From Jules:

“Before becoming a mom, I feared that I would be the type of mother whose life revolved around moms’ groups, shuttling kids from soccer practice to boy scouts and back, laboring for months over Halloween costumes, and any other banal tasks where I’d lose my sense of self in the process of being a slave to my son. But now that I am a mom, I understand that these tasks are not banal and they are anything but ordinary. How extraordinary it is to watch your child grow and learn and play and interact, and mine is only four months old! I have found so much joy and genuine happiness in the day to day of motherhood.

These feelings, of course, do not shield me from the daily volatilities and stressors that a mother faces. And Mothers Need Time-Outs, Too – a book that gives a positive voice to every mother who has ever felt exhausted, rejected, disconnected, impatient, isolated, unattractive, depressed, or incapable – encourages mothers to be a little selfish; to evaluate their priorities and really take time to nurture the self.

Acknowledging the fact that mothers are challenged by their selflessness, feelings that they need to do it all, and societal pressures, rather than offering quick fixes for the every day struggles, Mothers Need Times-Outs, Too offers insights, stories, and realistic solutions to every day issues by taking our unrealistic expectations and turning them into realities. My favorite chapters include: The Power of Self Awareness, The Value of Downtime, The Loving Link with your Partner, and The Significance of Self Care. These chapters ask moms to focus on eating right, sleeping right, exercising, having quiet time, verbalizing your stressors/fears, and staying sexually active. The principal of the book is basic and most of us know it in theory, but it is refreshing to have tangible guidance on how to achieve selflessness, passion, relaxation, and nurturing in reality.

No matter what your mothering situation, Mothers Need Times-Outs, Too is a great book to help moms justify their fears, feelings of inadequacy, and frantic-ness, and move towards change. I know now that having children will not ever mean losing me. They are me. Now find yourself some quiet time, some comfy clothes, and get reading!”

From Heather:

“I am often told, ‘I don’t know how you do it all.’ After all, what people see is a mama of four well adjusted healthy kids under 5; someone who never says no to host a play date or backyard BBQ while managing a full time career, happy hubby, and clean house (please don’t look under the couch…). But the reality is that these days I only appear to do it all; instead I feel that I do nothing well, and all too often what I do accomplish is at my own expense. But I keep on trucking because this is the alleged norm for today’s mom, right?

Think again. In reading Mothers Need Time-Outs, Too by Susan Callahan, Anne Nolen, and Katrin Schumann, I was thrilled to discover that this book is chock-full of wonderful advice, delivered via hundreds of real moms using relevant examples of daily life issues. The key message of this book is that being a little selfish actually makes us better mothers. It’s really as basic as the pre take-off ‘oxygen mask’ instructions when flying. Secure your oxygen mask first and then take care of your children. We are no good to anyone if we don’t take care of ourselves first.

The authors summarize it best in the introduction:

With this book, you’re about to begin a journey of self-discovery. Your willingness to open yourself up to scrutiny, to change habits, to ask for help and to admit and even relish in imperfection will help you regain control of your life. You’ll learn to listen to your instincts again and to stop feeling guilty about never being quite good enough. You’ll treat yourself with more compassion and become more patient with those around you.’

I encourage all moms to time-out for you and read this inspirational book!”

Now, want to be one of two winners to receive a copy of Mothers Need Time-Outs, Too? Here’s how: