Book Review: The Yummy Mummy Manifesto

A few weeks ago, I read Christa’s review of The Yummy Mummy Manifesto by Anna Johnson. I was intrigued and ordered a copy. I agree with Christa’s assessment, so I won’t repeat all of her points here. I’ll simply say that this book was an interesting take on applying a creative outlook to the experience of mothering — jumping in with both feet (whether or not you also earn a paycheck) and embracing the beauty of daily life.

Johnson doesn’t focus on creativity itself, per se, but she clearly advocates for mothering outside the box. Doing what feels right for you, pushing yourself to new levels of self-expression (and self-care) while raising the offspring. In essence, “yummy” here means something like “vibrant, engaged, and making the very most of whatever you’ve got.”

I liked that Johnson seems to be a voluptuous eccentric, rather than a polished suburban queen. While she’s full of strong opinions (the La Leche League may appreciate Johnson’s use of “lactivist” and — my favorite — “breastaurant”), you won’t come away with an overdose of MSG (Martha Stewart Guilt).

Johnson has launched a website based on the book, which includes a blog.

Since the creative women reading this blog are largely engaged in some kind of work, whether or not we also work for a paycheck, the websites for working mothers that Johnson highlights in her book are resources for all of us, in one way or another. Here are a few of them:

• Mommy Track’d Lots of good stuff for finding that “balance” of “organized chaos”
• Mom’s Refuge Help with both work and home life
• Solutions for Busy Moms Concrete advice on domestic and work topics
• Work It, Mom! A community where working moms share experiences, advice, and support

I do think that The Yummy Mummy Manifesto is a nice book to have on your shelf. I plan to pick it up again from time to time — especially on those days when I find myself apologzing for breathing, and other self-effacing faux pas. I probably won’t dance naked in the rain, as Johnson does, but you never know.