Book Review: Ice Cream for Breakfast by Laura Jane Williams

This month’s book caught my eye on a recent Instagram post, shared by a wonderful friend, the photographer otherwise known as Under a Pewter Sky. Like many of the books that are reviewed as part of my online book club, I try to step away from mainstream personal development books, and bring in those that will bring a whole new perspective to my life (and that of the book club members!) “Ice Cream for Breakfast: How rediscovering your inner child can make you calmer, happier and solve your bullsh*t adult problems”* by Laura Jane Williams does exactly that!
Williams was inspired to write this book from the lessons she learned during her time as a Nanny for a young family in London. In the spring of 2016, she had reached what she thought was THE career to enjoy. She had spent ten years working towards her goal, to become a published author. The high she expected didn’t happen. Instead, she burned out. As she revealed, this was a “slow fizzle” rather than dramatically falling off a metaphorical cliff. This led her to question everything, and she found herself applying for a part-time Nanny job, whilst she reassessed her life and recovered.  This, she uncovered, was the turning point she needed in her life!
Through her time with these three children, the idea of this book grew: 40 lessons including:

• The difference between child-like and child-ish
• On slowing the fuck down
• Being proudly obsessed, you weirdo

And what I think is my favourite chapter

• a short motivational essay about how you’re not screwing up like you think you are so chill, baby chill

Part autobiographical, part journal, and totally motivational, this is a great way to help all of us view our lives through a lens that many of us have “grown out of”. At the time of writing this review, the UK is on lockdown with social isolation due to a global pandemic. We are working from home, and many of us are trying to balance working, parenting, and some form of education for our kids. We are spending a lot more time with the children in our lives that usual! Reading this book during this time has certainly made me see the world through their eyes a lot more and learn loads from them too!  It’s something you can dip in and out of; the reading is a longer process if you get involved with the exercises that are included in the chapters; prompts for you to stop and think. This writer reminds us of the power of words!
In true Clara Cliff Notes style, here are the key takeaways from the book, Ice Cream for Breakfast!

The power of play
When is the last time you played? What did you do and how did it make you feel? We have been convinced that everything we do has to have a “grown-up outcome”. That is part can even be influenced by the way toys are advertised to us – how often do we buy things that we feel are educational and fun? There is no doubt there is a power of play (creativeness, risk-taking) but sometimes it’s simply fun. Laughing together brings out those amazing joy hormones that bond us and lift us up. So, maybe you need to just allow for more fun in your life!

Be perfectly imperfect
Chapter 10 really stood out for me, especially when I think about the work, I do 1:1 with clients. “Liking who you are” is all about being OK with what you are great at, and more than OK with what you shit at. If you tend to beat yourself for what you can’t do, then take some time on this chapter, where Williams encourages you to take the first step by listing, “five things it does not matter that you are shit at”.

What do you need?
Children are driven by their basic needs in the moment; this seems obvious when they are babies (sleep, eat, comfort) but continues are they get older. However, we are told over time that we need to put other people’s needs in front of our own. To not be selfish or greedy. Before we know it, we forget what WE want or need. We can feel it when it’s not right but can’t always vocalise what we want. This book, as a whole, encourages you to take a step back and to ask yourself what really matters. How would it feel to have this insight and ability again, to think of you first, not by what others think you should want or need? What would your list include?
This book is a funny, insightful, and uplifting book that shows us that we aren’t too old to be childlike. Make sure you grab today to remind yourself why it is always worth having ice cream for breakfast!

Like this review? Read over thirty more and find your next book!

Want to join a likeminded group of parents, creating careers to enjoy? Come and find us on Facebook. You will find our next read-along book in there too!

*This link is an affiliate link. If you click on it and purchase, I may get a few extra pennies, but it won’t impact the cost to you.