It’s true. The sad thing is, I didn’t know it until recently. I had no idea I belonged to a group of people who are just like me until I got a chance to read “White Trash Mom” by Michelle Lamar.
Here’s the thing, Michelle is a very dear friend of mine. One of the biggest highlights of my entire BlogHer experience was Saturday afternoon when Michelle and I bumped into each other in the lobby and realized we could sneak off to a quiet lunch outside the hotel. We talked for an hour and a half straight about anything and everything. The conversation was punctuated about a million times with “Shut up!” when we realized we had another thing in common. (Daughters with same name? Check. Long career in marketing/advertising? Roger that. Raising our children Catholic? Amen, sister. Owners of almost identical 38 lb pugs? Why yes, we are both proud pug mamas. And no, they aren’t fat, they are just big boned.)
You can imagine how horrible I felt when I told her that even though we have been friends since January when we met at Blissdom, I had yet to read her book. Here’s another thing about Michelle, she is one of the nicest people I’ve been blessed to call a friend throughout this blogging journey of mine and she immediately removed the butter knife from my hands I was trying to commit hari kari with and talked me off my ledge of shame for being such a horrible friend. Before I left for home, I had an autographed copy of “White Trash Mom” to call my own.
I literally devoured this book. I was blown away to learn that all these years, I’ve been a White Trash Mom and I had NO IDEA.
What makes a “White Trash Mom” you ask? Have you ever shown up with store bought goods for the Cake Walk at the school carnival? Have you ever thought to yourself, “If the health department isn’t showing up, the house is clean enough”? Have you ever told your children little white lies like “Chuck E Cheese is only open for birthdays honey!” in an effort to avoid yet another visit to the house of the mouse? Are you fairly sure your actions may very well send your children into therapy years from now?
(I could add here that both of my children have actually left the house without their underwear on and I didn’t know it until we got to our destination but that would be overkill, right?)
If you have answered yes to any of these questions? Congratulations. You are a White Trash Mom too and you just didn’t know it.
Here’s the thing I really loved about this book. It’s the real deal. It’s funny as hell, but it’s serious too. It’s all about being there for your children without making yourself crazy. The title is slightly misleading because throughout this book I learned so much.
I need to be at my kids school more because that matters.
Being a working mom is not a good enough excuse. Every mom is a working mom, I need to step it up.
I need to stop worrying that my son isn’t playing competitive sports because that doesn’t matter.
He has a good heart and he’s happy and smart, that is way more important. (Side note: I should also be thankful because the politics involved are ridiculous.) That kid will leave a mark in this world and that is what matters in the end.
My daughters antics are not a sign of future disaster.
They are a sign of her independence. She is strong and smart and funny and people are drawn to her. I need to embrace that.
There are millions of books out there about parenting babies and toddlers. White Trash Mom helps you see a clear picture of dealing with elementary and junior high kids and politics in an age of competitive parenting and gives you some helpful tips to navigating the waters successfully while maintaining your sanity.
So go buy the book. You can buy it here or here. Or you can visit her her website here. Join us in our White Trash glory. Buy it, take it out from the library, whatever. It will get your mind in the right place before school starts plus give you some helpful hints to navigating the year ahead.
(One last side note: This is not a paid post. Nor would I recommend a book just because she is my friend. I really liked it and I’d never recommend something to you guys that I didn’t enjoy…because you know, I LOVE YOU AND STUFF.)
Now it’s your turn, tell me your White Trash Mom moment….come on….you know you have one! Where have you taken shortcuts? What funny stories do you have? Don’t be selfish..share!
I promise, I won’t tell a soul….
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