a small portion of their lives. See that they remember, more than anything, ..." I can't stand it, I love it so much!!!! Need more! Thank you so much for the pleasure and privilege of reviewing your fabulously funny book. Gotta go.......busy keeping my kids from playing in traffic. With heartwarming gratitude to Joan Wester Anderson (and Hickory Street), Lorelei Greene Lewis

What it's Really Like to Be A Mother

This book is funny! I especially liked the chapter about teenagers, as I have two of my own right now. Joan Anderson sure knows what she is talking about. Here is a selection from that chapter: "The idea of sitting down with our teens and having a conversation was exciting enough...I was tired of one-word sentences passing for intimate revelations and was willing to try anything. And if we had all [our family] agreements typed up in a large black font, maybe my husband wouldn't have to spend his weekends shouting "You did what?" to everyone over the age of twelve." Joan Anderson is the true successor to Erma Bombeck.

Light, Love And Laughter

I received this book as a gift from a dear friend. She told me that reading it would bring my out of the doldrums. This is one of the best books ever written about motherhood! As the mother of four grown sons, this book brought me back to the most wonderful time of my life. As one other reader, I picked it up on a Saturday morning and didn't close it until that evening. I laughed, I cried and I was again reminded of what a blessing motherhood really is. The little quotations at the end of each chapter cemented the truth of that writing. I would suggest this book for grandmothers, mothers and every woman ready to experience motherhood. It was easy to read, packed with the power of love and the truths about raising our kids.We do survive motherhood..certainly we shed many tears, but there is much laughter to overcome the worry..and when it is all said and done, we survived it all. And they grow up to become men after all. This is a great book.I would highly recommend it!!

Laugh, learn, love....being a mom...awesome book

I just finished this book and I loved it. It is full of humor, the ups and downs of parenting and the vision of our kids as assets amd bringers of joy...even at our grumpiest and their worst. I think the author's rules of summer are worth putting on the fridge next to the op children's art, the morning prayer offering and this week's spelling words. (What's on your fridge?) I love the little quotes at the end of the chapter that turn my worries or frustrations into a path of prayer or laughter or just knowing that we moms are never alone. Most of all I enjoyed sharing the laughter with this author who understands what it is like to try to raise children. I laughed so hard at the gerbil stories. (One summer we kept the kindergarten gerbil and it was a disaster.) This book gives you laughter, joy, hope and friendship with understanding that as a mom you have the most challenging job in the world. Parenting is messy, tough, and totally worth it. This book is worth it, too. I highly recommend it.