Interview Questions

What is Momfidence?
Momfidence is the confidence that comes from worrying less and winging it more, putting the common sense and fun back in raising kids.

Why not Dad-fidence?
Guilt seems to be a girl thing. Most dads-even the 21st-century diaper-changing model-just don't get our child-related stressing and obsessing.  They're more likely to ignore what the experts, the neighbors, and everybody else thinks and zero in on the essentials. Is the kid alive? Check. Loved? Check. Secure? Check. Well fed? Check. Happy (more or less)? Check. Okay, then, let's move on.

Isn't it irresponsible to use the word "Oreo" in the book's title when obesity is such a problem in this country?
It makes me sad to think that it was only a few years ago that dispensing cookies and milk to kids was seen as a wholesome act, rather than a deviant one. Anyway the title says "AN" Oreo never killed anybody. I'm not suggesting that we send kids to bed unsupervised every night with a whole two-pound package.

How did you come to write this book?
Eventually I began to realize that while I was diligently reporting for magazines on the latest Conventional Wisdom about how to raise kids, which tended to feature lots of star charts and bulleted lists of bold-faced tips,  in my own house with my own four kids, I was winging it--a vastly underrated strategy that works pretty well.

Are you down on experts?
I love experts. Some of the smartest people I know are experts. What I am down on overdependence on them. If they're the experts, what does that make the rest of us-the parents? Amateurs? We're all experts on our own kids.

Basically I'm here to remind moms that Dr. Spock was right in the opening words of Baby and Child Care: You do know more than you think you do. And you don't really have to memorize the next 600 pages in his book (or anybody else's) if you don't want to.

For publicity inquiries on Momfidence!: Selina Cicogna, publicist, The Crown Publishing Group: 212-572-6182 or scicogna@randomhouse.com

For other media inquiries: Contact Mountain Crest Media, LLC: mtncrestmedia@icx.net

To reach Paula Spencer directly: Email via this website.