Parenting Books and Products:
Parenting Power - The Early Years, by Brenda Nixon
This is a great book for new parents for several reasons. First, it is easily arranged by age range – the First Year, the Toddler Years, and the Preschool Years. Second, it is a series of short essays designed to help in key trouble areas, such as bonding, baby-proofing, separation anxiety, self esteem, potty training, thumb sucking, biting, and more. Since each essay stands alone, you don’t have to read pages and pages to receive the guidance you need to handle a situation. A mom herself, Brenda uses experiences with her children, as well as other moms’ experiences to keep the book interesting. One of the most important lessons she shares in her book is the fact that parenting is not something we learn instantly, but rather a journey we experience over time. As Brenda explains, “even though this is one of the “oldest professions,” it doesn’t come totally by instinct. Many times my girls have heard me utter, ‘I’ve never been a parent before. I’m doing the best I know.’ You are not expected to be experienced, even if this is your third or fourth child. Each parent/child relationship is different. You will become better when you are open to learning how to improve. Just as you would in any career, educate yourself, commit to the job, talk to those who are experienced, and accept support to get better.” If you are a new or expecting parent, considering adding Brenda’s positive parenting approach to your reading library. Available through Unlimited Mom at 15% off the cover price. Click Here for more information.
Also Available by Brenda Nixon: Audio Tape - No More Diapers! Useful tips on potty training. 15% off through Unlimited Mom!
Ask the Children by Ellen Galinsky
A study conducted by the founder of the Families and Work Institute, children and their parents were asked their views on various aspects of their family and work life. Some of the book becomes repetitive, but the findings were surprising to me. Hearing what parents believed about certain areas vs what children believe was eye opening to say the least. The book is worth it for the concluding chapter itself. Take a look at Amazon.com.
The Field Guide to Parenting, by Shelley Butler & Deb Kratz
This book is very user-friendly, well laid out, and set up in short “bullet point” format, excellent for finding what you need FAST! There is advice on a myriad of topics, including, among many, your child’s eating patterns, separation anxiety, whining, even birthdays! The book is organized into two parts. The first part is a year-by -year child development guide, and activities section. The second part is an A-Z topic section, covering more than sixty different topics. Each topic is explained, there are approaches to dealing with the subject from various experts, and a resource listing. The neatest part of the book is that it has a compilation of many expert’s opinions and advice, as well as a ton of further resources. So, you aren’t just listening to one person’s opinion, but have a summary of many options that YOU can choose from. The book mainly covers the early years, hopefully the authors are working on one for older kids as well! Available at Amazon.com
The Girlfriend's Guide to Getting Your Groove Back by Vicki Iovine
I Have read Vicki's books beginning with "guide to pregnancy" and have laughed through them all. They really give you an appreciation that this whole parenthood thing doesn't have to be a serious as we try to make it. In her newest book, Vicki explores what happens when we finally emerge from "the mommy mole tunnel of pregnancy, breastfeeding, potty training and preschool." Just when your former life seems within reach, neglected jobs or hobbies, fitness or that elusive time with your better half, you realize that while your kids may be able to fasten their own seat belts, your work has just begun. In her usual humor and lighthearted manner, Vicki shows you how to navigate the twists and turns of family life, and find time for your kids, your spouse, your home, your work and yourself. Try it at Amazon.com
If I Get to Five- What Children Can Teach Us About Courage and Character, by Fred Epstein, MD
Sometimes I just like to wander through a bookstore and wait for the hand of God to point me to a book I should read. "If I Get to Five - What Children Can Teach Us About Courage and Character" was one of those books. It is written by Dr. Fred Epstein, pediatric neurosurgeon, and founder of the Institute for Neurology and Neurosurgery (INN) at New York's Beth Israel Hospital. It is a wonderfully engaging book filled with the heart warming and heart wrenching stories of his pediatric patients and their families. In addition, it is a compelling autobiographical description of the many challenges faced by Dr. Epstein himself, from learning disabilities as a child which almost prevented him from attending medical school, to a near fatal accident which placed him in a month long coma and year long rehabilitation during which he penned this book.
In "If I Get To Five", Dr. Epstein contends that children, especially children facing life and death events even most adults don't ever have to face, can teach us all the lessons we need to know in life. Each chapter covers a different lesson, lessons like "face your fear"; "live in the moment"; "believe in miracles" and "love without boundaries." This is no "Everything I need to know I learned in Kindergarten", type book, though. While his wonderful stories of the courageous children he met throughout his career left me smiling and even laughing at times, I thought about those kids and their message long after I put the book down. Read this book, it will touch your heart far longer than the short time it takes to read it. But, if you are anything like me, make sure to keep the Kleenex box handy. Buy it today at Amazon.
Nurture Your Child’s Gift, by Caron B. Goode, Ed.D.
This is an extremely inspiring book with the mission to educate every parent that a child can achieve their destiny so easily if nurtured and encouraged from early on by their parents and other meaningful adults in their lives. The aim of the book is not only to give the “how-to” information for helping your child develop their personality, manage their thoughts and emotions, and discover their dreams, but to help you to do the same for yourself. In fact, throughout the book the author has added a “Reflections” section, designed to help parents discover their own unique temperament and personal dreams. As the author indicates, a parent can best help their child by helping themselves, first. This book is a wonderful reminder that our child’s future is a blank page, to be filled day by day based on their perception of the world and their place in it. We can help them find a future filled with opportunity by giving them the gift of self esteem, coping skills and vision. Read this book today, available at Amazon.com
Raising Positive Kids in a Negative World by Zig Ziglar
An oldie but goodie, Ziglar reveals his simple prescription for success with children, step by positive step. He offers sensible guidlines on praise and encouragement, drugs, time, discipline, sex and more. If you can get past a few of his comments regarding a mothers place during the formitive years (a small piece of the book, and not worth dwelling on because of all the other good stuff in there), it is a valuable book for your library. Get it now at Amazon.com.
WorkingMoms.Calm – How Smart Women Balance Family and Career, by Danielle Kennedy
It was refreshing to read a book about working moms that didn’t follow one of the two standard formats I have gotten used to – either throwing facts and figures our way to prove that working moms are ok or portraying working moms as frazzled beyond belief and in need of major overhaul. This book certainly gave some useful tips for working moms - check out the exercise tips and the “family routines” sections in Chapter Four for things other working moms do to make life easier. But the author’s overall message was that if you are secure in your choices, your relationships and the balance you have struck, your role as a working mom can be both fulfilling and rewarding. I particularly liked Chapter 6, entitled “Together We Will Overcome”, in which Ms. Kennedy described several true life stories of working moms who had tremendous adversity to conquer – and triumphed. Each woman shared the lessons she learned along the way, resulting in an extremely inspirational chapter. Worth reading for the upbeat depiction of the working mom alone, I highly suggest reading WorkingMoms.calm. Get it today at Amazon.com
|
|
|
