Motherhood is a deep journey of self-growth. Here are three books that will help you along the way so you can show up for your children, support their development, love them endlessly and give them the tools to be resilient and empathetic human beings.
The Bottom Line for Baby by Tina Payne Bryson, PhD. (Co-Author of The Whole Brain Child)
What the book is about: The Bottom Line for Baby goes through every question a mom might have when it comes to raising young children, from medical questions related to birth, sleep training, screentime, vaccines, discipline, … and so many more, and gives the science behind each answer. There is so much conflicting information out there on what the right answer is. This book gives you the facts and the science behind each question, so you can make the best choice that is right for you and your family. The author then gives personal anecdotes throughout the book as well, to help give more content and support around the answers.
Who will find this book helpful: This book is helpful for any parent with young children. The book is organized from A-Z, so you can look up any specific question you have at any point in parenting, and quickly find the scientific answer.
Quote: “My goal is to provide you with clear, accessible information based on the latest science, and for each individual topic I aim to demystify the issue so that you can concentrate on what matters most and more easily make your best decisions for your family.”
Mama, You are Enough by Claire Nicogossian, Psy.D.
What the book is about: Dr. Nicogossian shares how to work through the guilt, shame, or sadness that can sometimes come up in motherhood, and create a life of joy, calm, and confidence. This book gives a voice to the feelings many moms have, but don’t talk about.
Who will find this book helpful: For the mom who needs support, compassion, and coping skills. This book will give her real tips and strategies for finding your truth and joy again while working through the darker emotions that can come up in motherhood.
Quote: “Throughout this book, we will explore the authentic, vulnerable, and very real shadow sides of motherhood, embracing them and learning from them, which creates a mosaic of healing as we move beyond them”. [1]
Hold On To Your Kids by Gordon Neufeld, Ph.D., and Gabor Maté, Ph.D.
What the book is about: This book explores how children are looking to their peers more and more for direction, values, identity, and codes of behavior, rather than the family unit, and how this disrupts the family unit and interferes with healthy development. Emphasis is being put on being “cool” rather than learning their familie's values, morals, and creating strong relationships with their core family unit. This is exacerbated by the digital age with social media and TV shows.
Who will find this book helpful: For mindful parents who want to establish a strong relationship with their children, tap into their own parenting instincts, and get ahead of this problem, by staying connected to who their children play with, what they watch, and what they do.
Quote: “Hold on to Your Kids was written with the radical intent of reawakening people’s natural parenting instincts...our focus is not on what parents should do but on who they need to be for their children”.
