The Imperfect Mom: Candid Confessions of Mothers Living in the Real World by Therese J. Borchard 240 pages Broadway April 2006 Paperback     As a decidedly imperfect mom, woman and human being, I found plenty to relate to in nationally syndicated columnist and author Therese J. Borchard’s The Imperfect Mom, a collection of original essays by moms from all walks of life who share the commonality of their knack for not doing everything right. From the humorous to the dramatic to even the near-tragic, each story celebrates the reality of non-perfection that makes up the vast majority of parenting skills displayed by women (and we won’t even get into men here) who for some strange reason, think there exists a perfect ideal out there. Many of the women who tell their stories here are working professionals, some even in the parenting “field,” and some are single mothers. Others are stay-at-home authors like Andrea Buchanan and novelist Caroline Leavitt, who talk about how their career goals and parenting goals often clash as much as they intertwine. Other anecdotal essays talk about the shame of almost getting someone else’s child killed in terrible accidents, or even watching your own child tumble out a third-story window, or unwittingly exposing them to all kinds of dangers while camping, or even during a stroll through the park. The question posed by each essayist is the same; “When do we consider ourselves perfect enough?” That question is first asked by Katherine Black before the book launches into story after story of women trying to just do the best they can with what they have, and sometimes falling way short of that. And, of course, letting that be what it is, and not feeling guilty or ashamed or less worthy. From Kate Kelly’s tale of dead tadpoles to Jacquelyn Mitchard’s heart-tugging story of her getting booted from carpool for, God forbid, having a lot on her mind, The Imperfect Mom will resonate with every mom in some way, and some moms more than others. Bottom line is, these ladies have been there before us and have great wisdom to share, as well as plenty of hope and experience. Ultimately, it’s up to us to take their advice and just be the best we can be, to no one else’s measurements of success but our own.       web reviews   Marie D. Jones/2006 for curled up with a good kid's book   For grown-up fiction, nonfiction and speculative fiction book reviews, visit our sister site Curled Up With a Good Book (www.curledup.com)