"This book will provide a belly laugh for some new mothers in desperate need of comic relief, or any kind of relief, from the twenty-four-hour shift that goes with parenting a very young child."—Publishers Weekly

"An ideal antidote to our collective beliefs about postpartum bliss and the myth of the perfect mom. Parenting is not for sissies. This book provides realistic—and comical—support."—Christiane Northrup, M.D., author of Mother-Daughter Wisdom

"Practical wisdom that you can use immediately to 'save your sanity' and to grow spiritually from the adventure and discovery of parenthood."—Mallika Chopra, author of 100 Promises to My Baby

"Smart, funny, and insightful—a balm to the soul of every new mother."—Debbie Ford, author of The Dark Side of the Light Chasers and The Best Year of Your Life

"A completely refreshing perspective on the travails, angst, and wonders of raising a baby and toddler. After reading her book, you will simply want to pick up the phone and declare Vivian your new best friend!"—Stacy DeBroff, author of The Mom Book and founder of www.momcentral.com

There's a lot of romance about becoming a parent, but at some point the storybook scenarios of serene life with baby are interrupted by the darker side of the motherhood experience: the little "bundle of joy" cries inconsolably, wakes up four times a night, won't take a bottle—the fantasy of motherhood quickly collides with reality. Vivian Glyck shows us that in fact it's the difficult parts of parenting that are the most valuable. The many challenges call on us to grow and develop as people. "Parenting," Glyck writes, "is the ultimate spiritual practice."

The Tao of Poop presents ten valuable life lessons that arise amid all the challenges of parenting. Based on the author's own experience and drawing on the sentiments of many mothers she's corresponded with, each chapter explores a common parenting predicament and a lesson that can be drawn from it, as well as helpful tips and strategies she calls "sanity savers."