Romancing Mommy: 150 Ways to Enhance Your Marriage From Birth And Beyond

By Joe Gumm

"Practical, humorous and to the point, this is the best read [my wife and I] have had together in years." Doug Wead, author of The New York Times bestseller The Raising of a PresidentA long time ago, in a world where men were not-so-great communicators, a husband said five words to his wife that would change his life forever. His defining statement (during her postpartum days) was: "It's not all about you."Amazingly, that man lived to share the many lessons he has since learned. Lesson number one: "It's all about her." That man is none other than your average Joe-Joe Gumm that is. An ESPN radio sportscaster, Joe shares 150 humorous yet poignant "It's all about her" ideas that men can use to not only survive in their marriage, but also thrive within their relationship.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1932783474
• ISBN13: 9781932783476
• Release Date: January 2005
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Inc
• Length: 232 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.3" x 0.5" x 5.3"
• Age Range: 21 years and up

Customer Reviews

Goofy fun. I loved it!!!

I'm a single guy that got the book because I wanted to see why a "sports guy" with ESPN credentials would write about a topic like romance. Not only did it prepare me for what to expect from my future wife, but it showed me the true meaning of self-deprication. Joe not only rips himself throughout the book on his parenting and romance skills, but gives readers the inside track on how to improve both. Women will love it because it's all about them. Men will hate it, but will find many things in common with Joe, especially when it comes to helping out around the house. I recommend it highly for those who are married, single or divorced.

Advice from Mommy's Happy Slave!

Joe Gumm is that rare man: He not only loves his wife . . . he wants to do right by her and his family to the nth degree. Transformed by the experience of seeing his wife give birth using natural methods in their bedroom, Mr. Gumm decided that he should do whatever it takes to make his wife's life good. What makes the book unusual is that he writes well from the female perspective. He must have spent a lot of time listening to his wife. The book is filled with self-deprecating humor. Mr. Gumm knows that he married up and revels in it. He wants to do his part . . . and realizes that even that isn't good enough. You can never be too good to your wife. I was reminded of novels I have read about the goddess-centered religions that preceded Christianity. Ms. Gumm clearly plays that role for Mr. Gumm. There are lots of good advice here . . . and more than a few chuckles for men. If you do even 20 of the 150 things he recommends, you'll be a hero at home . . . unless your wife is extraordinarily demanding. Some of the things are obvious: Take out the trash, fix what needs to be fixed, keep your promises, put the toilet seat down and help with the kids. Some are more surprising: Take responsibility for birth control, watch what you don't say, let her shower first or join her in the shower, send flowers when she doesn't expect them, and hide jewelry gifts inside a more practical gift. Some of his advice will test your assumptions about who should be in charge: But it's good to think those through rather than have them become bones of contention in your marriage. When my wife and I got married, the woman who married us advised both of us to do more than our share of making the marriage work. If she had handed me this book at the same time, she could have saved me over 20 years of learning how to do that. Ladies, whether your husband ever reads this book or not, you'll love it. Just imagine that you are Mr. Gumm's wife! That will feel like a fantasy vacation all by itself as you roar with laughter at his humor.

From High School Football GameNight to this... Wow!

First off, I'll admit that I'm biased. Joe Gumm is a friend of mine, and, on top of that, he's one of the best sports radio reporters I've ever had the pleasure to work with in my career. But his talents spill out well beyond the walls of his DFW SportsCenter booth at 103.3 ESPN. "Romancing Mommy" is a great read. I don't have a wife or kids, nor do I have any prospects at this moment, but I still found a great deal of enjoyment in this book. Buy one today! Better yet, buy 50 and give them as gifts to all of your friends!

Terrific Read

This is a must read for any dads whether first time or last. Understanding marriage and all of its idiosyncracies is difficult for anyone, but Joe makes it fun and entertaining. The key to his book is learning to romance your woman, the old adage, "if mom's not happy nobody's happy," is explained with humor and old fashioned ribbing from Joe. This is great gift for everyone on your list. And Father's Day is just around the corner. Lauren Bristow- Dallas, Texas

A fun read with great advice for any married guy!

Any book that can quote Fletch, talk sports, and discuss home improvement, while simultaneously giving you helpful tips at improving your marriage, is a winner in my mind. Romancing Mommy is an easy read that will keep you entertained along the way with things guys can relate to everyday. If you are a complete Neanderthal - every page will be of immense help. If you are already nominated for husband of the year, you will no doubt find many tips that you haven't thought of before. Romancing Mommy is a small investment with huge rewards. Chris C.