I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about being a mom and what that means in general and what that means to me personally. Big issues like education and parenting and the fascinating little tidbits about watching a kid grow up. (Fascinating in both a good – like C's excitement as she's learning to read – and bad – like the ohmygosh tantrum we experienced this evening -- way. About that tantrum. Wow. A doozy. And from a kid who rarely throws them. Overall, I guess we're blessed, but whoa, Nellie!).

Anyhoo, it's appropriate that this week I'm hosting Author Andi Buchanan, who is, honestly a total Super Mom, imho. She runs the highly entertaining Mothershock blog -- visit it at http://www.mothershock.com/blog/. (Her current post talks about how she's had laundry in the washing machine for four days. Can I just say that YES, I can beat that record. I'm not sure if I'm proud or pathetic ...). She also has oodles of books coming out or on the shelves. Here's a list for your perusing pleasure:

Mother Shock: Loving Every (Other) Minute of It Mother Shock: Loving Every (Other) Minute of It (Seal Press, 2003) click here


It’s a Boy: Women Writers on Raising Sons (Seal Press, Nov. 2005) click here


Literary Mama: Reading for the Maternally Inclined (Seal Press, Jan. 2006) click here

Impressive much, yes?

She'll be be doing readings/appearances for IT'S A BOY and LITERARY MAMA in Seattle: Sunday, January 8, 2005, 3:00 pm Queen Anne bookstore, 1811 Queen Anne Ave; Monday, January 9, 7:00 pm Third Place Books, 1717 Bothel Way, Lake Forest Park, WA; and in Oakland, CA: Thursday Jan 12, 7:30 pm Diesel, 5433 College Avenue; I'll be doing Mother Talks in Seattle at 7:30 on Jan. 10, in San Francisco at 7:30 on Jan. 13, and in Sacramento at 4:30 on Jan. 14

If you're in the area, don't miss it!