Confessions of a Scary Mommy: An Honest and Irreverent Look at Motherhood: The Good, the Bad, and the Scary (20 page)

To my husband, Jeff Smokler: Not only could I never have written this book without you, I wouldn’t have wanted to. Thank you for not pouting when I ridicule you and continuing to provide me with ample material. You are my rock and I can’t imagine going through life alongside anyone but you. Follow you, follow me.

To my mom, Kathy Epstein: I don’t think I ever truly appreciated you until I had children of my own. Thank you for always being my biggest cheerleader, no matter what the sport. Your love and encouragement knows no limits. Everyone deserves a mother like you.

To my dad, Drew Epstein: Thank you for the best legal advice I’ve ever received, along with never-ending five-dollar bills and love. Sandy Jacobs: Thank you for your shared excitement and support through this crazy ride.

To my brother, Matt Epstein, and sister-in-law to be, Bari Weinstock: Please hurry up and have babies, I need some inspiration! Love you both.

Lisa Leshne: You are my Jerry Maguire—so much more than just an agent. Thank you for finding me and holding my hand and becoming a friend. You are phenomenal.

Lauren McKenna: You are the best editor a girl could ask for. Thank you for making this process so much fun and laughing in all the right places. It’s been a blast.

Nichole Harvey: Thank you for keeping the Scary Mommy community alive and thriving. I could never do it without you.

Thank you so much to my message board moderators who volunteer their precious time to make the boards and confessional
a kinder, gentler place. You are amazing! Carri Sweeney, Samantha Angoletta, Mikki Caplan, Kristin Mason, Tamara Seidel, Charisse Oates, and Rae Thomas. And thank you to the wonderful regulars for sparking conversation, making friends, and supporting one another. I am so very proud of what we have built together.

Rachel Horner: You are the best intern in the world. Thank you for making my life easier during the craziest of times.

Nicole Daniels: I could not have written this book without your help. You are the babysitter every mother should be lucky enough to have.

Love to my family: Lisa Chinsky, Bonnie and Dick Lechtner, Ashley Strange, Larry Lechtner, Sue Mandell, Mara Landis, Carol and Myles Berkman, and Jason Guyan for your support and enthusiasm from the very beginning. It means the world to me.

Thank you, Baltimore, for adopting me with open arms. For the first time in my life, I’m not itching to move. To Jennifer Mendelsohn and Evan Serpick: I am lucky to count you as neighbors and friends. Many thanks also to: The Port Discovery Museum,
Baltimore
magazine and the
Baltimore Sun
(especially Jill Rosen) for lovely support and coverage. To my kids’ teachers: I am grateful for each and every one of you. Thank you for educating my children day after day after day after day. Better you than me.

Deep appreciation to my friends who have always supported all things Scary Mommy: Marlene Lewis, Jessica Kahn, Amy Egan, Mindy Greenberg, Yana Frankel, Jessica Fidgeon, the Feldmans, the Liptons, the Hamilton women, Anat Zirkin, and Kim Glaun.

Francesca Banducci, Kathy Alconcel, and Angie Lee: In a perfect world, you girls would be my sister-wives. Thank God for the Internet.

Thank you to Cynthia Dermody and Amy Boshnack for making a writing gig at Café Mom’s The Stir a pleasure rather than a chore.

I am grateful to have reconnected with Wash U friends through the magic of social media: Nina Badzin, Rebecca Kotok, Alissa Peltzman, and Alexis Tande, thank you for your dedication!

To my wonderful online friends, who have gone above and beyond in their support, especially: Galit Breen, Dawn Finicane, Ellen Seidman, Holly Rosen Fink, Loralee Choate, Sunday Stilwell, Lara DiPaola, Jennifer Gerlock, Cara Blevins, Ann Imig, Nicole Hempeck, Erin Domareki, Heather Walsh, Michael Guill, Debbie Patrick, Jen Mitchell, Becky Leatherman Adams, Corine Ingrassia, Nicole White, Kate Hood, Tracy Morrison, Brittany Vanderlinden, Loukia Zigoumis, Pauline Karwowski, Rachel Matthews, Lori Garcia, Mary Fischer, Heather Reinhard, Deborah Cruz, Amber Page, Christy Casimiro, Laura Franklin, Marinka Romanoff, Alexandra Rosas, Britt Reints, Cynthia Wheeler, Julie Dance, Tiffany Romero, Tracey Gaughran-Perez, Rachel Voorhees, Jennifer Williams, Jessica McFadden, Dani Ackerman Liberman, Jodi Schulz, Shell Jeanette, Sarah Visbeek, and Beth Morse. I’m so lucky to have you on my side.

My sincere gratitude to the crew at Simon & Schuster: Jennifer Robinson and Natalie Ebel for their publicity and marketing expertise, and Alexandra Lewis for kindly convincing me that there is never a stupid question.

And to the army of Scary Mommies all around the world who read my blog, submit their own posts, form friendships on the message boards, and confess their secrets: This book wouldn’t exist without you. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

We hope you enjoyed reading this Gallery Books eBook.

Sign up for our newsletter and receive special offers, access to bonus content, and info on the latest new releases and other great eBooks from Gallery Books and Simon & Schuster.

or visit us online to sign up at
eBookNews.SimonandSchuster.com