Leanne Shirtliffe

A truly beautiful mix of laughter and love
This is the kind of parent I want to hang with. She obviously loves her children beyond reason, but is frank about how hard and boring it is at times.
Even the more Sappy (her word, not mine) passages are fabulous. Real, sweet, yet never ever what I would consider sappy
Yup this one made the JR Staff Pick - it is my duty to help out those new parents who want to buy What to Expect When You're Expecting - and get them to buy something more practical (trust me just get those parenting books that help you with the medical stuff and than just buy parenting books like this that make you laugh - that will help you more. Trust your instincts people, love your child and believe in yourself - that makes all the difference) Oh yeah and don't do everything for them, they need to learn to do things themselves (When I worked in a college library I saw what happens when mom and dad did everything for them -- they have no idea how to survive)
She understands what its like to be a parent after "working for a living"
Impressed with the fact that she breastfed even though she had Mastitis - I totally feel like a wimp now LOL!
Loved all her stories about living in Thailand
Really respected her decision to mention she had postpartum depression but doesn't go into detail. As some of you know I suffered the same fate and don't want to burden or remember that horrible darkness but I too am not ashamed
Halloween Candy - yup we are simpatico on this one and the Santa Clause as discipline routine
Makes you feel like you are not alone - and if you are a parent, you know how important this is

The Not So Good Stuff

She made me snort with laughter on Calgary Transit and people stared (Yup not in TTC territory anymore where people are used to weirdos laughing out loud in public and they don't stare at you

Favorite Quotes/Passages

" Parenting Tip: Keep your household well stocked with these items essential to newborns: diapers, wipes, alcohol, alcohol, and alcohol"

"Being parents, we boarded early so we could keep our babies cooped up in an enclosed space even longer. As we sat on the tarmac, we watched innocent passengers struggle down the aisle to our row, recheck their boarding passes in disbelief, and wonder what they did to get such bad karma."

"Parenting Tip: When you ask your children a question, the reply "nothing" means they're guilty. Either investigate or hide."

"I smiled, wondering how many times Canada's Prime Minister had been compared to a Ken doll."

Who Should/Shouldn't Read

Fans of Kathy Buckworth will eat this up
Every parent or expectant parent should read this - this is real folks, not those holier than thou textbook parenting books that make you feel like you are the worst parent in the world (BTW that I also totally threw out 6 months into my first child's life)

4.75 Dewey's

I purchased a copy of this because I met the author and after talking to her figured anything she wrote would appeal to me - yup right again… (altro)