In the car one day, Jennifer Tiras’ recently potty-trained toddler, Avery, informed her that he had to poop. (Yikes; please, not in the new vehicle!) Thinking fast, she responded, “Sweetie … squeeze your cheeks together, and hold on just a few minutes!” When Jennifer looked in the rearview mirror, he was holding his face and squishing his cheeks like a determined little fish. This hilarious “wrong cheek” incident inspired her to document the special moments in her family life.

Jennifer graduated from the University of Houston in 1994, magna cum laude, with a degree in Early Childhood Development. With a good grasp on “how to handle children” she eagerly embraced motherhood … and quickly learned an eye-opening life truth: Nothing could have fully prepared her to be a mom! Nevertheless, she blended her educational knowledge with her heart for children and developed tips and strategies for every stage of motherhood!

Having trouble with an infant’s sleep habits? You, the parent, are in control! Let Jennifer show you some practical steps for sleep time. Does potty-training seem like you are entering a blind tunnel with no guidance? Simplify it with eight clear and achievable steps to potty-training success. How about the really big issues, like when to talk about sex, earning their own money, and keeping them close in the older stages when they want to drift away? Jenn has thought of it all, and she’s got you covered!

By weaving together detailed experiences from her teenage years to today, Jennifer tells story after story about every stage of motherhood and how it all comes back full circle. It is truth. It is emotion. And it’s told in a priceless, entertaining way that keeps the reader eagerly flipping the page to see what Jennifer might say next.

Motherhood doesn’t come with a manual, but it does indeed come with a mother.