The Mumsnet Rules.

by Natasha Joffe, Justine Roberts, Mumsnet

Do 'milestones' feel like millstones? Does the thought of waiting at the school gate make you more nervous than your five-year-old? Do you find yourself sometimes tempted to just let your children fight to the death? And does flicking through childcare books leave you feeling mostly bewildered and blamed? Then The Mumsnet Rules are what you have been waiting for...Drawn from the message boards of mumsnet.com and based on the assumption that if thousands of parents have found a piece of advice to be helpful then you can be pretty sure it's worth knowing, this book shapes that collective wisdom into dozens of dos and don'ts that will lead you through the minefield that is twenty-first-century parenting. From tantrums to teenagers, parasites to parties, competitive parenting to choosing the right school, The Mumsnet Rules will arm you with the insight that usually only comes with hindsight (as well as teaching you how to make a very classy Easter bonnet out of a KFC bucket).

Genres: Parenting

416 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2011

Reviews

[lucy black · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the only parenting book that has jelled with me and not made me feel crap. It's very funnly in places and generally positive and empowering. I like that it is half info from the authors and half comments from real live parents online, but without all the annoyingness that comes with blogs. I particularly liked that they did not assume all families are heteronormative nuclear families and they often seemed to have a kindly get-over-yourself approach. The only chapters that they let themselves down on were the chapter about childcare and the chapter about schools. They came across as kinda snobby there... but it was the end of the book so I still read it, if they had been near the start I may have given up. Would totes like suggestions for other actually cool parenting books like this one.

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like talking to a friend.
Often times funny, really relatable and I loved that it covered a lot of nuance and niche topics on parenting.
Only a few sections which I kind of skipped if I didn't agree with, but overall was a reassuring, funny and relatable read.
Having said that, it would have been hard to read BEFORE I became a parent, as I probably would have found some ideas crazy, as we all have an ideal on how we will parent, until we actually become parents. Then you learn what every other seasoned parent already knows, and this books essentially covers all that in a light hearted tone!

[Kirstie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am quoted in this book therefore it is brilliant.