We all agree that we could all be better parents. While we are all quite busy, and time to read is definitely at a premium, I have been checking out what experts think are some good books on the topic of parenting. Here are 4 books that may be worth a read.
5minutesformom has a review of ScreamFree Parenting. For the many parents low on patience, this book is critical to learn how to deal with our children without the need to raise our voice. (Raise your hand: How many of you sometimes lose it and start screaming at your kids?) Jennifer, of 5minutesformom, writes, “As [the author] so rightly observes, “Parenting is not about children, it’s about parents.” He fills us in on the definition of a true show of love, being not I love you for your benefit, or I love you for my benefit (as many parents do), but I love me for your benefit.”
Over at A Mother in Israel the blogger also has an extensive list of parenting book reviews on topics from breastfeeding to game therapy to try and better your relationship with you child. One of the reviews is about a book written by Naomi Stadlen entitled, “What Mothers Do: Especially When it Looks Like Nothing”. A Mother in Israel says, “In the chapter, ‘So tired I could die,’ she discusses how mothers relate to the overwhelming fatigue of the early weeks. One mother pointed out that if she had more energy she might be out and about or doing housework instead of resting and caring for the baby, who can be easily cared for at that stage (minus the housework).”
Over on imperfectparent.com, Redsy takes a critical view of Neal Pollack’s Alternadad. She is not a big fan of ‘hip’ parenting and quotes Lisa Carver to make her point. She says,” Lisa Carver captures the essence of the problem beautifully: As a generation (X), what we know for sure is how to be sarcastic and irreverent. Parenthood is bigger than that. It inspires thankfulness, humility, rage,…wonder and a quiet sense of sacredness.”
And finally we have a parenting book written by Vanessa Van Petten called, “You’re grounded”. Van Petten wrote the book when she was 17 years old. She says that the book, “gives teenagers tricks to extend their curfew and tells parents how to convince their teens to pick up after themselves. Every topic is brought onto the table, as Van Petten delves into teenage sex, underage drinking, video games and teen drug use. Her candor and personal anecdotes help teenagers to not feel alone in their experience of the tumultuous teenager years, while also calming parents fears by telling them how to prevent these issues from happening to their own children.”
Feel free to let us know about your favorite parenting book. After all, we can all be better parents.
September 7th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Thanks for the link!