The Manic Mommy Book Club met last week to discuss Waiting for Daisy. With ten women on the call, from across the country, we had a lively discussion. One might think we were old friends having dinner together or a book club with a long history. We had so much to talk about.
Waiting for Daisy is a memoir, written by Peggy Orenstein. Her story begins when she tells her new husband that she’s not sure she ever wants to be a mother. It ends six years later after she’s done almost everything humanly possible to achieve that goal, from fertility sex to escalating infertility treatments to forays into international adoption. (source: author website)
Jumping right in, our discussion became personal quickly as we discussed our overall impression of the book, sharing the struggles of motherhood and the expectations we put on ourselves (and those put upon us). We all enjoyed the book and felt a bond with Peggy. We loved her writing style and the emotions carried off each page, tugging at our hearts.
We talked about our own quests for motherhood, if it was planned on unexpected. Some of us talked openly about the decision to put off becoming a parent for years, only to face the challenges of infertility. Most of us who feel we are in control of our lives, we want to neatly ‘check the box’ as we move through life and infertility is a journey no one plans for.
At the beginning of the book the author tells a story about an evening out with friends. She was amazed to find everyone talking about their children, which made us wonder how the author feels now that she has children of her own. We were in agreement that its easy to talk about our children and often have to tell ourselves ‘tonight I’m not going to talk about my kids’, only to talk about them most of the night. One member of our book club mentioned she looks forward to travelling for work, it’s not expected that she talk about her family and she can take a brief respite from parenting.
Join in the discussion:
- Looking back, are you the parent you thought you would be?
- If you read along with us, please share your thoughts about the book.
There are so many pages in the book that touched our hearts, a few tears were shed and we all agree that we highly recommend this book. Our next book selection is The Wednesday Sisters. We will be discussing this book live, with the author, on November 7th. Watch for details in the upcoming weeks.
Waiting for Daisy is a memoir, written by Peggy Orenstein. Her story begins when she tells her new husband that she’s not sure she ever wants to be a mother. It ends six years later after she’s done almost everything humanly possible to achieve that goal, from fertility sex to escalating infertility treatments to forays into international adoption. (source: author website)
Jumping right in, our discussion became personal quickly as we discussed our overall impression of the book, sharing the struggles of motherhood and the expectations we put on ourselves (and those put upon us). We all enjoyed the book and felt a bond with Peggy. We loved her writing style and the emotions carried off each page, tugging at our hearts.
We talked about our own quests for motherhood, if it was planned on unexpected. Some of us talked openly about the decision to put off becoming a parent for years, only to face the challenges of infertility. Most of us who feel we are in control of our lives, we want to neatly ‘check the box’ as we move through life and infertility is a journey no one plans for.
At the beginning of the book the author tells a story about an evening out with friends. She was amazed to find everyone talking about their children, which made us wonder how the author feels now that she has children of her own. We were in agreement that its easy to talk about our children and often have to tell ourselves ‘tonight I’m not going to talk about my kids’, only to talk about them most of the night. One member of our book club mentioned she looks forward to travelling for work, it’s not expected that she talk about her family and she can take a brief respite from parenting.
Join in the discussion:
- Looking back, are you the parent you thought you would be?
- If you read along with us, please share your thoughts about the book.
There are so many pages in the book that touched our hearts, a few tears were shed and we all agree that we highly recommend this book. Our next book selection is The Wednesday Sisters. We will be discussing this book live, with the author, on November 7th. Watch for details in the upcoming weeks.
I totally identified with the book, and connected with Peggy right from the beginning. The roller coaster ups and downs were very familiar to my own situation, and it made me relive my own experiences. It prompted many discussions with friends who I have passed the book onto as well. Things I was never able to convey are now clearer to those close to me.
ReplyDeleteI think, so far anyway, I've turned out to be the parent I thought I would be - except I always envisioned having more children.
I liked the book. Although my personal story was different, I was able to connect with Peggy trying to decide when to let her career come second to being a mother. Looking back, I remember feeling very ready to have children but I could never have been prepared for such a life changing event.
ReplyDeleteI definitely identified with Peggy, although I never thought that I would not want children. It was quite a journey for her between not wanting children to becoming obsessed with wanting a child.
ReplyDeleteI agree with other readers, that until you become a parent, it is impossible for someone to explain it to you and impossible for you to be truly prepared for how your life will change. I never imagined loving anyone as much as I do all 3 of my kids. After I had my own children, I feel like I understood why my own mother worried so much and was so overprotective of me.
I thought that the book was a really good chronicle of her journey into parenthood.
I really loved the book. It was a quick, easy read.
ReplyDeleteIt helped me look at my own journey in a different way and understand some of the emotions I went through better.
We struggled to get pregnant and were told we wouldn't have a baby without some kind of intervention. We decided to let nature take its course and ended up with a healthy little boy. I try to enjoy every experience, good & bad, because he really is our miracle baby. I think this experience has helped me be the mom I always hoped I would be.
I really liked the book and was able to connect with Peggy. Although I did not go through what she did to conceive, I can absolutely know that I would have made the same efforts. Once we decided, I became single-focused for three months until I became pregnant. With each month that went by, I became more obsessed. We also delayed having our son for many years, because I was focused on my career.
ReplyDeleteI think I am the parent that I thought I would be, but I thought that I would become more patient.
This is not a book I would have chose for myself, but I am really glad that I read it.
This was a good read, I've passed the book on to friends. I don't know if I connected with Peggy, maybe because I've never been through that much angst trying to make family. I felt frustrated with her at times, seems like she wasn't being honest with herself. The situation of wanting to be on Oprah but not being honest about her personal situation was really telling of what an internal battle this was for her.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm the mom I thought I'd be. Have fun with my little one, but am positive I'm not stay at home mom material.