By Kristina | January 22, 2008
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Mothers are supposed to know what to do.

I don’t know what to do.

     - Month One from The Second Nine Months by Vicki Glembocki (Feb. 2008)

Let’s face it: while some aspects of motherhood may come completely naturally (like leaky boobies, for example), other aspects… well, not so much.  How many of us have come face to face with personal revelations and worries of just how stressed, stretched and completely unsuited (at least that’s how we feel at the time) we are for motherhood?  Out of those who can actually admit to such thoughts and concerns, how many actually vocalize them? 

Glembocki knows exactly how that feels, and she’s opened up in this amazingly honest and at times humorous memoir about the initial months following childbirth: The Second Nine Months that are so full of learning, loving and adaptation.  I kid you not: after the first few chapters you’ll begin to be flummoxed at just how similar your feelings were (or are) to what Glembocki describes herself as having had… And if ever you’ve felt alienated, inadequate, or just plain different from how you’ve always imagined you should feel like as a new mother (i.e. - perfectly sane, happy and adjusted despite the lack of sleep and “me” time), this book will show you that it’s okay to have those worries, and no, you’re not the only one experiencing them, and yes, sometimes it takes time to fully accustom to being a mommy.

The tagline for The Second Nine Months is: One Woman Tells the Real Truth About Becoming a Mom. Finally…. and that’s just what you’ll get:

Many moms now either want or have to go back to work, either a few weeks or months after baby’s born, to a year or two after.  For the most part, there’s always that worry that  maybe it isn’t the best thing to do right now, or maybe that childcare facility isn’t the place you want to leave your kid in for 8 hours, or maybe you aren’t ready.

Then there’s the playgroup issue - does everyone seem to be getting this mommy thing down but you?  Does everyone have super boobs that pump out gallons of milk except you? (I know I personally wondered about that last one, lol)

Oh, and who can forget the tons of information and advice (solicited and um.. otherwise) that we’re all so bombarded we can barely think straight let alone make a decision!

The mommy-learning curve… We’ve all thought it: are we allowed to be imperfect and make mistakes?  Am I a bad mom… or do other moms think I’m a bad mom?

The bottom line?  Glembocki was not afraid in letting her feelings and experiences out, and I applaud her for it, because in doing so she’s probably helped many mothers realize that they’re normal and that there are definitely other mom’s who’ve felt the same way.  The Second Nine Months will probably make you laugh, and it might even make you cry, but what it will definitely do is open up your eyes to the fact that you are not alone in your discomfort, confusion and indecisiveness… but it’s okay, because everything’s going to work out.

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