The Seven Stages of Motherhood

[houseelf]

This is a really great read for those of us in the trenches. The author takes a loving yet pragmatic approach as she describes the bliss and hell of each stage. This isn't a preachy book about parenting like so many other experts offer: "Do it this way or your kids will fail!". She offers great advice which hits the mark, admits her own mistakes, and dispenses buckets of empathy and empowerment for self love for us mommies everywhere.

Her underlying theme deals more with parental self growth as the ultimate tool to raising a healthy family. There is no quick bullet list of Dos and Donts to quick fix kid problems. How many of us really need another parenting book like this anyway? Instead it focuses on who we have been and who we are becoming. This book reminds us that our kids are separate beings whose will lies behind our control (not our influence, mind you). The book is a road map of sorts which allows you to pause and see where you have been and what scary terrain lies ahead. (I almost could not read the pre-teen and teen years without a deep sense of fear!)

In sum, I ripped through this one and highly recommend it.

Kelly

Ha, ha! Maybe I should have read this one after all. I received the book as a gift from my brother's mil (we're an incestous extended family of sorts) and I disposed of it at my earliest convenience. I just assumed it was didactic dribble. Oh well. Next time I will read my gift books before forming an opinion. The gift giver is a published writer too so maybe I could have given her more credit. So ashamed.

Janet

[migirl]

Since Jack has been born I've been devouring books on parenting, and I loved, LOVED, *LOVED* this one. Kelly's right, it gives such an open and honest perspective on parenting and offers a really refreshing look at each particular stage. Although we're only in the first stage, I really enjoyed looking ahead to see what awaits us. And, Kelly, I too had trouble reading about the pre-teen and teen years. Yikes!