The Naked Mom by Brooke Burke is a compelling title. You would probably pass it by on the shelf and wonder why on earth Brooke Burke was pictured naked on the cover of her own book.
But, then, you may pick it up and you’d flip through the first few pages and you’d read this:
 Perfection isn’t an ideal, it’s an illusion. I just don’t see life as an escalator, where ten easy steps will land you a perfect body, or perfect marriage, or perfect career. And this whole concept of defining success as the ability to balance everything? Makes sense if you’re a circus seal, but not if you’re a woman. Repeat after me: There is No. Such. Thing. As. Balance.
~Brooke Burke, The Naked Mom (pg. 5)
And, as a mother, you would instantly feel a kindred spirit and a sense of relief would wash over you because, while most days you give yourself a good dose of mommy-guilt,  it’s nice to read something that reminds you that – there is No. Such. Thing. As. Balance.
As a mother of three, I try to come to terms with the fact that I will have days where I make it all work well and days where I may just fail in epic proportions. The important part is to pick myself up, dust myself off and try again.
Additionally, it’s equally as important to surround myself with reminders that it’s ok that I’m not perfect, and that includes books like this one where it helps you connect with someone you might look up to as a mother. A person who on the surface seems to have it all figured out, but who’s willing to say there are times when she doesn’t. A person who is proud of her accomplishments and equally proud of her role as a mother.
Some of the reviews on this book mention how she goes on about her career and other things related to herself, claiming that Brooke is too self-indulgent – but her career is part of who she is and it’s part of her identity, which I think rounds out her book.
We are mothers, but we are also much more than that, and it’s ok to have interests and accomplishments outside of that role, which this book celebrates as well.
It’s a light book with nuggets of wisdom that give comfort in the imperfections of motherhood. Balance in motherhood is truly elusive and any book that assists in us coming to terms with that fact is a positive.
Would you read Brooke Burke’s book?ÂÂ
photo credit: amazon.com
