Five Minutes' Peace (ISBN 0698117875)

Mom lets kids walk all over her, then gets angry about it?:
I don't understand all the positive reviews for this book. It goes against so much of the parenting we practice in our house. First of all, the mother, Mrs. Large, says something we'd consider hurtful in our house--she says she wants a bath "Because I want five minutes' peace from all of YOU." The artwork shows a really cross mom looking at sad, hurt little kids. Then, to top that off, the pattern of the book is that the mother lets the kids walk all over her. She asks them to stay downstairs and they don't (no consequences from the mom). When interrupted in her bath, she asks her older son to limit his interruption to one song, then he plays it over three times (no consequences from the mom). She asks her daughter to read one page, and her daughter reads five (no consequences from the mom). All the while, Mrs. Large looks more and more frustrated, and more and more the "pity-me" victim. Finally, fed up with the kids trying to be with her and not listening to her, she leaves the bathroom and again (angry looking while her kids look sad) says "I want five minutes' peace from all of YOU." Seriously, this book is a twisted view of how we should communicate and treat our kids--and a really sad portrayal of how some moms think they're the victim of their own kids, when really all the kids want is clear communication, fairness, and respect. If you don't want your kids to treat you like a doormat, don't *be* a doormat...and certainly, don't get angry at your kids because you've taught them you ARE a doormat. If you're looking for a book with this same theme, but not nearly so troubling, try "The Seven Silly Eaters." There, too, the mother gets stressed and overworked by her kids, but there isn't passive aggressive nastiness in that book...and in the end the children learn how to help out.

Empathy for Moms:
After ranting on the phone to a friend about my life with twin toddlers, she sent this book to me as a gift. What a gift! It was a huge hit for the whole family! It made me laugh because it captured my exasperation with mothering toddlers in an honest and humorous way. My girls loved Jill Murphy's amusing illustrations and the funny chaos that the Large kids create. And most importantly, they were able to empathize with Mrs. Large. Woo hoo! It gave us the perfect set up to teach our kids that parents need breaks too (and that even a shortened break of 3 minutes and 45 seconds is a welcome respite to refuel the zapped energy!)

My Favorite Book:
I love to give this book to new mothers. It was given to me when I had my first daughter and it made me laugh! How true it is to try and get a simple bath or shower once you have a child.

Love this book, as do my children!:
Such a cute book, great way to explain how a mom needs a break sometime too! We really needed this!

Excellent:
Something even Mom's can enjoy! Kids will love it so much they'll memorize it. Quick read, not too much text on each page, but enough to engage kids anywhere from 2-6 years old!