If reading a book serves as an escape from reality, parents may need to look elsewhere. Cookies for Dinner explores the glamorous and very real world of dirty diapers, young ’uns getting rowdy in public and the squealing, ridiculous behavior and bodily fluids that all parents are all too familiar with.

The volume features tales from Murfreesboro accountant, Kae Allen, and cat behavior consultant, Pam Johnson-Bennett, and their “quests to survive motherhood.” These quests include trying to clean up three kids in a Bob Evans restroom after a backseat vomiting fiasco, and simultaneously breastfeeding the youngest “while I sat on the bathroom floor with my back to the wall and watched my naked child dance like a ballerina under the hot air jet and Matthew play swamp monster rally in the sink.”

The book is no dry text written by a psychologist filled with abstract concepts on childrearing, but rather a diary-like account of humorous, and very personal, stories experienced by the authors’ families.

“Mothers don’t need another ‘how to’ book on parenting. What they need is to know that they’re not the only ones who stand on the supermarket checkout line sharing potty training horror stories with total strangers,” the authors say.

Pam and Kae trade off writing chapters, with such titles as “Jumping on the Potty Train,” “All Moms Cry in the Shower” and “Chicken Pox Island.”

“It seemed the book was saying that being a parent can be embarrassing at times, but if we do the best we can, it’s incredibly rewarding,” one local mother commented.

While Cookies makes it clear that being a parent takes plenty of hard work, creativity and patience, the authors truly seem to love being parents. Remember, kids are fun!

“Going anywhere with a two-year-old is like having a surprise party at every turn,” Kae writes.

Keep up with the ladies’ blog or order a copy of the book at twoloonsandabook.com.