If you have spent any time with me, personally or professionally, there is a 97% chance I’ve recommended and/or lent a book to you. I think some of you know that, so it’s no surprise that this month’s Ask Me Anything Question is about book recommendations. In the past, I have spoken about books which support some of the themes I work with clients on, such as confidence. But this month it’s specifically about parenting.
So, here are my must-read books for parenting advice.
These, unsurprisingly, are titles I have reviewed; I’ll include the links to the full review as part of the article. They are books that have the person, not just the “parent,” at the heart of them. They share insight and reflection to help you understand and support yourself and your identity as a parent. They aren’t about how to parent a child, but how to understand yourself, your emotions, and the role that society places a parent in; all of these are essential to help your parenting.
We aren’t given a guidebook to our kids when they arrive! Until that happens, these three books are a great place to start. They have been picked, not only for their value in parenting, but also for how universal they are, and across the many life chapters that the expertise, advice, and insight can last! I read all three when my children were between the ages of eight and eighteen; I can see how powerful they would have been when they were younger, as well as how often I refer back to many of the concepts now, as they are even older!
So, without further ado, the three books are:
Matrescence (on the Metamorphosis of Pregnancy, Childbirth and Motherhood) by Lucy Jones
The book is challenging in parts; learning about the way our bodies change for DECADES, the cultural impact of how motherhood (especially in a work-first, socially scattered society) is devalued, and how truly little is understood compared to other parts of the female and reproductive health science. This is noticeable by the timing of so many of the studies that she cites; it’s not really been taken seriously enough to invest in earlier times. It needs to be read by all – parents and parents-to-be – to help them understand the monumental changes that will occur. (Whilst it talks about motherhood , parenthood in general is mentioned. It highlights that the changes that happen aren’t only linked to biologically giving birth.) But this also needs to be a must-read for ANYONE who personally or professionally connects with, looks after or claims to support mothers. Like everything, education is power!
Parenting for Humans (how to parent the child you have as the parent you are) by Dr Emma Svanberg
What sets this book apart is the holistic way she considers parenting. Not just how we were raised, but the wider setting of our culture, our friends, family, and the macro issues of the world.
Dr. Svanberg’s focused on our well-being as parents. She gets that we need to take care of ourselves to be able to care for our little ones. She dishes out practical advice on self-care, setting boundaries, and finding support. It’s a refreshing reminder that we matter too, and we deserve some TLC amidst the chaos.
A toolkit for a modern life (53 ways to look after your mind) By Dr Emma Hepburn
Using her instantly recognisable illustrations, the book helps us challenge our thoughts around what mental health is (a spectrum that shifts and changes, rather than fixed for “well” and “not”) and that it’s something we need to pay attention to, and focus on, the same way we do physical health. It empowers us to do things that have an effect every day and supports us to get in tune with our emotions and the red flags that we need to pay attention to when our mental and emotional health is sliding into the struggling zone. It also provides us parents with tools and techniques we can pass on to the next generation to help them manage the ups and downs life provides.
I run an Ask Me Anything Q&A session within Creating Careers to Enjoy regularly and then write them up as an article on my blog. If you have a question or issue you would like covered, you can pop it over to hello@thebalancecollective.co.uk with the subject AMA in the title, to be included in the next one!
You can find all my previous personal development book reviews here. And all the Ask Me Anything Q&As.
I’m Clara Wilcox, the Coach who helps parents enjoy their careers again! I offer 1:1 Coaching and Career Wellbeing Workshops, supporting those returning to work, in their career & through redundancy. I work with individuals, freelancers & businesses. Connect with me on LinkedIn, find out more about me, or book in a insight call.
Clara Wilcox is a straight talking, practical and experienced coach helping clients navigate the tricky waters of returning to work, career changes and professional development. The Balance Collective is a social enterprise focused on improving the lives of parents, by working together to build inner confidence and promote a healthy work/life balance.
