"Wonderful chick lit tale"

Jack and Lucy tried every form of counseling, therapy, and New Age wizardry to save their marriage; but Dr. Lee fired them, the guru told them to seek a different mountain where laughter is king and queen, and the lemon snake oil irritated their skin. Finally, Jack tells Lucy that it is time for the American solution to solving their marital troubles: divorce. As always with this couple timing is everything because Jack's pronouncement precedes Lucy's laments that she is pregnant by a few minutes.

Jack still believes they need to split their tango, but also wants to raise the baby with Lucy. He suggests they live together still married to provide a two parent home to their child, but date others. Whether it is her free flowing hormones or the lesser of two evils (moving back to live with her mom in Jersey), Lucy accepts the co- parenting concept. When Adam is born, Lucy sees first hand the problem with a dysfunctional marriage as you know Jack has a girlfriend who he is too busy with to share parenting time with his child. Still Lucy vows to become supermom while wiping butts and dodging a radar enhanced pee-shooter.

TALES FROM THE CRIB is a wonderful chick lit tale that provides a strong look at motherhood from the perspective of a woman whose spousal relationship is somewhere amidst the overflowing toilet just below the non-flushable baby wipes and related excrement. Lucy provides the audience with perfect timing as she struggles with Jack figuratively moving on while she is moving forward a carriage. Jennifer Coburn provides a strong look at motherhood and apple pie, chick lit style.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted January 14, 2006

Summary

House in the 'burbs: check. Baby on the way: check. Rock- solid marriage: Can I get back to you on that one...? People say my timing with a wisecrack is flawless, but my real-life "special moments" sensor is clearly on the blink. Then again, so is Jack's, and this whole thing is his fault. I know...it takes two to make a baby. But it only takes one to ask for a divorce. And Jack was the one who asked—ten minutes before I announced my pregnancy. But Jack had a plan. We would raise the baby together and stay married in name only, free to see other people while still providing a stable home for our child. Co-parenting, Jack called it. My label for it was something slightly less sophisticated. So why did I find myself agreeing? I could blame any number of things, including hormones, panic, and the prospect of moving back in with my complete diva of a mother. In any case, here am I, Lucy Klein, cuddling my adorable son while my sort-of husband cuddles his adorable...girlfriend. Okay, fine—it's a totally bizarre arrangement. Still, this may not be the weirdest thing that happens in my life this year. Between trying to maintain my city-girl attitude while languishing in New Jersey, surviving children's parties featuring Barney and bloodshed, making it through my cousin Kimmy's wedding to herself, and trying to get at least one date (just to prove that I can), my hands are pretty full. But if there's one thing I'm determined to learn from all of this, it's how to be a great mom without losing myself in the process...