Go The F*** To Sleep!- A New Children's Book?

This book hasn't even been published yet, and it's already climbed the Amazon.com preorder list. Crazy!  So it either cracks you up or your mouth just dropped open in shock! You may hate to admit it, but this title pretty much sums up a parent's nightly ritual and frustration of getting a toddler to sleep. 

If you're a parent who hasn't gotten to that stage yet?  Just wait.:)!

Having just put my 3 year old to bed,  I can still hear his sweet voice ringing in my head.

 "Mommie-I need something."

 "What dear?" 

 "Mommie- I need a drink of water." 

 "OK, here you go, I love you." 

 "Mommie I need to go pee-pee.  

 "You just went pee-pee!"

 "Mommie- I need a sock." 

 "You have socks on, go to sleep dear." 

 "Oh, I need another drink of water."

 "OK, now go to sleep.  Good night!"

 "Good night."

 "See you in the morning."  

  "Mommie, I need to go poo poo!" Aghhhhh!!!!!

So what started as an off-the cuff Facebook post by the author who was tired and trying to get his 2 year old daughter to go to sleep turned into what Adam Mansbach is now calling a "children's book for adults". 

Galleys had not been distributed, so the only people who have seen the work are a handful of booksellers who received a PDF via e-mail a few weeks ago.  Here's a preview- each of the book's 32 pages is written in the style of a classic children's picture book, but there are two conversations going on: The first two lines are what the parent is saying to the kid; the second half is the internal monologue that is never said.

The cats nestle close to their kittens now.

The lambs have laid down with the sheep.

You’re cozy and warm in your bed, my dear

Please go the f**k to sleep

The eagles who soar through the sky are at rest

And the creatures who crawl, run and creep.

I know you're not thirsty. That's bullsh*t. Stop lying.

Lie the f**k down, my darling, and sleep.


Click here to see the PDF.

The publisher says, "The book is all about the obligation of a good parent to internalize the frustration and take the irrational behavior of a child and absorb it oneself. The book is an outlet for that frustration, but it completely reinforces parents sucking it up and dealing with it. There's never a moment where the kid suffers because of the parent."

So if you are frustrated trying to get to that "me" time at the end of the day, know you are not alone!