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SALT LAKE CITY — Ann Romney, the wife of former Presidential candidate Mitt Romney, is releasing a new book that shares family stories and recipes.
Many Americans only saw one side of the Romney family on the campaign trail. The new book, "The Romney Family Table", gives new insight into their lives with personal stories from Ann's early life, her marriage to Mitt, raising a young family and now teaching her grandchildren.
Ann said she wanted the book to be much more than her favorite recipes. While making the rounds on several national talk shows, Ann and Mitt are now sharing family stories and traditions.
Ann talked about her experience during the elections and traveling with her husband during his candidacy.
"It is interesting when you travel around, you do get a sense of community when you go there," Ann said. "Women were talking about their concern for security, job security for their husbands, themselves, their children."
Ann also talked about her opportunities to answer questions about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
"A lot of myths were broken up, a lot of misperceptions were cleared up," she said. "I think what they saw was that Mitt and I had an extraordinary relationship. That Mitt had a huge respect for me. The he valued my opinion, that he valued our family."
"The Romney Family Table" goes far beyond favorite foods. Ann even shares mothering meltdowns.
"I just ran out of the house," Ann said of one experience. "They ran me right out of the house. And I took off and drove around the corner and got my thoughts together and was able to think, take a deep breath and go back. But it was good for the kids, every once in a while to see that too — that 'Uh-oh.' "
Ann also shared parenting advice in raising good children.
"(Mitt and I) loved each other," Ann said. "The children saw that. They also saw that we loved them. Everything we did, they knew they were the most important thing in the world to us. I would add to that, we can teach them a love for God."
Ann calls the table, the heart of the home. She said it's what you talk about that matters, more than what you eat.
"It's also the place where we open the table to others to invite them to come in and join us and join in that feeling of community and family and love that we have," she said.
Ann had a book signing from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday night at the downtown Salt Lake City Deseret Book.
