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I had never heard of Mary Louise Kelly before picking up this audiobook, but enjoyed getting to know her through the stories she shared about her job and her family.

This book is just as much about her time with NPR as it is about her family life.

The parts about her father especially resonated with me.

I absolutely loved this memoir. Journalism was my major so I love reporter memoirs. I had put this one off because I thought it was going to be strictly about mothering kids about to leave home. It is about that, and those parts were very engaging, but there‘s also a lot about her work as a journalist. A standout chapter covers her infamous interview with then-Sec. of State Mike Pompeo. I finished the audiobook in two days.

I laughed, I cried. The narration is fabulous. Such a great book but - parents of teenagers, beware: listen at your own peril. There will be feelings. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Loved this honest memoir. Had me tearing up in so many places as I connected with the author as a daughter of a strong mother, the death of a father, and being a parent of adult children. Some days of childrearing often feel endless, yet once they're over, it feels as if those years pass so quickly.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I don‘t listen to NPR, so wasn‘t super familiar with Kelly, but this memoir in essays touches on so many relatable parenting moments. She‘s also a soccer mom of two sons with almost identical age split as my boys. These stories are the ones I enjoyed most. The thought that my boys might one day play on the same high school team nearly made my heart burst! Looking forward to discussing at #bookclub !

What an incredibly relatable book and honestly I read it at the perfect time. With so many women talking about how hard it is to be everything to everyone, Mary Louise Kelly really hits the nail on the head. I empathized with every bit of struggle, guilt, and failure that she writes so honestly about in this book, but I also cheered right alongside her as she found ways to be more present for herself and her children.

Those 2 were just in diapers 😭
I am so sentimental about my kids growing up, so I knew I had to read this book. The soccer cleats especially resonate, as we do lots of soccer.
The book is very readable, but not as relatable to our family, as Kelly has a more demanding job than mine, and also a higher tax bracket. However, when she shares the feelings of missing her kids‘ events due to work commitments I can sympathize. The audio was well done.

Non fiction about how fast raising children happens and how we struggle with the guilt of chasing a career and chasing kids. As a working mom who raised 6 kids, this resonates with me.

I finished listening to this audiobook while sealing and stamping graduation announcements. Mary Louise Kelly and I don't have a whole lot in common (same generation, elder children a year apart in age, and that's pretty much it), and I admit to glazing over during some of the world news bits, but as Kelly writes about the milestones of middle age---empty nest, aging parents, career shifts, marriage challenges---her words resonate so much for me.

Started this one before work but luckily also before putting on makeup. I hope I don't cry through the whole thing, but as the parent of a high school senior, this is the perfect time for me to read this, which is also the worst time for me to read it, if I don't want to walk around with mascara lines down my face.