Parenting isn’t an easy task. This is a well-established fact, yet, even after millennia of humans indulging in parenting, somehow we are unwilling to admit it. Perhaps because the natural parenting, where in you are simply supposed to feed your child and keep them away from harm is not such a difficult task, but human parenting involves a lot more than just keeping your baby alive. You need to educate the child, expose them to as many stimulating experiences as possible and on top of it, maintain your own overly complex social life.
This book talks about the many woes of parenting, in such a humorous way that it is impossible to not crack with giggles every five minutes.
If you have been following my blog, you would know that I read ‘Battle Hymn of a Tiger Mother’ with a lot of reluctance. My biggest issue with that book was that I just couldn’t bring myself to agree with the stringent parenting philosophy. So when I came across Shunali Khullar Shroff’s book, I grabbed it with both hands (or at least the virtual version of it).
Here is a book, containing real life anecdotes, of an upper class Indian mom of two daughters. If that doesn’t make for interesting reading, I don’t know what will? Not just that the Indian context made things seem more familiar and thus funnier for me, but the writing style brings out the wit and humor of the author. As I always say, whenever I read a book by an Indian author about Indian characters, it gives me the feeling of being a part of an inside joke.
I have to say, be it amy-chua or Shunali Khullar Shroff, it takes guts to spill your parenting stories for the world to read and dissect. Cause everyone knows, no parent is perfect and everyone goes about it on a trial and error basis (with more errors than successes). However, I feel the world needs such books next to the fat self-help books about raising kids which are targeted for 1. people who are contemplating having babies but wonder if they are cut out for it, 2. new parents who think their babies are angels or 3. ‘been there, done that’ parents who think there children are worse than monsters. If you are the first, don’t worry, you won’t be scared of having kids after reading this book or question your abilities to make a good parent. If you are the second, I feel you will identify with plenty of incidents in the book. and if you are the third, well, you need a dose of laughter at someone else’s expense amidst the tornado you are currently stuck inside.
Overall, a must read for all those who are looking for a funny as hell, quick and dramatic but realistic book.
Related links
