Dad is Fat by Jim Gaffigan (book review)

Please don't let the title of Jim Gaffigan's book, "Dad is Fat," offend you or turn you off. You learn that his son wrote this . I'm lucky my kids have drawn such nice stick-figures of me so far.

image via Random House

Anyway, I ordered this book because I really, really needed a laugh. This book delivered! I was laughing from the Foreword all the way to the Additional Acknowledgements. Really. Gaffigan was just dead on in his perspective of parenthood (and how single friends react to it) and marriage. For example:

"Having five children has really made me appreciate the more important things in life. Particularly the sublime state of being alone. Of course, now I'm never alone. I have five kids who I love with all my heart. Even the one that gave me the title of this book."

I am experiencing being alone with my kids in school but when they're home it's exactly like that - I can't even use the bathroom alone! Someone is always coming to tell me about a Lego they "made" or to tattle on who isn't sharing. And I only have 2 children.

I absolutely love this chapter (these are written like short essays with a new topic each chapter) called 'Eat the Coleslaw!' because there's a part my husband would agree is just like me. I'll share:

"There is one exception to Jeannie's [Gaffigan's wife] superhumanness. As capable, organized, and amazing as Jeannie is at almost everything, it is baffling how many times a day she loses her phone.
'Where's my phone?'
'Didn't you just find it?'
'Yes, but then I put it down somewhere. Can you call it?'
[RING]
'It's in your hand.'
Jeannie calls this 'mommy brain,' but rather than condemning mothers as ditzy scatterbrains, I think it's just a matter of shifting priorities and focusing on the most important issues. Like taking care of me."

I lose my phone all the time. I also have had mommy brain for 7 years now.

I loved hearing about how Gaffigan and his wife raise FIVE children in a TWO bedroom apartment in New York City. The sleeping situation itself is hilarious enough for you to read this book.

The only thing I disliked about this book was the few curse words. I just don't think there's a good reason to curse. That's my opinion - and a good lesson in using a thesaurus. Always a better word to use! And, while Gaffigan does attend church, it didn't seem like he has a personal relationship with Christ (maybe he does but it didn't come across in the book). That doesn't make or break this book, just a personal opinion of mine.

Disclaimer: I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review. All opinions are my own.

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