When I was pregnant with my son, I had plenty of time to read all about becoming a mom. But I was particular about what I read. I wanted authentic, raw narratives of what parenting was all about. And this is what Elisha Cooper does in his book Crawling, which details an account of the first year spent raising his daughter. You’ll laugh…you’ll cry… you’ll gasp…and you’ll relate because you’ve experienced similar moments in your journey through parenthood. And maybe you’ll rethink the significance of a father’s role in his child’s life. Zoe and Elisha seem to raise each other, as each grows and experiences life and the changes that arise when you add a baby into the mix. Expectant and new parents will cherish this funny, poignant and captivating book.
Elisha Cooper is candidly honest about his fears and weaknesses as he challenges his readers that “acceptance of change is at the heart of parenting, which is not good for someone so bad at it.” His initial struggle to preserve his independence and sense of normalcy is tenderly broken down. By the end of the book you’ll forget that he “never liked children.” His love for little Zoe emerges strong and fierce. “I’m beginning to understand the parental sentiment – which I always thought unhinged and untrue – that I would give my life for my child.”
The day to day details of raising a child come alive as Elisha struggles through diapers, breastfeeding, sleep deprivation, and all the joys and struggles of parenthood. Elisha is not only a painter, but an artist who splashes vivacious color on the canvas of fatherhood.
One of my favorite chapters is his depiction of the night Zoe went to the hospital. (Of course being a nurse this would tug at my heart strings). Anyone who has stayed up all night with a sick child, or worse, has had to bring their child to the hospital, will empathize with Elisha.
“All parents feel this, a worry that is deep and intractable, understandable and irrational both.”
The book concludes with an emotional portrayal of a parent’s worse fear…a dog bite. What an overwhelming sense of responsibility parenthood is! And yet, as Elisha continues to paint a picture of his daughter’s experience in the emergency room, we appreciate that as parents we can only do our best to protect our children. And sometimes our best efforts may fail. But as Elisha narrates, you’ll find yourself breathing a sigh of relief as the realization emerges “that to be a parent you [don’t] have to be perfect…”
Read (RUN!) Elisha’s book and be inspired this holiday season. You can purchase it here:
I’d like to thank Elisha Cooper and Mom Central for the opportunity to review this delightful little book.
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