Advice for stressed-out moms: ‘Just Lie Down’

In a new book, one mom shares stories of the moments that have driven her ‘half-insane’

Kristin van Ogtrop knows she's lucky — fulfilling career, great husband, three healthy kids, and, depending on the hamster count, an impressive roster of pets. She also knows she is tired. Always. Using stories and insights from her own life, she provides a lexicon for the half-insane working mom in her book, “Just Let Me Lie Down.” Here's an excerpt:

Introduction
Over the years there have been many ridiculous moments in my life as a working mother, but I suppose the worst was the Hutchinson River Parkway Incident. I was nineteen weeks pregnant with my third child and rushing home from midtown Manhattan to catch the annual Halloween parade at my son’s elementary school. I was taking a taxi, something I didn’t do very often, but at the time it seemed a wiser choice than the train: I hadn’t missed a Halloween parade in seven years and I wasn’t about to start... Read the full story.

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