M is for Mummy

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A funny and touching insight into music, autism and motherhood' Dawn French'A truthful book that dives headfirst into the realities of motherhood that will make you laugh out loud and touch your heart in equal measure' Izzy Judd________________________________Your family doesn't fit the mould. Rather than a whole autobiography about the struggles and differences between us Katy Cox has created a relatable main character who's children are a part of her life, rather than the whole of it. Instead of playing the cello behind superstars at packed-out arenas, Lucy now spends most days mopping up broccoli vomit whilst listening to her four-year-old recite facts about the gallbladder.

It doesn't change her relationship with her son at all, and actually serves to give her more confidence in her parenting. I expect most readers will have an understanding of the autism spectrum given how many families it affects, so what Lucy faces is unlikely to surprise or enlighten many, but I expect it to be deeply reassuring for those who recognise their own family life reflected in the Wright’s struggles.

The novel is written in the first-person by Lucy and was rather hit and miss for me as I found it frequently tipped over into too sweary and crude and jarred with how sensitively Cox handled every aspect of Stan’s autism and how honest she was about Lucy’s vulnerability as her family threatens to fall apart. But rather the small moments that add up to you losing yourself whilst caring for others, trying to make your way back to work at the same time as learning all about the new you that was born when your child was, keeping your relationship alive when knee deep in nappies. This was really well written with relatable characters as well as balancing the humour with serious topics.

Her MIL is a pain in ass too and on top of everything dr google is telling her that her eldest is exhibiting signs of autism. Her relationship with her friends provides a sharp contrast to the isolation and rejection she feels when faced with the Queen Bee mum Marsha. Finance is provided by PayPal Credit (a trading name of PayPal UK Ltd, Whittaker House, Whittaker Avenue, Richmond-Upon-Thames, Surrey, United Kingdom, TW9 1EH). I also feel increasingly frustrated about the depiction of mothers in so many books who are either stereotypes of a bumbling hot mess or selfish and neglectful. What I like about this book is how the author has invented a mother, that every mother can relate to in one way or another.At the heart of M is for Mummy is the story of a mum trying to do everything she can to help her son.

With her husband often being away from home for work Lucy is often left to deal with all of this alone whilst trying to start up her career again. For example, the attempt to squeeze yourself into clean clothes that may still fit has gathered dust in the back wardrobe that has yet to see the light of day in over a year. I really wanted to like this book, a sort of 'triumph against the odds' kind of thing, but it really didn't grab me at all sadly.This started out as a laugh out loud mummy memoir which had me chuckling along as the realities of birth really resonated with me but then it explored what it is to have a child that does not fit in with societal norms. With a little help from her friends, Lucy comes up with a plan to get her life on track, claw back her career and help her extraordinary son to find his place in an ordinary world. The obsessions that change with the wind, social difficulties, meltdowns etc etc are all there and recognisable and I loved how Stanley was loved for every part of his personality.

I found the story full of humour with a diet plan, that left me feeling heartbroken for Lucy, when her diet plan leaves her frustrated. There is a lot of humour to be had with this book, as well as a heart meltingly perfect finale that was unexpected in its nature but just worked for the characters.

Parent life and working in general – it’s not easy trying to balance everything and navigate a marriage at the same time. Although it is only vaguely alluded too in the description the main plot and conflict centers around Lucy's struggles with her older son Stan. It tells how the poor mother, Lucy, is finding it hard to cope with a new baby, a little boy who is showing signs of something like Autism, and a husband who works in a high profile music industry. You can’t escape it, the endless feeds on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram of ‘perfect’ mums having their sh*t together is overwhelming.