Moms On Issues
with Sara and Veronica
We're two moms with different backgrounds, jobs and points of view, writing about our opinions on the political and social issues affecting working moms. We'll also keep our eye on the media and the celebrity mom world to highlight issues that are relevant to your life.
Check out our personal blogs: Veronica's Blog and Sara's Blog
No matter how I try, I can’t seem to come up with a good reason why Lynne Spears would write a tell-all memoir about her children. I know she aimed to write an innocent momoir about tips on motherhood, but what probably started out as a decent idea has evolved into a bloated “inspirational” recount of how her daughters went from innocent school girls to tabloid darlings.
In some ways I feel badly for Ms. Spears. When she saw talent in her older daughter Britney, she probably was like any other aggressive mom on the block - she wanted her daughter to succeed. Even she admits that things got out of control, and I bet it was difficult to not get sucked into all the hype and wonder of fame.
But now that one of her daughters has had a mental breakdown and the other had a child out of wedlock at a young age, why did Lynne Spears feel the need to relive and retell it all again? Was it just for the money? How responsible is it of her as a mother to overshare on her childrens’ lives?
I have no problem with parents who blog about every detail of their children’s lives. Blogs to me are deeply personal - outlets where the writers have sole control over the content. Memoirs, while personal, are typically shared widely, sold to the public and publicized. Don’t get me wrong - I love memoirs. Some of the best books I’ve read are memoirs. I really have nothing about sharing your personal story with the public whether it’s online or in a book. Hell, I have a blog.
But I don’t like personal stories where you already know the sad, public ending. Lynne Spears may feel like she’s a victim, but I fear the only victims are her children and grandchildren who have to listen to their mom and grandmother blather on the television about her life’s travails.
I see the need to share our life stories through words and books. I see the desire to write so that we can help others. As a mother, I especially get wanting to connect and share with others. But I don’t get oversharing about your kids while justifying as something you want to pass on to future generations.
What do you think about Lynne Spears new memoir? Do you think there’s such a thing as oversharing about your kids?
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I just feel sad for that whole family. What a long, convoluted few years it’s been for them… it seems pointless to rehash all of it, unless it was to present “their” side of the story rather than the POV of US Weekly and People.
I just wonder what good it will do, you know? Generally memoirs are written (somewhat) for instruction and reflection… Just seems too personal. I won’t be reading it.
bessie.viola | September 18th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
my gut reaction is ‘ewwww’ but then i think - you know - there are probably a NUMBER of mothers out there headed down the same path. maybe they can read this as a ‘what not to do’ type of guide since we have seen the ending played out all too well.
that’s how i am justifying it my head, anyway, because other than trying to help someone else i just cannot imagine why …
kate | September 18th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
It’s just too early for this momoir…maybe in 10 years after the girls have stable lives or something. In my opinion, just more proof that Lynne is just about making money off her daughters.
Veronica | September 18th, 2008 at 10:30 pm