It’s not what’s inside the book that freaks me out. It’s this weird pregnant lady on the cover.
Every time I look at her—in her Lane Bryant twinset, cranberry leisure slacks and sensible earth shoes—I get depressed. She even looks depressed, sitting there in her rocking chair with this resigned, vaguely-defeated look on her face, like, “That’s it. It’s over. I should have never married that good-for-nothing bastard.”
What to Expect When You’re Expecting has sold 10 zillion copies and this is their representation of motherhood? I don’t expect a pregnant Demi Moore on the cover of Vanity Fair, or anything, but at least give me a mom with a decent haircut and—oh, I don’t know— a happy expression?
It’s no wonder so many wonder pregnant women get constipated, having to look at a book jacket like this.
UPDATE: Okay, so I found out somebody lent me the old edition of this book. Apparently, the new edition — which features the kind of high-energy, hip mom you see in Swiffer commercials, only with a bump — published in 2008. While my dowdy version was on the shelves as late as 2002! 2002 is still pretty late in the game to be rocking the cranberry leisure slacks and earth shoes, don’t you think?
You are right – never thought of it when I had this book when I was pregnant with Ryan. It really is a good book (if I remember correctly – it has been 17 years). Talk about standing the test of time! Take care!
Hi Melanie: Oh, I’ll take care. As long as I don’t look too long at the book’s cover. JK
This is their old cover from a much older edition of the book. They’ve had a new cover… with a cool hip pregnant mom… for like 3 or 4 years already.
Hi – you have an old edition. The new edition, which has been out for about a year, has a much hipper woman – more of the 21st century – and she’s out of the rocking chair!
Ah, I see. I have an old edition. But I still get over the hip new version is only 3-4 years old. You’d think they would have put a cool mom on the cover way back in the late 70s. JK
Whether they changed the cover or not, this is a great post. Loved it.
Have you seen the even older cover? Shudder.
http://www.kidsource.com/books/expect.expecting.html
I think I have the newer edition if you’d like it so that you don’t have the urge to do yourself in contemplating the next 20+ years of your life in “mom jeans” and holiday theme sweaters.
On an aside, you’re eggs are fantastic. Keep ‘em coming!
K: Did you say HOLIDAY THEME SWEATERS?? Dude, I need that!
Hailey: Whoa. That’s birth control right there. JK