Any book cover with a burnt piece of toast with a heart cut-out and the word MOM written across it is going to grab my attention… and then I see the author’s name (and the title of the book), and I smile from ear to ear.

Ilana Wiles, founder of MommyShorts.com.

If you’re an avid reader of MommyShorts.com, you know the magic of it. Ilana’s real, open, honest and hilariously funny about her motherhood journey with her 2 adorable daughters. What I’ve always loved about Ilana’s blog and social accounts is that she has a good time being a mom. As she states in her book – The Mommy Shorts Guide to Remarkably Average Parenting – she’s not a good mom, she’s not a bad mom… she’s average.

Raise a glass.

Amen.

Because let’s face it, that’s how 99.99% of us feel. With 5 kids, I always feel like I’m messing up one of them at any given moment. The truth is, I AM an average mom, too.

The Mommy Shorts Guide to Remarkably Average Parenting is a book for every parent out there. Why? So you know you’re not alone! You’re not alone in this crazy, wild adventure of parenthood.

Why do you need to pick up a copy of this book?

Besides the fact that it’s hilarious… and will make you feel normal… I’m going to share 10 reasons why you need this book on your bookshelf, next to your bed or by your toilet (what??? that’s when I read!).

1. Scenes from a Toddler’s House (pages 136-137). I’m living this now with my daughter. Girls come with much more stuff, that’s one thing I’ll say.
2. Grandpa’s Baby Death Trap (pages 101-103). I’m crying laughing reading this because we ALL have those relatives who live in a form of hell for parents with little kids.
3. You Know You’re a Working Mom If… (page 69). Yes. Yes. Yes. If you’re a working mom, you will read this nodding your head up and down – not even be realizing you’re doing it!
4. The Family Bed ((pages 68-69). With 5 kids, you can only imagine. The boys we kicked out when they were little. Our daughter (the youngest). She sleeps horizontally… and we still allow it. I don’t think I’ve slept a full night in  3 years.
5. Why You Should Have two Kids (pages 154-157). OK, I went a little above and beyond with 5 – but I loved this part because it’s funny and sweet. And yes Ilana, go for a 3rd! 😉
6. Chapter 19 – Traveling with Kids. The whole thing. It can’t be skipped. I can’t even just pick out a specific part. Go to page 184 now.
7. 10 Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Ask a Woman “When Are You Due?” (page 49). All of them. 1-10 memorize. LOL! This was hilarious because with my 4th and 5th babies I blew up quickly as can be. When I was 6 months, I looked 40 weeks. I HATED when people asked me. Literally.
8. And Then They Start Climbing Walls (pages 106-107). All of my sons around 3 years old taught themselves to shimmy up the walls of our living room like they were Spiderman. Hand prints everywhere. Crawling out of cribs was like child’s play.
9. The 7 Stages of A Frozen Obsession (pages 94-95). OK, after having 4 sons during this craze, now I can totally appreciate this section with a daughter. During the height of Frozen there wasn’t a daughter on our horizon, now that there is… yup. I get it.
10. Bedtime Stalling (in 30 Steps) – (pages 85-86). Oh, man. Nailed it with this one.

So – for all my friends looking for a fabulous read. Something funny. Something normal. Something cool. Something you actually want to read.

Pick up The Mommy Shorts Guide to Remarkably Average Parenting.

Go. Do it.

You’ll thank me.

And then become obsessed (if you’re not already) with Ilana’s blog/social feeds.

IG: @MommyShorts @AverageParentProblems @Insta2YearOld @PinkinNYC