A Book That'll Make You Rethink Parenting - The Surprising Truth About What's Missing from Our Kids' Lives

Hello there!

We've got a bedtime ritual going on with my little one - we read a book together, even though she's old enough to read on her own. The options are endless when it comes to kids' literature, and it's honestly overwhelming. That's why choosing the right books is crucial.

One such book that caught my attention is "My Mom is a Neanderthal" by Anastasia Lutikova.

First impressions - the book's design and layout.

We read the paperback version, and I've gotta say, the hardcover edition is a nice touch. The pages are thick and white, with a decent font size.

The cover features the main characters, and it's a great way to get kids excited about reading.

The back cover has a brief summary, which gives you an idea of what to expect.

The story and characters.

The plot is actually quite interesting, even from the summary. So, here's what happens:

From a PhD candidate to a caveman with a spear in hand - it's all just a split second... When the stars align, your wishes come True! And by morning, instead of the usual smart talk from mom, you hear something like "gr-r" for the first time. The fur rug is a better fit than her strict business attire and pencil skirt. Marusya, who's been competing with mom's dissertation for attention, is finally happy. But how do you hide the unexpected transformation when the principal calls a meeting with parents, and everyone's always dropping by for a visit? Now, there's no talk of scientific papers; mom's more interested in fun stuff. And with all that free time, you can do so many things together: visit the zoo, cook dinner as a family, or even read a book snuggled up together - although Marusya's a bit too old for that...

The book's published by "Five Quarters," and they're not exactly known for churning out fluff. On the contrary, most of their books have substance.

The story's quite unique, and that's what drew me to it.

The writing style is easy to follow, making it a breeze to read, even with a substantial page count.

Who's it for? The story's geared towards kids in the 2nd to 4th grade range, roughly. The publisher's marked it as 6+, but I think it's a bit too complex for first-graders.

My takeaways.

The writing's engaging, and there are plenty of funny moments. But what I love most is that it's not just a lighthearted read; it's got substance for parents too. The book touches on how often we neglect our loved ones due to our own pursuits.

It also shows the other side - the kid's perspective, where they struggle to find time for family because of all the adult responsibilities.

In the end, it's not about abandoning our responsibilities, but about finding a balance. A great example is the mom's friend, who takes a vacation instead of going to work.

I've got to give credit to the illustrator - the pictures in the book are fantastic, and they really bring the story to life.

I highly recommend reading this with your whole family.