Four Inspirational Moms On Perserverence

I guess it was John Lennon who said "life happens while you're making other plans."  This Is Not the Life I Ordered is a book about the life that happens, and how to survive.  It's a primer for women living in today's world who are faced with trials and tribulations we never could have foreseen.  And it's written by four extraordinary Bay Area moms who have been shot, divorced, widowed, lost jobs, money and more.  They tell it like it is, and they tell how to get through it.  A remarkable story of courage and companionship.

I had the privilege of working for former California State Senator Jackie Speier, one of the authors of this book.  I didn't work for her long because I chose to go onto bed rest during my pregnancy rather than risk losing my baby, and the job I was in just couldn't be done from bed rest.  But as I learned through talking with Jackie and reading her book, she knows more about making tough choices and surviving difficult challenges than possibly anyone I've ever met.  I wish I could have spent more time working for her, but I we both know I made the right choice.

My challenge in that case was nothing compared to when Jackie lost her husband while pregnant with their second child.  Or when she was shot and left for dead in Guyana.  She and her three close friends tell their stories in this book and it's full of lessons to move forward, survive and thrive.  The web site also contains useful tips.  The book says to collect a group of women you admire and hold onto them as advisors and confidantes to get you through the difficult times. I've thought about it, but I'm chicken to ask the people who I think would have the best advice because everyone's so busy.

I guess instead of feeling that we need major problems like death and divorce to bring us together, the concept here is to cultivate strong, trusting friendships before these problems arise. If I'd had a better support system before becoming pregnant, perhaps I wouldn've have spent nearly 2 years on bed rest and in recovery but then again, giving birth is one of those things that only moms understand and I didn't have many mom friends before this. This blog has helped with some of that, so I have to thank my new mommyblogger pals for providing insight. But when I read a book like this - wow - I feel like my problems are so insignificant. I don't know where some women find the courage to make it through such difficult times that allows them to triumph, but if they could bottle it in something more than just one book, I'd invest in a few vials. Still, it's a worthwhile read.