Mommy Has To Stay In Bed -- Book Review And Giveaway

"I should write a book."  How many times have we muttered those words?  While coping with the frustrations of infertility I swore someday I'd put the entire grisly but frequently hilarious experience down on paper (like the time FedEx mistakenly delivered the cryfrozen sperm vials to my house instead of the doctor's office.  On the hottest day of the year.  As half a dozen fishin', huntin', beer chuggin' workmen milled around all day.  "Kin ah help yew with that heavy box, lady?"  "No thanks -- I'll drag it inside myself."  And why does something approximately the size of a stick of gum have to be shipped in a box approximately the size and heft of a microwave anyway?  But I digress.)  In any case, once the kids come along, who has time to write things down any more?

I received a copy of a book called Mommy Has To Stay In Bed recently from Annette Rivlin-Gutman.  When Annette was pregnant with her second child and confined to bed rest, she searched for appropriate reading material to help explain to her toddler daughter why mommy couldn't get up and play, take her to the park or share in adventures, and found -- nothing.  So Annette wrote her own book.  This charming paper back book with its warm watercolor illustrations uses gentle rhyme to tell the story of a mother and her small child who can't engage in their customary fun and vigorous pastimes: 

"My Mommy is in bed.
She can't get up and go.
It's not that she doesn't want to,
but the doctor says 'no.'"

The mother comes up with creative and comforting ways to pass the time that feel nearly as familiar as their previous rambunctious exploits:

"We dream of far off places
and talk about when I'm grown.
We pretend to live like princesses
and imagine the bed is our throne."

The book fearlessly voices the child's apprehensions in a way that leaves the subject open for discussion:

"Sometimes I get so angry,
I just want to shout,
"I don't like having Mom in bed
day in and day out."

Mommy tells me to scream,
hit a pillow, have a cry.
If I'm angry, she understands
and accepts the reasons why."

One of the best qualities of this book is the universality of its message, which is not restricted to children whose mothers are confined to bedrest due to pregnancy complications.  Never does Annette mention the reason for the confinement, which could just as easily be caused by an injury or illness.

Mommy Has To Stay In Bed is available online at Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble, but you don't have to let your fingers do the walking any further than the comment section of this post, because I have two copies of this delightful book to give away to two lucky winners.  Just leave me a comment about why you'd love this book, or who you'd give it to, and I'll draw two names on January 15, 2008.

Comments

[Anastasia]

I would give it to my daughter :) She loves to read :D

Thanks for the great contest! :)

[Astrodon]

That was totally me when I broke my leg and my two-year-old, who had hitherto been rocked to sleep every night of her life, had to buck up and hit the hay on her own.

[Lesha]

My son likes to read :)

[Danielle Rice]

wow this would have been as awesome book for my family about 10 months ago! I was pregnant with my son and my two year old was very confused when I was confined to bed rest. At 25 weeks I contracting and had too much fluid (almost double the normal person). If my water broke the baby was at risk of coming out with the water. Very scary! My daughter didnt understand why mommy could go outside with her or go for walk. IT was hard for both of us. I had to send her to a sitter while I sit is bed all day. This looks like an amazing book that can answer little one's questions!

[Danielle Rice]

I was put on bedrest with my second and it was very hard for my daughter! She was confused on why mommy had to sit in bed all day and couldnt play with her. This book looks like a wonderful way to answer questions! Good Luck!

[Betty~Simply Southern]

roodbetty(at) yahoo.com

this would be quickly handed to my 5 year old grandson!We love to read together...enter me please
i blogged this contest as well...
happy new year!

[Andrea]

Please count me in...this sounds like a great book!!!

[Dodo O]

I would like to read this. Sounds like a good book to help kids cope with certain situations, such as sick mothers or other family members.

[Cindi Hoppes]

Greetings, What a clever idea for a book! I love it. I have a friend and a close relative who could both benefit from this marvelous book. Please enter me in your contest. Thanks,Cindi

[Christi]

Sounds like an excellent read! Thanks for sharing! This would be an excellent addition to my first grade library!

[jessie]

sounds like a great book. i'd give it to my friend who is currently on bed rest w/ her third child. it would be great for her to read to her 4 & 6 year old.

[Danielle S]

Why didn't I know about this before?! LOL! I was on bedrest with both of my pregnancies so far, and this would have been perfect a few months ago when I was preggo with DS #2~
But Id still love to have it, to read to my older son now! And to keep in case we need it when its time for baby #3!!!!
dansan826 at yahoo dot com

[Laura @ Laura Williams' Musings]

I have seven children that love to read or be read too. They would love this book, I'm sure.

blogged ya:

http://laurawilliamsmusings.blogspot.com/2007/12/sunday-edition-of-contests-galore_30.html

[Caryn B]

Wow...I can't tell you how wonderful this book sounds. I have a 6 month old. When I was 17 weeks pregnant I was placed on bedrest for the duration of the pregnancy. My husband and I have always talked about having more kids but I am terrified of having to go on bedrest with a toddler running around. Thank you for introducing me to this book...

[Taowyn]

I would give this to my sister who would get use out of it.

[Tara]

Oh I wish I'd known about this book last year!!! I was on bed rest with my last pregnancy and had a terrible time trying to explain it to my two other children! I'd love to win this book to give it to the next mom I know on bed rest!!!