The Mother of All Meltdowns by Crystal Ponti

The Mother of All Meltdowns Reviews

• 
  Shelly

  This book was great fun to read! As a non-mom it brought memories of stories I’d heard throughout the years and the meltdowns of children and mommies that I’ve witnessed firsthand. Next time I see you erupting in a shopping mall or parking lot I’ll stop and think … if this is the last straw, what did this Mom have to endure to reach this melting point? And no matter how explosive it was, each meltdown ended with a Mother’s love…a perfect story book ending. Thank you Goodreads First Reads and Crystal Ponti for the book!
• 
  Laura

  Every mom needs to read this!!! It's so refreshing.
  
  Hilarious!! I found every story relatable. I also feel way better about forgetting diaper bags, locking keys in my car, and going through the grocery store with a wailing toddler. I was cackling at some of these stories!!!
• 
  Michelle Gladstone

  Pretty cute collection of mom stories about kids of all ages. Great break from the recent heavy stories I’ve been reading.
• 
  Allison

  I read a lot of Mom Lit and this book really sucked me in. For starters, I love that this book is an honest look and assessment of the trials of motherhood without making you feel as though becoming a mother is a bad idea or without believing that all children are demons. This book had so much heart and soul while still being brutally honest.
  
  To follow up, I think this was a really well curated book. The essays move from poignant and tear-jerking to funny; from crass and potty-humor to esoteric and probing; from that moment you find out you are pregnant through to teenage years. There really is something in this book for everyone.
  
  This book is easily digestable, fed to you in short essays that you can stop easily. Which is great because, as a mom to 2 kids, I can't sit down and read big chunks of literature at a time. It is as though this book has thought of everything when it comes to my life.
  
  Definitely worth the time and entertainment.
• 
  Ricci

  Who doesn't love a good s*** story? There are more in the book then I thought there would be. However, if you are a parent then you already know how much a kid poops and you probably have had few doo doo adventures of your own. While a good chunk of these stories were humorous, there were a couple that were sad, and a few that were just whiny. I attribute the whining to postpartum hysterics, which if you have given birth, you may understand all too well. Although I have a few meltdown stories of my own (well...okay I could write my own books in volumes) I'm not the the bitch and moan type. All of my stories would have ended with "and then I drank a bottle of wine and fell asleep." This book is written in brief chapters that are just long enough to finish, until you are inevitably interrupted by your little blessings. This would make a great gift for a new mom to be, to warn them of the insanity and poop that comes with having children.
• 
  Karin Mitchell

  This book felt watered down and I was disappointed. As far as I can tell, either they a) watered it down and that's not honest enough to be good writing or b) their experiences are pretty mild and they're stellar moms. I hope it's the latter. I rarely laughed out loud. Most of the book was about "meltdowns" but if these are their meltdowns, they need to talk to those of us who have had moments we expect to have to atone for at heaven's gates and take comfort in some advice about how great a job they did in their worst moments.
  The exceptional essay in this book was "As Poop Would Have It." That essay was well worth a read. That mom deserves free drop in service at any day care, any day, anywhere. She didn't really lose it either and dang, what a woman.
• 
  Tanya (mom's small victories)

  Think that meltdowns are just for kids? Think again and read The Mother of All Meltdowns. This book was filled with amusing and relatable essays covering the minute you find out you’re pregnant to the rebellious teenage years and the “Say What?”s along the way. WHAT did that pregnancy test say? HOW LONG did you say that epidural needle is? Did I REALLY just leave my child alone with a hammer? WHY is my not yet potty trained son running around naked? And WHY on earth did I bring my sick kid to Christmas with my family?
  
  For my full review, visit my blog at
  Mom's Small Victories.
• 
  Jeannie

  I somewhat enjoyed the stories up until the details of the meltdown. I just didn't find the actual meltdown funny, only the details leading up to it. We all handle things differently and those details made me uncomfortable. The writers were not always able to build the story with enough tension for the reader to feel the stress that brought on such a massive meltdown. I may be just too old to remember how it was. I had my share of meltdowns, but would never tell the tale, mostly because I can't or don't want to remember them.
• 
  Stacey Gannett

  So many wonderful stories, shared by so many wonderful ladies! Knowing that we are not alone during those meltdown moments, is an amazing feeling! There were stories that were laugh out loud funny and some that made me sympathize with the author as well. This one is a wonderful gift for any mom/grandma! You may read my full review here...
  http://thismommasramblings.com/2014/0...
• 
  Katelyn

  It's an interesting format for a book. But, I'm not sure I loved it. Some of the stories are touching, others humorous, and then others a little crass. But, it's not one story, so it's hard to really love this book. It's more of a pick up and put down at your leisure kind of book. Or a book to help you find some mom blog to check out.
• 
  Marie

  I really enjoyed the many perspectives. Some happy, joyous others sad, introspective but all a part of this celebration of motherhood.
• 
  Rachel

  These are the mildest meltdowns. The other review s had me thinking I would be laughing out loud. This was not the case.
  
• 
  Allison Hunt

  I didn't find the meltdowns too extraordinary nor the situations that prompted them. Perhaps I have too many meltdowns to see these as exceptional.