Insightful and poignantly funny, this look-over-your shoulder, laugh-out-loud collection of essays pulls the facade off family life, revealing the true and unvarnished journey of coming to grips with motherhood. Showing that not all mother's instincts kick in automatically, the narratives create camaraderie among fellow moms who fear they have been endowed with the maternal warmth of Leona Helmsley. Covering all the years between play groups and prom, this odyssey of motherhood illustrates that by the time moms actually have a handle on raising kids, they're sending them off to college. This delightful series of reflections is sure to warm a mother's heart.