In the land of Cheerios, dirty diapers, fleeting naps and interrupted sleep, other mothers are a lifeline.

Most baby books also tend to romanticize the mother who stays at home, as if she really spends her entire day doing nothing but beaming at the baby and whipping up educational toys from pieces of string, rather than balancing cooing time with laundry, cleaning, shopping and cooking.

The most consistent gift and burden of motherhood is advice.