By far, the best parenting book out there. (in addition to Janet Lansbury's blog and Magda Gerber's more in depth guides) I never recommend anything eBy far, the best parenting book out there. (in addition to Janet Lansbury's blog and Magda Gerber's more in depth guides) I never recommend anything else anymore. This is all I would recommend to any new parent. I regret not knowing about it until my first was almost a year old - it would have made our lives so much easier and more importantly so much more joyful! Parenting does not have to be the often described drudgery and exhaustion. Do yourself a favor, esp if you feel overwhelmed, and read this. It will quite literally change your life.
This and Janet Lansbury books and blogs are the only parenting books i would recommend in retrospect, esp. to first time parents. This would have saveThis and Janet Lansbury books and blogs are the only parenting books i would recommend in retrospect, esp. to first time parents. This would have saved me so much grief with my first born. Relaxed, respectful parenting that makes sense and guilt free self-care included. ...more
If you feel that parenting is overwhelming for you, a hard, dreary chore we often discuss among ourselves - read this book. Light, airy, optimistic, joIf you feel that parenting is overwhelming for you, a hard, dreary chore we often discuss among ourselves - read this book. Light, airy, optimistic, joyful, not once did she make me feel like parenting has to be something that will make me awfully tired, moody, exhausted. She gave me a different perspective and for that reason alone, I recommend this book to all new parents.
I read so many parenting books with my first child and they all made me feel like I need to be in constant war and struggle to get a life. Well, according to Alicia, having a child is not a struggle, it's pure joy. If you go with the flow. And this time around I am planning to do just that.
Oh, and yes, I am vegan, but you really don't have to be one to appreciate the message of this book. And I vaccinated my first child and plan to do that with my second, but I did not feel like she preached about it (many people complained about that aspect in their reviews) - she simply just suggests you read up on it. ...more
I really loved the idea of this and I am buying a hard copy because I want to have it around to be reminded. Having said that, I just managed to keep mI really loved the idea of this and I am buying a hard copy because I want to have it around to be reminded. Having said that, I just managed to keep my sick child with fever for about five hours and then I caved in and gave him paracetamol (which is ok even according to dr. Mendelsohn if we really really feel like we have to do something) All his advice totally makes sense to me - and yet, somehow, when it comes to our own children, so hard to follow. Must practice.
Although - I really wouldn't dare not vaccinate......more
As a full time working mum who is not very creative - I can say that this e-book is a real life saver. It gave me a lot of ideas (and no, even the simAs a full time working mum who is not very creative - I can say that this e-book is a real life saver. It gave me a lot of ideas (and no, even the simple ones, I wouldn't be able to do without guidance, and I would certainly not even think of them. Shadow puppet show anyone?)
Each tip is numbered and relevant links are provided (it inspired me to clip everything into my evernote and start a collection of ideas I can do with my son in our free time) I love this.
Also, at the end of the book the author provided a link to the PDF sheet which lists all the 201 tips - and this is a really useful reminder. Thank you.
I downloaded this on my Kindle, but ended up reading it on my Kindle for PC so I could refer to the links right away. ...more
This e-book has 47 pages only and while I enjoyed everything that was in there, I couldn't help but feel cheated of my $4.95.
I am already a minimalistThis e-book has 47 pages only and while I enjoyed everything that was in there, I couldn't help but feel cheated of my $4.95.
I am already a minimalist (more or less, I am not the one who can get rid of her book collection, etc. but all my books have their place) Anyway, although I am probably one and done child wise, I am still interested in any wisdom on surviving the first year. The Minimalist Mom is right: less stuff = less headache. If I were to have another baby, I'd have even less stuff.
She lists some useless items, like a changing table, which was one of the most used items I had (I actually used it until my son was 2.5), but I recognize and so does the author that it is all related to our individual needs...
Yes, there is a craze out there to buy more and more baby crap and with your first child you are overwhelmed as it is and you think you will hurt them in some way if you don't buy it all. I am glad I managed to resist (for most part)
Anyway, I would recommend this to all mums/parents to be. And I would listen to the advice as well. It's an easy, quick and useful read.
And now, being the minimalist I am, I am returning the book, because, hey, it took me less than an hour to read it. (this book saves time as well)
I don't really know what to think about this one. It was recommended to me by my mother in law who (successfully, I think) raised four boys. But the wI don't really know what to think about this one. It was recommended to me by my mother in law who (successfully, I think) raised four boys. But the whole time I felt that the author was describing these little alien species, rather than little humans. My boy is only five so I may revisit this later, but so far I found it kind of offensive. Are we really that different? Although the author does state that the book is for fathers and sons and maybe fathers would identify better with the concept. I totally didn't. I think I like those American tree hugging parenting books much better :)...more
Aimed at parents with older children, but useful to read at any age. (glad I read it now when my son is only three) A no- nonsense guide to child rarinAimed at parents with older children, but useful to read at any age. (glad I read it now when my son is only three) A no- nonsense guide to child raring. Maybe if we all did it this way we wouldn't have so many exhausted and unhappy parents out there (with equally grumpy and unsatisfied children)
I can't recommend it enough!
Some passages I underlined:
"Pay him to brush his teeth today, and why will he ever brush them in the future for free? He won’t. Buy her a $60 video game for doing a week’s worth of homework, and how will she ever find her own internal motivation for doing homework? She won’t."
"Parents ...walk on eggshells around their children, forever talking and wrangling, deceiving themselves into believing that they’re in charge. Thus handcuffed, parents are prone to look the other way and not even try to set limits, lest the child overrun them, forcing parents to face their frightening impotency."
"Limits also include the notion of boundaries and privacy. It is healthy for parents to have privacy in their bedrooms when they choose. Many toddlers have free run of their parents’ bedrooms, offices, cell phones, and laptops. (I hate observing parents awkwardly trying to extricate their phones from their child’s grasp.) That your limits make your child feel so totally angry and shut out speaks to the heart of the problem. Children need to grow used to handling such reasonable limits without feeling devastated, rejected, and unloved."
"It’s time to disbar your mini-attorney. From this moment on, you will no longer offer up twenty-six reasons for your child to clean her room. Nor will you explain and explain again why you want the video games shut off."
"Teachers are experts at this kind of clarity and precision. “Please take out your science books. Open them to page 16. Read from the second paragraph.” No ambiguity there, no confusion, no wiggle room. When a teacher says, “I don’t want to hear anyone talking,” the children know just what they are to do. Can you imagine the chaos if teachers did what most parents do? “Would you like to stop talking soon?” or “Would you rather take out your science books or your drawing books?” And imagine further the chaos if teachers used a coyly inviting voice and body language while announcing their next order. “OK, sweeties, I don’t want anyone hanging around my desk.” In minutes, teachers’ laps would be crawling with children. Imagine yourself a teacher with your child in your classroom. Try emulating a teacher’s clarity, directness, and expectations for an hour or so, and see what happens"
And one that made me laugh, because this is so me in so many ways:
"WHAT ARE THE GOLDEN RULES for spoiling your child? Never allow your child to wait more than a few seconds for anything. You should have picked her up by the time her arms went vertical. You should have headed for the kitchen to refill her juice before her glass ran empty. If she asks you a question, answer her instantly, even if it means ignoring your spouse. If you can anticipate what your child wants without her having to ask, better yet. Such a child should save her energy for more important duties, like berating you for responding too slowly."...more
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