Adventures of a Pen-Pushing Parent
by Melanie Lasoff Levs

As I continue to contemplate the relationship between being a parent and being a writer, one activity brings continuous support, hope, insight, and relief: reading the words of other parent-writers.

Several books, blogs, and websites—as well as the requisite parenting magazines—are my saving graces. Here are some of my favorites:

Books
• Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son's First Year by Anne Lamott: Even if your children are far past this age, you will be moved—and transported—by single mom Lamott's experiences and the lyrical way in which she tells of them.

• Can I Have a Cellphone for Hanukkah? The Essential Scoop on Raising Modern Jewish Kids by Sharon Estroff: Most of the books on raising children with strong Jewish values are very esoteric. ASJA member and friend, Sharon's style is witty, conversational, and down-to-earth.

• Mommy Wars: Stay-at-Home and Career Moms Face Off on Their Choices, Their Lives, Their Families by Leslie Morgan Steiner: These are thought-provoking essays from various women who write about the unique challenges faced by moms on "both sides."

• Naptime is the New Happy Hour by Stefanie Wilder-Taylor: Reading this book is the next best thing to escaping from toddler tyranny to run off with a snappy, snarky fellow mom.

• Writing Motherhood by Lisa Garrigues: I just picked this book up as a New Year's gift to myself. I can't wait to dig into it.

• Amanda Bright@Home by Danielle Crittenden: I admit I swallow whole those "mom-lit" novels about how new motherhood impacts some glamorous, career-driven young urbanite. Unlike many of them, this heroine is smart and the storyline is more compelling than figuring out how to measure up to other moms in playgroup.

• Babyproofing Your Marriage: How to Laugh More, Argue Less and Communicate Better as Your Family Grows by Stacie Cockrell, Cathy O'Neill, and Julia Stone: I opened this book during a particularly trying week in our early life as a family of three. Some of the advice was (is) helpful, but what truly eased my mind was the knowledge that other new parents had dealt with exactly the same issues.

Blogs
So many parenting blogs seem geared toward the child's grandparents rather than general readers. Here are some that speak to other parents—or at least have spoken to me.

• Parent Talk Today (parenttalktoday.com): In her blog, ASJA member Kathy Sena says, "We're all in this together." I find her posts—which read more like mini-articles—comforting and informative.

• Momfidence! (momfidence.com and click on "read the blog"): I enjoy ASJA member Paula Spencer's blog for her take on the latest parenting studies and wild local news stories, as well as her regular "Lighten-Up-and-Eat-a-Cookie" Awards.

• Sugerplum (SWANK) (http://sugarplumswank.blogspot.com): I admit I know this woman, an attorney in Denver whose son was born with several medical complications. Today he is thriving, and she writes beautifully about the challenges and joys she and her family face.

• MOMania (ajc.com/health/content/shared-blogs/ajc/parenting): Unlike many parenting blogs, that of Theresa Walsh Giarrusso of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution often ends with a question which readers (vehemently) discuss. I read this blog for the wild back-and-forth among readers.

• Though I don't regularly read "daddy blogs," there are most likely just as many out there as there are "mommy blogs." A few lists I found: one from On Teens Today (onteenstoday.com/2008/11/10/50-best-dad-blogs) and a list of "Dad Blogs" on the Blog Catalog (blogcatalog.com/directory/personal/parenting/dads). And if you're really desperate, I read that Lindsay Lohan's dad is blogging now. I trust you'll forgive me for not providing the URL.

Websites
• iVillage parenting message boards (http://parenting.ivillage.com/messageboards): While pregnant, I discovered the message board for women expecting their babies the same month in 2006 as I was. Three years later, many of those women and I continue to share friendship and advice as a September 2006 iVillage "virtual playgroup." There are boards for women with children born in every calendar month and year, through teens, as well as boards for dozens for other situations including single mothers, parents over 35 and those trying to conceive.

• Literary Mama (literarymama.com): A virtual literary magazine, this website features regular columnists, essays, fiction, and poetry. The blog includes calls for entries to contests and anthologies.

• Babble.com: My favorite online parenting magazine, babble.com is creative, intelligent, diverse, well-rounded, and opinionated—just like its core reader. This e-zine includes one of my favorite parenting blogs, Strollerderby.

There are as many variations of the parenting story as there are parents, and thankfully, many talented people telling those stories. Look for the thread on the ASJA phorum (members only) in which you can share your recommendations of the best in parenting writing, as well as links to your own contributions to the genre.

---

Atlanta-based freelance writer Melanie Lasoff Levs has written for publications including The Washington Post, Newsweek, Women's Wear Daily and Atlanta Magazine.