The ABCs of Being Mom: Advice and Support from the Mom Next Door, Birth through Kindergarten

by Karen Bongiorno

Overview

Moms enter the world of motherhood with no sense of the impact that entry will have upon them. They need orientation and guidance to get through this bewildering maze—and The ABCs of Being Mom, with its abundance of wisdom acquired directly from the trenches of motherhood struggles, is that roadmap.
In this instructive guide, Karen Bongiorno addresses the changes parenthood brings and how to manage them, the importance of being part of a supportive community and taking time for personal care and restoration, the need for equal participation from spouses or partners, and more, with a steady voice of encouragement and understanding that will get moms through even the toughest of times. The wise friend every mom needs to accompany her in her new role, The ABCs of Being Mom offers mothers everything they need to feel confident in managing motherhood so they can rid themselves of useless worry and have more time and energy to enjoy their early years of "Being Mom."

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781647420116
Publisher:	She Writes Press
Publication date:	07/30/2025
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	280
File size:	13 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Karen Bongiorno is a mother of two children, a daughter and a son, who have both graduated from college and launched independently. Before motherhood, she had a career in private banking in Los Angeles and on Wall Street in New York. During her child-raising years, she started up and ran a small business and wrote books for moms. She also volunteered in her community, working many hours in local children's and parents' organizations and raising funds for local philanthropies and her children's schools and activities. Her child-raising years were often filled with worry and the overriding question of, "Now what?!" This book is her answer to those concerns. After completing this book, Karen passed away unexpectedly on February 4, 2021. She lived with her husband, George, in Marin County, California, and with their beloved dog, Charlie, until his passing in June 2020.

Table of Contents

Introduction ix

Chapter 1 The First Three Months-Beginning Days of Motherhood 1

Chapter 2 Four Months to One Year-Adapting to New Priorities, Roles, and Routines 21

Chapter 3 Age One-Beginning Community 41

Chapter 4 Ages Two and Three-Early Childhood 63

Chapter 5 Ages Three to Five-Preschool Years 93

Chapter 6 Age Range: Four to Six-Kindergarten 111

Chapter 7 Family Organization 127

Chapter 8 Family Finances and Safeguards 187

Chapter 9 Resources 203

Chapter 10 Appendix 223

Acknowledgments 259

Editorial Reviews

A kind and highly readable parenting guide.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“The ABCs of Being Mom is a resource-filled parenting book that stands to work for all parents.”
—Foreword Reviews

“The ABCs of Being Mom is an excellent guide for every new mother! It is such an easy and ‘friendly’ read that you will feel like you are talking to the experienced and trusted mom next door. As the mother of three children and a nurse-midwife who has attended the birth of hundreds of babies over the last 27 years, I have seen the apprehension as parents realize the immense responsibility that comes along with their new little treasure! The ABCs of being Mom will provide you with the comfort and confidence you need to be the best mom possible!”
—Kathleen Dowd Belzer, Certified Nurse-Midwife and Nurse Practitioner; former President of the California Nurse-Midwives Association

“The ABCs of Being Mom is very thoughtfully written and there are so many resource pages. This makes the book very current. There are many books out there to tell us what to expect but this book actually gives you the tools to help us and our children meet those expectations. The resources are excellent.”
—Dr. Eileen Golden, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cleveland Clinic

From the Publisher

2020-12-21
A comprehensive advice manual for new mothers.

In her nonfiction debut, Bongiorno, a mother of two, wants to stress the seismic shift that occurs in a woman’s life when taking care of a new baby: “whether you are your child’s birth mother or adoptive mother, your life as you knew it has changed.” It’s a self-evident observation, of course, but the author goes into great detail regarding the many different aspects of being a parent, with special emphasis on the social and emotional repercussions. There are copious pragmatic reminders, essential for new moms; she urges readers to be sure to save and organize their child’s health records, for instance, including doctors’ notes and vaccination dates, which might get lost in the shuffle of everyday life. The author is also creative and generous with her tips on outside resources, noting that “Your local recreation department, places of worship, or the YMCA may host classes for mothers and their young babies.” The book’s chapters include a smattering of bullet points and checklists, clearly designed for ready access and quick consultation. The book’s main attraction, though, is Bongiorno’s warm authorial presence throughout, steadily offering advice and encouragement and always ready with anecdotes from her own motherhood adventures. The emphasis is always on life’s constant change and how to adapt to it. Much of Bongiorno’s advice feels like common sense, and much of it will be very familiar to young parents who regularly consult parenting-advice books; the author urges readers to limit their child’s screen time, for instance, and to make a concerted effort to get to know their teachers. However, the focus of the book is on community and the notion that parents, and particularly new parents, need not feel isolated, as there are always caring people ready to help them. This advice, delivered in the author’s empathetic tone, will be a godsend to harried child-rearing newcomers.

A kind and highly readable parenting guide.

Kirkus Reviews