The 1,300+ page book that made me laugh out loud (and then recommend to all Moms)

Well, it is actually THREE books packaged together into a beautiful set to make a combined total of over 1,300 pages! 

Growing up Catholic, in a reading family, and working in a family business that publishes Catholic books, I have come across many books on parenting.

While there are many that I have greatly benefited from (I tell all my young mom friends to get this one), rarely do they make me laugh out loud.

All at once lively, funny, calming, and complete, The Summa Domestica: Order and Wonder in Family Life has a place of honor on my mantle shelf. But in reality–it is rarely actually there. Not only do I like to pull it off the shelf to read certain chapters, my husband, my mother, my mother-in-law, and women from my local moms’ group are constantly borrowing these volumes. Between all of us, these books are rarely actually in their assigned space!

This is why–when author Leila Lawler started out as a young wife and then became a mother, she had no idea how to keep a house, manage laundry, or plan and prepare meals, let alone entertain and inspire toddlers and select a curriculum to pass on the Faith.

Cue: hilarious and insightful reflections as Lawler reflects on learning how to be a wife and mother! Fortunately for all of us–Lawler is able to recall her experiences (and what she learned from them) in a way that is approachable while also challenging women to improve themselves, their homes, and their families.

Lawler has organized The Summa Domestica into three volumes: 

• Home Culture, which delves into establishing a home and a vision for raising children; 
• Education, which offers a philosophy for the primary vocation of parents to form their children and give them the means to learn on their own; and 
• Housekeeping, which offers practical details for meals, laundry, and a reasonably clean and organized busy, and thriving household.

My favorite volume is Home Culture. The first few chapters made me laugh and nod along to Lawler’s philosophy and insights into the daily life of a family.

My husband (a high school English teacher) read Education and informed me he was “quite impressed” by her book suggestions.

My friend who really struggled with all things meal planning and cleaning was shocked by how easy Lawler’s tips in Housekeeping are to follow.

Whatever your interests (or struggles) are in motherhood, this three-volume set will have something for your stage of life!

Chapter titles include:

• Good Judgement and “Living Differently”
• How Do I Tell People We’re Having Another Baby?
• Competence Frees You from Drudgery
• On Getting to Know Your Newborn
• Postpartum and the Perfectionist Mom
• Steady Reading Progress without Parental Panic
• Ask Auntie Leila: Are Fairy Tales Always Appropriate?
• Plus–hundreds more including book lists, recipes, and incredible advice!

Here is one of the best parts about this 1,300+ set–Lawler’s writing is organized in short chapters. This makes it easy to read in small spurts throughout the day between nap times, carpool lines, and making dinner.

The current price for this beautifully bound 3-volume set comes out to less than $0.05 per page. And it is worth every penny.

Can I ask you a favor?

If you decide to purchase this set, could you order it from Holy Heroes?

I specifically requested that we carry The Summa Domestica and I asked that we extend our “free shipping on all orders over $75” to help make it easier for you to support our family business with your orders. If you add something like this or this to your order, you will qualify for this free shipping offer!

Thank you for supporting my family’s business

If you would like more book recommendations, check out this blog: Top 5 Book Club Picks for Catholic Moms

Another great book list is here: Build Your Catholic Children’s Library [book list]