Good-Enough Mother The Perfectly Imperfect Book of Parenting

In an ideal world, mothers would have time to hand-sew their kids' costumes for the school play, prepare all-organic meals, and volunteer in the classroom at the drop of a hat. In reality, most moms have to settle for plopping their little ones in front ofSpongeBobso that they can prepare yet another chicken nugget-based dinner, guiltily convinced they're falling down on the job.InGood-Enough Mother,Rene Syler pulls back the curtain to reveal the truth about modern mothering and reassure time-stressed moms that even if their children are strangers to made-from-scratch cookies, they can emerge as happy, well-adjusted, fully functioning members of society. Mother to two great kids of her own, Syler explains how she learned to chuck perfection for practicality -- in short, how she became a Good-Enough Mother. She shows other women seeking to balance family, work, and some semblance of a personal life how to happily join the ranks of Good-Enough Mothers, who occasionally serve breakfast for dinner yet give their children plenty of what really matters -- love, time, and support.Each essay provides welcome empathy and sage advice on navigating life's different obstacles, whether it's dealing with annoying Supermoms, bluffing through a third grader's math homework, or coping with the words that strike terror into every parent's heart ("Your son's teacher on line one"). Offering real wisdom tempered with humor and warmth,Good-Enough Motherwill have every modern mom laughing in relief and recognition.

René Syler has been an anchor of CBS's The Early Show. She is an active member of the National Association of Black Journalists. Syler is married to Buff Parham, with whom she has two children.

Karen Moline is a journalist, novelist, and ghostwriter. She has worked on a wide variety of bestselling books. Moline lives in New York City with her son.