The Magic of Motherhood: The Good Stuff, the Hard Stuff, and Everything In Between

I found the Coffee and Crumbs blog one night, around 3 a.m., almost 23 months ago. I was wide awake but exhausted – physically, mentally, emotionally – from the amazing highs of life with a newborn. I was overjoyed but also terrified that something would go wrong. In those small hours of the night, when no person should be awake, I discovered a whole new cosmos of the world wide web – parenting advice. How to sleep train by 6 weeks. Why I should co-sleep. Babies need a schedule and discipline. Free range parenting is best. Each new thing I read contradicted another, equally compelling article. I was obsessing over answers to questions I didn’t even know I had.And then I stumbled upon a story. It didn’t tell me how to get my baby to sleep. Or what type of baby food I should make in six months (but not a second before then!) But it helped me more than any advice article could.The Magic of Motherhood is a collection of stories equally beautiful, uplifting, heartbreaking, encouraging and funny. More than that, many of these stories are my story. Or probably will be one day. Or my best friend's story. Or the neighbor down the street. Motherhood truly is magical in its way to connect us.Plus, this hardcover with ribbon placeholder is absolutely dreamy (and small enough to toss in a diaper bag or purse).

It doesn't matter when your motherhood journey started or how you will find someone within this book that can relate to your story. These mommas have graciously poured out their hearts for mothers all over the world on their blog and now in this book. Not only are these essays well written with beautiful prose, but they showcase all of the wonderful and beautiful parts of motherhood, and also accurately convey the hardships that come along with motherhood. There is no advice, no steps to getting your child to sleep through the night, just honest solidarity from mothers who are in the trenches with you. These women know that motherhood is hard, they don't try to downplay that. They also know that motherhood is holy work and that we are all just trying to do our best.You get to know these ladies within these pages, you feel for them and you empathize. You see yourself in these stories. This book is such a gift for new moms, and for those who have more experience. You will not be disappointed!

What a great read. While some stories resonating with personal experience, others were just as comforting and relatable as a fellow mother, and they put your own situation into perspective. They were honest, soft, delicate. This was a perfect read for a new mom because I could pick it up, read a story or two, and feel fulfilled. The layout made it easy to read a few minutes at a time (you know, newborn nursing sessions, 5 minutes while brushing your teeth, or the exhausted end of day few minutes you have on the couch). I wish there was more!

I have never written a review on a book before. After reading this book, it was absolutely necessary that I write a review. I wish I would have had this book during my first pregnancy and especially during the first few hard months of post-partum. I love that this is a collection of stories from different moms. This makes it easy to follow and pick up at any time during the chaos of motherhood. So many truths, realizations, and just plain goodness. I will be gifting this book to my new mom friends because like I said before, I WISH I would have had this book back then. I am now expecting my second and plan to read this time and time again.

There have been so many blog-to-book deals over the past several years, but I'm not sure any have been quite as successful in navigating the transition as The Magic of Motherhood from the team behind the collaborative motherhood blog Coffee + Crumbs.For one thing, the book looks and feels like a tangible version of the blog. It's a lovely hardcover, with a ribbon bookmark so you don't even have to dog-ear the pages to save your spot. Accompanying each essay is gorgeous minimalist photographs, just like on the blog. Even the paper it's printed on is great! Truly, this is a book that just looks and feels good to hold.As for the essays themselves, longtime readers of the blog will find a few familiar stories from the authors (April Hoss' Bad Math and N'tima Preusser's When Love Feels Heavy are two), but most of the 33 essays in the book are as fresh as a newborn. And naturally, they are as beautifully written as you'd expect.The ones that hit me right in the gut? Lesley Miller's This Time Around, about expecting her third (and probably last) child, although my feelings are probably heavily influenced by my own pregnancy hormones. I also loved Katie Blackburn's It's Their Day Too, on dealing with the frustrations of a day with small children that doesn't go according to your plan.I don't think there's a mother around who won't find something that resonates in The Magic of Motherhood. Buy 10 copies and make it your go-to baby shower gift.Reviewed from copy received from the publisher.

I love his book! I love it so much I ordered this one for a gift for a friend who is expecting. One thing that I liked about the book itself (not the content but the book) was the satin ribbon page marker to hold my place. However, this one did not come with the satin ribbon page marker. I should have just gotten it from Target, which is where I got mine originally.

got this for a friend who was expecting and thought it was a perfect book other then the typical ones where you get too much parenting advice.

It arrived a bit late, but i live in spain so yeah. The book really easy to read and really hopeful! A really good idea to give to a new mama to be😊

Bought it for a friend of mine - first time mum to be. I know she will love it!

Joyful to read

I started reading the Coffee + Crumbs at the very beginning and I was thrilled when I heard the ladies behind the blog were working on a book! “The Magic of Motherhood” contains some of the best essays from the blog as well as new stories, each of which offers wisdom, encouragement, comfort, and understanding. The writers are genuine, authentic, vulnerable, and likeable – I felt like I was sitting around the coffee table with a group of friends, sharing stories, as I read this book! Read with a box of Kleenex and a journal handy! I bought a copy for myself, then another six for my sisters and best friends!