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Even June Cleaver Would Forget the Juice Box

By Ann Dunnewold, Ph.D.

(Health Communications, Inc., Deerfield Beach, Florida, 2007; pp. 280; softcover)

The creative title, Even June Cleaver Would Forget the Juice Box, is preceded by the summary statement “Cut Yourself Some Slack (and Still Raise Great Kids) in the Age of Extreme Parenting.” This book is helpful and insightful whether reading this as one who can identify with this “Age of Extreme Parenting” or as a minister who needs to understand the pressures of today’s young mothers. The licensed psychologist’s goal in writing this book is to dissuade young mothers from the standard of “perfection” to the attainable standard of “perfectly good mother.” To quote Dr. Dunnewold:

“The perfectly good mother does a perfectly good job, most of the time. Perfectly is defined as ‘clearly, without qualification.’… The perfectly good mother steps away from the absolutes of always and all, to a place of realism and perspective. The perfectly good mother knows that she is human. She has bad days. She excels at times, on some activities, while other activities are pretty tough for her. Perspective is her mantra …. The perfectly good mother realizes her anxiety comes from cultural influences …. When she hears herself uttering a ‘should’, or ‘what if,’ or ‘never’, she stops and rewords it. She keeps her sense of humor …. She honors the needs of everyone in the family; partner, children – even herself.”

The book is divided into three parts – The Problem, The Solution, and Sharing the Solution. This insightful book is well organized and offers many helpful tools. Instructive lists include: Mommy thinking traps, How to raise great kids, Seven stumbling blocks to change, as well as a cultural commentary helping one understand the pressures on today’s young mothers.

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