Product Description

Canfield and company presents a delightful collection of new stories for and about mothers. Celebrity contributors include Barbara Bush, Reba McEntire, the late Erma Bombeck, and Montel Williams.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #265108 in Books
• Published on: 1997-10-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781558744608
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Amazon.com Review
Admittedly, we sometimes become oversentimental about motherhood. But in a climate of rampant cynicism and family disintegration, stories about maternal love, courage, devotion, and triumph can be immensely comforting and inspiring. Contributors such as Dave Barry, Barbara Bush, Reba McIntire, Erma Bombeck, and Joan Rivers offer celebrity appeal. But even more heart coddling are the stories by everyday women, sharing their intimate experiences about becoming a mother, almost losing a child, discovering miracles, and honoring the wisdom of grandmothers. Mothers of all ages will appreciate this book as a gift to themselves or as a gift to a beloved mom. But get out your handkerchiefs, the editors showed no restraint when it came to including tearjerkers. --Gail Hudson

About the Author
Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, have dedicated their lives to the personal and professional growth of others.

Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, have dedicated their lives to the personal and professional growth of others.

Jennifer Read Hawthorne and Marci Shimoff, coauthors of the #1 New York Times bestseller, Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul. Professional speakers and trainers, they speak to thousands of women worldwide about personal growth, self development and professional success.

Jennifer Read Hawthorne and Marci Shimoff, coauthors of the #1 New York Times bestseller, Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul. Professional speakers and trainers, they speak to thousands of women worldwide about personal growth, self development and professional success.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Saved by the Belt

As a mother, I have been blessed. I have a nice, smart, good-looking son who has given me much pleasure over the years. In the months leading up to AlanÆs 16th birthday, there was a lot of excitement and commotion about his upcoming rite of passage—the driverÆs license.

About a month before his birthday, there was an assembly about seat-belt safety presented at his high school. One of the presenters in this program, Kathy Hezlep, had lost her son in a horrible car crash the year before. When Kathy was first asked to speak at this assembly, she was reluctant. Her sonÆs death had been extremely hard on her. She often felt helpless and discouraged, and she wasnÆt sure how she could make a difference by speaking with this group.

But the school had convinced her to talk to the students. Kathy spoke about how hard it had been since the loss of her son. There were days when it was an effort just to get out of bed. She spoke directly from her heart and my son took her words straight into his heart. I remember Alan coming home that day and the two of us talking about the crash. We thought it was interesting that she was a single mother (like me) and that her son, Ryan, was her only child (like Alan).

Well, the big day finally arrived. The state of Florida, in its infinite wisdom, granted my ôchildö a license to take a loaded weapon and drive it! At the time, I thought the worst feeling I could possibly experience was watching my only child drive off alone in my car. I was wrong.

Alan had his license exactly one week when the call that is every parentÆs worst nightmare came. The police told me my son had been driving down a curving road, lost control of the car and, because he was an inexperienced driver, didnÆt know how to come out of the spin. He managed to miss a lake and a traffic sign that were in his path, but went full force into a light pole. Thank God he wasnÆt going faster, because if he had hit the pole any harder, he and his two passengers could have been electrocuted.

When I was taken to the scene of the accident and saw the wrecked car, I felt physically sick. I couldnÆt believe three kids had walked away from that car alive. I thought, My son must have a guardian angel. I was right.

When I got to the hospital, I talked to Alan about the accident. He told me that none of the kids had been wearing their seat belts when he started the car. But Kathy HezlepÆs words, spoken so sincerely and eloquently about her terrible loss, had impressed him so deeply that he insisted that everyone put on their shoulder and lap belts before he would leave. That is what had saved their lives.

My family is one of the lucky ones. We still have what we consider most precious—each other. I have unending admiration, respect and love for Kathy Hezlep. She is not a celebrity but an everyday person; a mother who, despite her immeasurable loss, had the courage to speak out and make a difference that saved three lives. To me, Kathy is a superstar.

¬1997 Randee Goldsmith. All rights reserved. Reprinted from Chicken Soup for the MotherÆs Soul; by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Jennifer Read Hawthorne and Marci Shimoff. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the written permission of the publisher. Publisher: Health Communications, Inc., 3201 SW 15th Street, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442.

Customer Reviews

Wonderful book that reflects the joys of motherhood.
This book had me reaching for the tissues at just about every story. I have a 3-month old baby girl who at first I thought was nothing but a nuisance. Then I began reading about how other parents felt at the birth of their children and how feelings of despair and frustration turned into love and care for these same little people. I also loved reading about how each stage of childhood progresses and the simple joys that can be experienced in each one. It felt odd but now I know how other mothers feel when they state that time goes by so quickly and before one knows it baby has become toddler which becomes child which becomes adolescent which becomes adult and then leaves to start their own cycle of life. A wonderful book to remind mothers of how special their relationships with their children really are regardless of their age- from the adult who comes to mom for advice to the child who says, " You are the best part of my day."

Get a tissue....
You can count on Chicken Soup to touch your heart. These stories are sure to get any Mom crying! If you are having a bad day with your children sit down and read a few stories - you'll feel much better about your own kids. I'd also recommned: Perfect Parenting by Elizabeth Pantley

A Mother's Blessing
This book is GREAT...As a mother of an 10 & 12 yr olds, this book makes me realize how thankful I am to have kids. Any Mom will understand & enjoy these stories. They made me laugh and they made me cry. This is my 1st Chicken Soup book, my daughter has one also, now we have started a " book collection " that our family will enjoy reading together for years to come. Take the time to enjoy a GREAT selection of books.