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I Lost Everything in the Post-Natal Depression
Erma Bombeck has learned a few things about children and family over the years--and in a way that is uniquely and wonderfully her own, she shares everything she knows with her readers. Whether it's cleaning up after the kids and him, or expendable mothers-in-law, Erma Bombeck gets to the heart of the matter and makes us laugh through our tears.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1970
40 people are currently reading
643 people want to read
About the author
Erma Bombeck
106Ìýbooks523ÌýfollowersErma Louise Bombeck, born Erma Fiste, was an American humorist who achieved great popularity for a newspaper column that depicted suburban home life humorously, in the second half of the 20th century.
For 31 years since 1965, Erma Bombeck published 4,000 newspaper articles. Already in the 1970s, her witty columns were read, twice weekly, by thirty million readers of 900 newspapers of USA and Canada. Besides, the majority of her 15 books became instant best sellers.
For 31 years since 1965, Erma Bombeck published 4,000 newspaper articles. Already in the 1970s, her witty columns were read, twice weekly, by thirty million readers of 900 newspapers of USA and Canada. Besides, the majority of her 15 books became instant best sellers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
October 10, 2007
When I was a young mother raising 5 children, Erma Bombeck always saved me! Raising children, although rewarding and fun, can be mundane and frustrating. Erma Bombeck's humorous view of life always put a smile on my face and made me laugh right out loud while I was reading! Even now, as a Grandmother, I love picking up a Bombeck book. It always cheers me up!
June 9, 2019
Some of Bombeck's books make me laugh and some don't, but this was a good one. I guess I could relate with being a mom!
I love the story of the mother she thought was perfect because we all envy that person and we all know her. When Bombeck asked this mother how she managed, I love that the lady said she prays and thanks God for allowing her to not kill one of her children that day! I can relate! My children are the best thing and the most stressful thing I've ever experienced. Love them to pieces but they sure do test my patience at times!!
I love the story of the mother she thought was perfect because we all envy that person and we all know her. When Bombeck asked this mother how she managed, I love that the lady said she prays and thanks God for allowing her to not kill one of her children that day! I can relate! My children are the best thing and the most stressful thing I've ever experienced. Love them to pieces but they sure do test my patience at times!!
November 5, 2009
Erma Bombeck is a jewel of humour. She embodies all the casually assumed values of a generation which threw up its hands and wandered into retirement before I ever came along. Though she flourished during the first wave of militant feminism, she makes no apologies for her vocation of wife and mother, while claiming no great skill at either. Her sense of humour is her weapon in the face of the frustrations and vicissitudes of life. She mocks her husband, her children, her mother-in-law, and herself with equanimity. From the daughter who goes off to college to escape her parents' "materialism" (but takes everything in the house with her), to the husband who loves camping too much, to the dog's game of Let-Me-In-Let-Me-Out-Let-Me-In, nothing is safe from her shrewd observations and wit. There's only one rule in the Bombeck household: Take nothing too seriously, including yourself.
November 21, 2012
When I had my first child 30 years ago my mother gave me some Erma Bombeck books to read. I could hardly breathe for laughing so hard. I loved them. But I don't think I've read Erma Bombeck since then, until now.
I guess I must be a very different person now than I was then. I didn't find this funny, just laughed a couple of times. Instead I cried over the section titled "I've always loved you best" which are letters to her children, and "Flag" in which she discusses what our flag means to us. In some ways it is an outdated book (so much talk about bored housewives) but often this visit to the past made me nostalgic, for example remembering how much my mother loved All in the Family, and particularly Edith Bunker. So kind of a sad book for me but I'm glad that I had a chance to revisit Erma Bombeck.
I guess I must be a very different person now than I was then. I didn't find this funny, just laughed a couple of times. Instead I cried over the section titled "I've always loved you best" which are letters to her children, and "Flag" in which she discusses what our flag means to us. In some ways it is an outdated book (so much talk about bored housewives) but often this visit to the past made me nostalgic, for example remembering how much my mother loved All in the Family, and particularly Edith Bunker. So kind of a sad book for me but I'm glad that I had a chance to revisit Erma Bombeck.
January 21, 2012
I love Erma's books! While other kids were sneakily reading the latest issue of Batman or Archie & Veronica comic books between the pages of their schoolbooks during class I was trying not to get caught laughing too loudly at the pages of the latest book by humorist author Erma Bombeck. Its safe to say that I grew up with her books and her name, and stories, just like V.C. Andrews', another author I grew up reading, brings back a lot of good reading memories. Erma, and her writing, will be dearly missed. We lucky that she left behind a treasure trove of very funny writing in her wake for generations to enjoy.
October 3, 2010
You've got to love an author who finds her mother-in-law to be expendable. "My mother-in-law has finally accepted me for what I am: a mistake. And I have learned to live with her through the miracle of sedation." She looks forward to being an empty-nester so that she can have rumballs before breakfast. An exaggerated, irreverent look at family life by someone who obviously loves her family. Interesting that she refers to herself as a housewife, not as a writer, despite being a columnist and a book author.
October 6, 2008
I particularly enjoyed her essay on "I've Always Loved You Best" and am thinking of using it in my babies' scrapbooks. She also has some great comments on civic and parental responsibility at the end of the book. She was a real genius!
February 11, 2012
I read this when I was a new mother. With a newborn I was winding up my Braille II certificate and decided to braille this book. If I hadn't enjoyed laughing with Erma so much, I probably would never have finished the required perfect 35 pages plus a colicky baby!
March 4, 2008
Very cute, I have always liked Erma Bombeck and the narrator made it even better.
April 6, 2009
An amusing take on motherhood by an 80's humorist. Dated now, but still funny.
January 2, 2009
This book always makes me laugh out loud.
April 26, 2023
I love Erma! I giggled all the way through this one and could relate to a lot of the content as a mom too. Life is messy and it’s great to have a good perspective and be able to laugh at the ridiculousness of day to day family life. Ready for the next book!
September 12, 2021
It’s not written for this generation. There are so many references I didn’t understand.
May 21, 2019
Short funny reads on family life from the 60s to 80s
May 18, 2017
I gave it a second go, and I still couldn't finish it. The humor in it expired and it contained casual everyday slang that I had never heard of, such as: "There's the perennial" (referring to oft-said joke) and "That tears it!" I have a hard time relating to girdle jokes, as I can barely imagine what they look like; and I have no idea what "at home" pajamas are, as my definition of pajamas is whatever is comfortable enough to sleep in. What pajamas are not worn at home anyway?
I can see how she would be a successful humor columnist thought. But this is not a novel. There is no plot. It is a string of one-lined jokes that are grouped in chapters by subject.
I can see how she would be a successful humor columnist thought. But this is not a novel. There is no plot. It is a string of one-lined jokes that are grouped in chapters by subject.
May 15, 2017
Erma Bombeck’s I Lost Everything in the Post-Natal Depression reminds the reader to find humor in life in order to survive it. But it’s more than just that.
I think Bombeck is showing to the reader the importance of enjoying time spent with family and friends. Make yourself available to others, Bombeck seems to say. Give of the self to make your family, your neighborhood, your world a better place. Thanks, Erma!
I think Bombeck is showing to the reader the importance of enjoying time spent with family and friends. Make yourself available to others, Bombeck seems to say. Give of the self to make your family, your neighborhood, your world a better place. Thanks, Erma!
April 12, 2011
If you don't like Erma Bombeck you haven't read her. She makes the woes of modern womanhood seem as trivial as it often is when focused on "What the Neighbors think" and "Trying to keep up with the JOnes." I love the irony she typified in her columns and which show up in her books. On the surface they are just good clean fun. Down deep, she is always asking "How can this be important?"
December 31, 2011
Erma Bombeck is one of those ladies who is still funny after 50 years and always will be. I decided to go back and revisit her books because people compare my writing to hers sometimes. I thought I might learn a thing or two. But the only thing I learned is that I'll never be as funny as she is. Then I decided that our next pet (cat or dog, but probably cat) will be named Erma Bombeck.
April 14, 2014
My copy of this book is over a decade older than I am. Much of the humor doesn’t translate well through time, due to pop culture and celebrity references that sail right over my head (I often don’t even catch the current ones). On the plus side, I loved the segment on �10 ways to convince your kid that snake he caught doesn’t want to come home with him.�
November 4, 2015
I read a couple Bombeck books in my teens and thought they were hilarious! I bought this after I had my daughter, thinking it somewhat fitting, but didnt get a chance to read it until recently. I chuckled to myself a couple times, but thought it was pretty boring overall. I don't know if my sense of humor has changed or if this book isn't as good as the others, but I did not enjoy it.
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April 26, 2014It’s funny in an old-fashioned sort of way (meaning our society’s culture has changed a bit since that era), but still is relevant in the mommy-world. It helped me to recognize that many of the incidences that occur in our family can be seen as funny and to laugh more, and also to appreciate the moments as they occur.
January 30, 2015
This witty book kept me company on a recent car trip for work. It's surprising how so much has changed, but somethings just continue to stay the same. For example, I learned that plastic bags were once called "see through bags". I enjoyed those slight changes, but her smart commentary on marriage and parenting still seems pretty up to date in general. Thanks for making me laugh!
December 14, 2017
Another gem found in our inherited library by Erma Bombeck.
This is probably my favorite book so far.
Noted items that made me chuckle: 'subtle as bad breath.' Her take on Christmas newsletters, her child's notable achievement was passing an eye exam. Lastly, her version of the 12 days of Christmas.
This is probably my favorite book so far.
Noted items that made me chuckle: 'subtle as bad breath.' Her take on Christmas newsletters, her child's notable achievement was passing an eye exam. Lastly, her version of the 12 days of Christmas.
February 27, 2025
Hilarious.
Erma Bombeck has learned a few things about children and family over the years--and in a way that is uniquely and wonderfully her own, she shares everything she knows with her readers. Whether it's cleaning up after the kids and him, or expendable mothers-in-law, Erma Bombeck gets to the heart of the matter and makes us laugh through our tears.
Erma Bombeck has learned a few things about children and family over the years--and in a way that is uniquely and wonderfully her own, she shares everything she knows with her readers. Whether it's cleaning up after the kids and him, or expendable mothers-in-law, Erma Bombeck gets to the heart of the matter and makes us laugh through our tears.
June 8, 2013
I remember reading her books years ago and howling out loud at the great humor. While this was still entertaining, it must be our exposure to humor has changed through the years, so no howling out loud, but liked it.
June 16, 2007
Pure pop perfection from the master of "clean" humor that's actually fucking funny. I raise my giant owl sunglasses with the upside down handles to the goddess Erma.
January 1, 2009
If you are a parent you will laugh. If you are not you will enjoy it anyway.
Read
August 10, 2009Every mother should read this one - can relate to all of the experiences
December 28, 2010
This book was neither as funny or poignant as her others. Not a recommendation.
May 20, 2012
Funny, light, quick read. Erma Bombeck's take on life with a family.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
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