Rage Against the Minivan. It sounds a little fist in the air/storm the castle/smash the patriarchy (and it is) but it's also raw and vulnerable and real.
I had a chance to see a little bit of the behind the scenes of the development of the book, a peek behind the curtain, and I instantly loved the message. I've been following the blog of the same name for quite a while, so I knew Kristen's style, and I thought I knew her story. I was wrong... (Spoiler alert, not everything you see on the internet is true...or the full story.)
A few years ago (almost 10!), I had the chance to review Good Enough is the New Perfect. It was like a revelation-- the only one demanding 'perfect' from me, was me. While Good Enough was a self help format, RATM is more of a memoir. But it's not all about Kristen. It's about all of us, as we try to figure out how being a parent is everything we always wanted and nothing we ever imagined.
Kristen is an (ex) marriage and family therapist, and while the expertise shines through, the judgement is left behind. It's not preachy. Speaking of preachy, faith-- and organized religion more specifically-- is tricky. Don't worry, she lets you laugh along with her there too. Marriage, infertility, miscarriage*, adoption, a career, pregnancy, divorce, babies, teens, stay at home mom, multiracial families, religion-- she covers it all, not necessarily in that order.
More than anything this book invites you to give yourself a little grace. We can say no. We can opt out. We can RAGE AGAINST THE MINIVAN (even if there's one in your driveway). This book is funny (really funny) and has moments of levity, but also covers really deep, heavy topics (there's truly something for everyone; she just happened to go through all of it!) that left me wiping tears.
You will see yourself in this book. And isn't that what we all want? To feel seen? Rage Against the Minivan is not a 'how to'; it's a 'let's do this thing'. So let's do it. Together. I'll pick you up; I have a minivan.
*content warning
I had a chance to see a little bit of the behind the scenes of the development of the book, a peek behind the curtain, and I instantly loved the message. I've been following the blog of the same name for quite a while, so I knew Kristen's style, and I thought I knew her story. I was wrong... (Spoiler alert, not everything you see on the internet is true...or the full story.)
A few years ago (almost 10!), I had the chance to review Good Enough is the New Perfect. It was like a revelation-- the only one demanding 'perfect' from me, was me. While Good Enough was a self help format, RATM is more of a memoir. But it's not all about Kristen. It's about all of us, as we try to figure out how being a parent is everything we always wanted and nothing we ever imagined.
Kristen is an (ex) marriage and family therapist, and while the expertise shines through, the judgement is left behind. It's not preachy. Speaking of preachy, faith-- and organized religion more specifically-- is tricky. Don't worry, she lets you laugh along with her there too. Marriage, infertility, miscarriage*, adoption, a career, pregnancy, divorce, babies, teens, stay at home mom, multiracial families, religion-- she covers it all, not necessarily in that order.
More than anything this book invites you to give yourself a little grace. We can say no. We can opt out. We can RAGE AGAINST THE MINIVAN (even if there's one in your driveway). This book is funny (really funny) and has moments of levity, but also covers really deep, heavy topics (there's truly something for everyone; she just happened to go through all of it!) that left me wiping tears.
You will see yourself in this book. And isn't that what we all want? To feel seen? Rage Against the Minivan is not a 'how to'; it's a 'let's do this thing'. So let's do it. Together. I'll pick you up; I have a minivan.
*content warning
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Other reviews: http://www.cribnoteskelly.com/book-reviews.html
Other reviews: http://www.cribnoteskelly.com/book-reviews.html
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