Book Review: Mom Milestones by Grace Farris

August 8, 2025

I think this might be only my second graphic novel of the year, and that feels crazy! Last year was a very graphic-novel-filled year, so this being only the second read of 2025 feels pretty crazy.

So to preface this review, I feel like I need to talk to you about how much of a planner I am. When Eli proposed to me, I had already purchased my dress and earrings. I had bought the earrings shortly after going ring shopping, quite a few months earlier. I figured, even if I didn’t end up wearing them for the wedding, I would be able to use them for events leading up to it. I ended up wearing them to the wedding. I got the dress the month before he proposed because I was pretty convinced he was going to propose at Christmas. He did not. Eli and I had a unisex name picked out ( after long hours of talking over it ) that we thought that we would use either way ( spoiler alert, it is going to be used as the middle name ) months before we even conceived. We had two middle names picked out based on the gender and I had a whole board on Pinterest dedicated to becoming a mother. Again, all of this began ten months before we conceived baby girl. I am not sure if this gives you a feel for the level of planning ahead I do, but keep that in mind while reading this review, because it may otherwise come off as a bit harsh.

We follow the author through a reflection of motherhood so far and the journey through every stage. She talks about the newborn trenches and the “terrible twos” and the first time sending them off to kindergarten. The beautiful parts and the messy parts are brought to light and, I assume, make it all very relatable and nostalgic for those readers already in or through those stages. The illustrations are fun and whimsical while still touching on tougher topics every once in a while.

I had a hard time with this book the further it went along. I feel like I want to start planning for those stages and there is really no way I can do that. I want to set Baby up for success when she goes into elementary school and I want her to have all the cute outfits she wants and all the school supplies she could need. But I am at least 6 years early. There is no way for me to know what cute outfits she is going to want. There is no way for me to know what she is going to want on her folders or notebooks, for all know, her favorite character doesn’t come out until 2029. For someone who really loves to plan ahead, it feels almost like a taunt, which sounds absolutely ridiculous, I am entirely aware of that. Also, my pregnancy hormones have started to enter the nesting phase ( which feels quite early to me, so I am not sure what is up with that ) so I think that is not helping in this aspect.

Overall, I think this is an adorable gift, a fun read, and something that feels as though it would be a really lovely thing to help moms not feel like they are alone in the things they are doing or feeling.