GGS Interview: Erica Wells, co-author of The Rookie Mom’s Survival Guide

We recently heard about a book for new moms called The Rookie Mom’s Survival Guide, which is being published next year by John Wiley and Sons. The book is written by Erica Wells and Lorraine Regel, who described it as a humorous and easy-to-read reference with great tips and advice to first time parents who are coping with a new baby.

We were lucky enough to catch up with co-author Erica Wells and she agreed to answer a few questions for Girl, Get Strong.sept-08-002

Erica Wells The Rookie Mom’s Survival Guide Interview:

GGS: What led you to write a book? And what can you tell us about it?

EW: I was breastfeeding my 2 month old daughter at 2:00am for the 5th time that night when I thought to myself…..gosh, why didn’t any of my friends tell me that being a mother was going to be this tough. I wondered why no one told me about any of the gruesome details and why no one prepared me for the life I was getting myself into. It was that night that I decided that I wasn’t going to let any new mother blindly enter motherhood and that I would be the one to tell them exactly what to expect…good and bad. However, I did appreciate that providing all the gory details might scare some mothers-to-be off so I intended the book to be funny and lighthearted but still provide the straight goods on the first year of motherhood. I then partnered up with a friend and fellow new mom, Lorraine Regel, to collaborate on the project as two perspectives and experiences are better than one.

Our guide is structured around fun illustrations of the mother’s body and the baby’s body. These are respectively referred to as a ‘mommy map’ and a ‘baby map’ and give the reader a unique visual outline of the book. Each chapter is dedicated to zooming in on a part of the body where we tackle common related issues. Icons along the side panel of the book correspond to parts of the body map and allow the reader to easily select the chapter they need by using the associated picture.

GGS: Since your book is geared toward new mothers, what is one important tip that you think every new mother needs to know?

EW: That you aren’t alone out there. That thousands if not millions of new mothers around the world feel exactly the same way that you do and to explore the many blogs, websites, and mommy groups out there to seek advice and to just know that your insanity isn’t reflective of you….but, of being a new mother in general!

GGS: What is one thing you wish you’d known about before becoming a mother?

EW: That the first three months after giving birth aren’t exactly a cake walk. If I had known, I would have prepared more food, de-cluttered my house and most importantly prepared my family and friends for the help that I was going to need.

GGS: How do you balance working with being a mother of two young children?

EW: First and foremost I armed myself with help. I knew that even though I work from home, I couldn’t do it all so I hired a caregiver to help me with my children. I think my biggest piece of advice to working mothers out there is to not sweat the small stuff. You have so much on your plate balancing work and home that you don’t have extra time during the day to worry about non menial things. If you find yourself overwhelmed write a list of your top 3 priorities and focus on those. Believe it or not, the rest can wait until tomorrow. One of the best quotes I have heard is “you will never lay on your deathbed wishing you had worked more”.

GGS: They say busy people get more things done…what are the other priorities in your life besides working and your family?

EW: I would like to say that fitness and health is a priority. I want to stay strong for my kids so that I can keep up with them. As well as I want to be a role model for my kids as they grow up when it comes to exercise. I involve my daughter in the exercise video’s that I do. She of course has no interest in doing the actual moves, however, she listens to the music and dances around while I exercise. It’s a great way to spend some time together but still get in a work out.

GGS: What is the last book you’ve read? Would you recommend it?

EW: Shopoholic Takes Manhattan. I would definitely recommend it to new mothers who need a light-hearted and funny book to read when they get a small break in their hectic day.

GGS: Okay, down to the dirt: are you a runners or high heels type of girl? Tell us about your favorite pair of shoes!

EW: Okay, I come across as a runners girl because that’s all I seem to wear these days….however, I do gaze at the beautiful heels in my closet that I used to wear when I worked in an office and long for those wonderful days….ahem, wonderful shoes! My favorite pair of shoes are ones that don’t give me blisters….I don’t have time for blisters 🙂

GGS: You’ve been a great sport! One last question: who is your favorite celebrity mom and why?

EW: I would have to say Jessica Alba. The reason being is that she is so down to earth and is honest about her journey as a first time mom. Other celeb moms pretend that they are superwoman and take all the credit for raising their kids….they fail to mention the team of nannies and chefs in the background helping them.

GGS: Thanks Erica!

EW: My pleasure.

The Rookie Mom’s Survival Guide will be in bookstores in February, 2010 but you can visit Erica and Lorraine’s blog for excerpts from the book in the meantime.

Are you interested in reading anymore of our interviews? We have interviewed Team Huntress who hold outdoor adventure clinics for women and Mollie King of girlband the Saturdays.