Writer mom lets us know we’re all in it together Book shelf - February 2005 Writer mom lets us know we’re all in it together 14 Hours ’Til Bedtime: A Stay-at-Home Mom’s Life in 27 Funny Little Stories, by Jen Singer. Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing, 2004, $12.95. Jen Singer knows exactly who she is writing for—moms just like her who feel privileged to be able to stay home with their kids, yet know it’s OK to sometimes wish for a few simple pleasures, such as taking a shower in peace. With two boys, ages 6 and 7, Singer has been there, done that and still managed to squeeze in the time to write a hilarious account of her life after kids. In addition to having her funny prose published in national magazines, the author also created her own Web site, www.mommasaid.net, the Stay At Home Moms Coffee Break, filled with anecdotes, links and essays for the breaks moms need—even if they are few and far between. In 14 Hours ’Til Bedtime, Singer keeps each of her 27 stories short because she knows stay-at-home moms “have only about 750 words to read before someone figures out you’re hiding in the bathroom with a book.” Each story is separated by even shorter “funnies” that take a minute or so to read. The author doesn’t complain about being a mom or about the gazillion times she has had to scrape peanut butter off the telephone or the long hours she has had to hold her colicky babies. She just feels it’s all right for moms to sometimes wonder what appreciation they get for the 24/7 job with no days off. The book has a “we’re all in this together” attitude so that overwhelmed, sleep-deprived, rookie moms don’t feel like they are the only ones up at 3 a.m. This is a great read for moms at all stages. It’s a consolation and a much-needed laugh for moms going through exactly what the author describes. It’s a heartier laugh for moms who have graduated from the teething troubles of infants and toddlers. As for expectant moms … it’s a preview for a movie they’ve already bought. Kiran Ansari Books offers insights on sensory integration issues Raising a Sensory Smart Child: The Definitive Handbook for Helping Your Child with Sensory Integration Issues, by Lindsey Biel and Nancy Peske, Penguin Books, 2005, $22. A tearful child protests loudly, she can’t bear the touch of clothing tags and seams against her skin. Another child is unnerved by the telephone’s high-pitched ring but likes to turn on the vacuum and listen to the whirring and whooshing of its loud motor. Equally worrisome for a parent is the boy who refuses to climb on the playground equipment. He is content to simply spin in circles on the carousel. All these unusual behaviors are symptoms of sensory integration dysfunction and they indicate the children have trouble processing tactile, auditory or vestibular (balance) signals in their brain. Often it can occur with other disorders, such as attention deficit disorder, autism spectrum disorders, Asperger syndrome and pervasive developmental disorder. If you’ve never heard of this, then Raising a Sensory Smart Child is a comprehensive handbook that can help you learn about what happens when sensory processing malfunctions in a child.  In warm accessible language the authors guide us through diagnosis, learning and behavior issues, practical solutions for home and school and “sensory diets.” The co-authors are a parent and an occupational therapist, and they combine authoritative information with personal insights and experiences. Charts describe the seven sensory systems, and checklists enable parents to determine their child’s unique profile—identifying sensitivities and troublesome behaviors. It is often surprising for parents to learn that problems with sensory processing can also affect areas of cognitive development such as speech and language, motor skills and social and emotional growth. This is a book to foster sensory smart parents. A complete index provides lists of useful toys, equipment, products, Web sites and support organizations. This deserves a place on the reference library shelf. Another book I also recommend is the previously published and highly regarded Out-of -Sync Child by Carol Stock Kranowitz. Emilija Novitovic, M.Ed.