Mojo Mom in California

I've made it out to the Bay Area. Flying out here by myself felt very strange. I haven't been this far away from my daughter since she was born. But I did enjoy having time to read on the plane. After deciding to come I have resolved to enjoy every single minute of the trip (including sleeping in!).

Yesterday was quite a marathon, getting up at 4 am to catch a 6:00 flight and making it out to San Francisco by 10:30 am. I had a fantastic time speaking to a group of a dozen women at The Play Cafe in Oakland. They were true kindred spirits and I hope that I sparked some new ideas about how they can continue to get their Mojo back. If you are in the Bay Area and have preschool age kids, you should definitely check out They Play Cafe. They have amazing play areas and rooms for the kids to enjoy while you visit with friends or hang out with your spouse. Thanks to the owners for inviting me out and Mojo Mom Ann Dowley for making the event happen.

On Wednesday evening I will be speaking in San Luis Obispo. This is a free event and no pre-registration is required, so please stop by. They'll even be serving dessert.

Here's the event info:

Amy Tiemann, the author of Mojo Mom will ge giving a free seminar at the San Luis Coastal Adult School
1500 Lizzie St., J-2
Wednesday, April 26, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

New on Mojo Mom's bookshelf...

Interesting books are coming out faster than I can keep up with! This week I am hoping to complete The Motherhood Manifesto: What America's Moms Want by Joan Blades and Kristen Rowe-Finkbeiner. I feel hopeful that this is the book I've been hoping that someone would write--an actionable plan to move forward on motherhood-related issues, now that we've opened our eyes to the challenges. Rowe-Finkbeiner is the author of The F Word: Feminism in Jeopardy and Blades is the co-founder of MoveOn.org. I'll see if I can get one of them to come discuss their work on The Mojo Mom Podcast.

Next on my reading list is Queen Bee Moms & Kingpin Dads, by Rosalind Wiseman, author of Queen Bees & Wannabees. I am interested in learning more about the ways that parents play into the dynamics between kids, coaches, and teachers. From talking to teacher friends, I get the sense that parents have gotten out of control since I last taught high school 7 years ago. How can we act in more positive ways to help our kids grow into responsible, accountable adult?

Finally, I had the pleasure of hearing Benjamin Zander speak in person last week at UNC Chapel Hill. What a treat! His message inspiring us to turn away from "downward spiral" thinking toward a vision of possibility was the best talk I could hear at this point in my life. I won't try to recreate his talk here, but I give my highest recommendation to The Art of Possibility, the book he co-authored with his wife Rosamund Stone Zander. I feel that at my best, my work with Mojo Mom resonates with the same truth that the Zanders illuminate.

April events in North Carolina and California

Mojo Mom is now out in paperback and I have several events coming up that I hope many of my blog readers will attend:

Tuesday, April 11th, at 7 pm I will be appearing at Market Street Books in Chapel Hill. They've moved up the street, still in Southern Village, but now located next to La Vita Dolce cafe.

Wednesday, April 12, at noon, I will be at UNC's Carolina Women's Center Library on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill. From noon to 1 pm I'll be discussing "What Your Mother (and Professors) Never Told You About Motherhood." I am excited to have this opportunity to speak to the next generation of young women who are not yet immersed in the world of motherhood. Lunch is provided, so come on out, students!

Later this month I am off to California--wow! I am going out by myself, flying to San Francisco and driving down the coast. I have two confirmed events and hope to add a couple more:

Sunday, April 23rd, 3 pm, I will be headlining an event at the Play Cafe in Oakland. The cafe will be open only for our event, a great Moms' Afternoon Out. Contact the Play Cafe to purchase tickets, which include refreshments and a signed copy of Mojo Mom. The Play Cafe's phone number is (510) 632-4433.

Wednesday, April 26th, I will be speaking in San Luis Obispo in the evening, details still being worked out. The bookstore The Novel Experience will be carrying Mojo Mom.

I still have some free time in the San Francisco area on Monday the 24th, Santa Cruz on Tuesday the 25th, and Los Angeles on Thursday the 27th so invite me out if you can get together a group to talk! I'll be driving down the coast during the week enjoying my old home state as I make my way to Los Angeles.

This is a busy and exciting month. Stay tuned for May details to come.....