Naptime is the New Happy Hour

MotherTalk Book Review:  "Naptime is the new Happy Hour" by Stephanie Wilder-Taylor

I haven't done one of these MotherTalk book reviews for a while. I just haven't had the time recently to read anything for pleasure, all the books I choose are for the 'educational value'.  If it isn't going to teach me something, I don't have time to read it.  Terrible, I know!  What happened to pleasure?  Not quite sure. I think I penciled it in between 13:00 and 14:00.  Co-incidentally when my toddlers have their naptime too!

I started off not liking this book too much, I felt like Stephanie was trying too hard to be funny and irreverent.  But by the end of the book I really liked Stephanie and thought I could quite easily share a glass or two of Chardonnay with her. 

"Picking up where her last book (Sippy Cups are Not for Chardonnay) left off, Wilder-Taylor takes the reader through life after that hazy first year into a land where parents wonder: “Will refined sugar make my toddler’s head explode? Is it wrong to have a cocktail at two in the afternoon? And what exactly is a Backyardigan?”

From errands and haircuts with toddlers to surviving playdates, Wilder-Taylor will have readers laughing hysterically and nodding empathetically through the second year and beyond."

I must admit I did chuckle to myself along the way and nod my head in recognition at a lot of the book.  It is a light-hearted read that pokes a stick at the Perfect Parents (who are probably also part of the Parenting Police) and who quite often takes themselves far too seriously. 

Going back to my intro, I'm not sure the book 'taught' me anything as such, but it was an entertaining read nonetheless. An unintentional 'for pleasure' book. Absolutely nothing wrong with that.  Now if you'll excuse me, I think the Boeing just flew over*. Time for mommy's Chardonnay.

More info on the book here.  Buy the book here

*Do you use that expression there? I think it is a South African thing actually. No idea where it comes from, but if we use it here to to determine what time of the day it is appropriate to start drinking.  "Oh, I think the Boeing just flew over, time for a drink everyone". 

Comments

[stephanie]

Too funny- my husband works for Boeing up here in the Seattle area. He loved the saying- found it very apropo!

[Jude]

In my neck of the woods we say "was that the train?", to indicate time for a drinkie-poo. It's dangerous because we live quite close to the busiest commuter train line in the NorthEast US! Looking forward to giving the book a read.

[Megan]

In the southern US we say that "the bats are flying" to indicate it is late enough for drinks cause bats tend to fly about around dusk.

[Abbie]

Round these parts we usually say "It's five o'clock somewhere" to justify weekday afternoon booze. I've also heard "The sun's over the yardarm" but that one seems rarer.

[Beth]

Locally, when someone was being partcularly dense, we'd say "Piedmont!" (a regional airline name), as in "that went right over your head."

Not sure how much sense that makes to anyone who's not local though!

[Wyliekat]

"It's gotta be noon somewhere in the world" is generally our thing. Or maybe it's my thing. Is it noon yet?

[Andria]

Sounds like an interesting book! I too, sadly, don't have time to read much these days. I do read blogs though. All day. All the time. I think I'm obsessed.

[victoria]

Promise me that if you ever come to Seattle you'll look me up so I can take you out.

[Sue]

Is the expression not from the days when the flight from Cape Town to London flew over around sunset, hence signifying it was okay to start drinking?

[Madam Bee]

that's interesting..

[Chickenpig]

I live near the Atlantic Ocean here in CT, and the saying is "When the sun is over the yard arm" (time to start drinking). I think this roughly translates to anytime after noon :) Of course, we waspy types are not above having a gin and tonic, bloody mary, or mimosa at brunch...they're healthy breakfast drinks, after all.

[Stefanie Wilder-Taylor]

Thanks for the review! I'm glad you ended up liking me in the end. I try not to try too hard but maybe the trying not too try is trying...hmmm...I don't know what I'm talking about since I'm still in my post twin haze. But thanks again. Nice to be recognized by such a popular blogger!