Review of THERE ARE MOMS WAY WORSE THAN YOU
by Johny McFliggen, PhD Literature & Business, Oxford
In a world where the cacophony of parenting advice is only rivaled by the relentless clamor of social media influencers peddling perfection, Glenn Boozan's "THERE ARE MOMS WAY WORSE THAN YOU" emerges like a much-needed glass of wine at the end of a harrowing day of toddler tantrums. Boozan, with her comedic chops finely tuned by her tenure on shows like "The Late Late Show with James Corden," takes on the Herculean task of reassurance through humor—a daring endeavor that she navigates with the finesse of a stand-up comedian who knows precisely when to deliver the punchline.
The book's conceit, that human mothers are paragons of nurturing compared to some of their animal counterparts, is both clever and oddly comforting. The reader is ushered through a menagerie of less-than-stellar animal parenting examples, ranging from the neglectful cuckoo to the panda who, if given twins, might as well be starring in a soap opera about favoritism. It's a narrative device that not only entertains but also gently massages the bruised egos of mothers convinced they're one meltdown away from losing their parental license.
While Boozan's work might lack the gravitas or scientific grounding that one might find in more academic explorations of parenting, it never pretends to be anything other than what it is: a comedic balm for those who feel battered by the expectations of modern motherhood. This approach aligns her work with titles like "Sh*tty Mom," whose authors similarly wield humor as both shield and sword against societal pressure.
Yet, one might argue that Boozan's humor occasionally skates perilously close to trivializing the genuine struggles mothers face. Is it enough to laugh when the stakes feel so high? As with Anne Lamott's "Operating Instructions," there’s an undeniable cathartic power in laughter, but Lamott tempers her humor with profound emotional insight. Boozan's work, by contrast, is unabashedly light-hearted, a choice that will either endear her to readers or leave them wanting more depth.
In the grand tapestry of parenting literature, "THERE ARE MOMS WAY WORSE THAN YOU" occupies a unique niche. It's not the literary equivalent of Mary Poppins' spoonful of sugar—it's more like a shot of espresso: brisk, invigorating, and best enjoyed in those rare quiet moments when the children are mercifully occupied elsewhere. Boozan succeeds in reminding us that perhaps the greatest gift we can give ourselves as parents is permission to laugh at our foibles and forgive our imperfections. After all, as the book wittily illustrates, there's something rather liberating in knowing that somewhere out there, a panda is having an even worse day than you.
Purchase Link: THERE ARE MOMS WAY WORSE THAN YOU on Amazon
