Friday Five: Parenting Books

Today I'm linking up with Carolina Charm and Cup of Tea for the Five on Friday link-up.

I've had some new followers in the last week, as well as an increase in people subscribing to the blog, so I just want to say welcome to all the new followers/subscribers. Thank you so much. I'm so exciting that you're following my blog!

I'm on week 4 of my reading challenge where I read 100,000 pages in 1 year. The challenge is going really well! Last week, I read a parenting book for the challenge and it gave me an idea for today's post. During my 10 years of working as a nanny and my almost-four-years as an Aunt, I've read tons of parenting/childcare books. There are so many books available that it's hard to sift through all of them and find the good ones. So today I want to save you the trouble of having to read through dozens of books and share my absolute favorites with you:

1.

During my nanny days, I once worked for a family that didn't believe in punishing their kids or in telling them no. So I had the challenge of trying to figure out how to get the 8-year-old to behave when he was doing the following things; trying to choke the cat, trying to lock me out of the house, throwing himself down in the middle of the icy parking lot of McDonald's and refusing to get up because he was doing on experiment to see what would happen if a car hit him. I was really perplexed about what to do, and then I found this book, which really helped a lot. If this book can help with a kid who spends his time choking cats and trying to get hit by a car, then I'm pretty sure it will work with any kid.

2.


It's hard for me to talk about this book without being annoying because I love this book so much that when I start talking about it, I sound like I'm a host on the home shopping network. So I'll just tell you that it's a wonderful book and spare you the annoying sales pitch (you're welcome!)

And for just 4 easy payments it can be yours (oops, I slipped there for a second.)

3.

I've read quite a few childcare books over the years. But I read them because they are useful, not because they are interesting. I usually find them quite boring. But, this book was actually interesting to read. It was amusing, informative and honest. Most of the parenting books I've read act as if their advice will work at all times. They share conversations in which parents have tried out the techniques they're recommending, and by the end of the conversation the child always sees the error of their ways and everyone lives happily ever after. But this book is honest and real. They admit that sometimes the first technique you try won't work, and they give troubleshooting advise for other things to try when the first one fails. They also acknowledge that when a child is really tired, they're incapable of reasonable thought and that there's not much you can do. Some people might find it frustrating that they admit they don't have all the answers, but I love the honesty. Anyone who has tried to reason with a nap-deprived toddler knows that there are times when all you can do is hunker down and pray for daylight (or in this case, hunker down and pray for bedtime.)

4. 


This was marketed as a parenting book, and it does contain some useful childcare advice, but it's mostly a humorous look at modern parenting. I originally bought it because I read in a magazine that Lisa Kudrow gave it to Courtney Cox for a shower gift. That's not the most solid reason in the world to buy a parenting book, but I was pleasantly surprised. 

5.

This book isn't a parenting book. It's a book of essays about parenting. I wasn't sure if I would be able to related to it as a former-nanny and Aunt, but the book was hilarious. And there was one essay that I could really relate to called Stop Licking the Wall by Beth Harbison. Here's an excerpt from the essay:

It wasn't the first time I'd been amazed at the things I said in the interest of educating and protecting my children.
"Don't run with scissors"? "Don't play with matches"? Those ordinary gems were for other moms.
Moms with normal children. 
For me, it was "Stop wiping your nose on the dog!" 
"When I say get out of the pool to pee, I don't mean on the sidewalk!"
"Changing your name to Superman does not give you the ability to fly, don't ever try that again." 
"Don't put the wheels form your Hot Wheels cars in your ears." 

Ever since reading that essay, I've been noticing more the crazy things I end up saying to Sofie and Tyler. In the last few weeks I've said the following things:
Take that piece of pizza out of your ear.
Don't lick the bottom of Grandpa's shoe. That's disgusting.
That fork is not a comb. Stop running it through your hair.

Oh yeah, I can definitely relate to Beth Harbison's. After reading her essay, I wanted to email her and say solidarity m'am. (Am I the only one who thinks we need a secret hand signal that we can throw to parents/nannies/Aunts/Grandparents when their child is throwing a fit in public. We can do the hand signal and the adult in charge of the fit-throwing child will know we're sending them the secret signal that says, "Solidarity M'am. My kid threw a fit just like that last week in the entrance to Target and shoppers had to climb over her to get into the store. I feel your pain.")

I would love to expand my parenting/childcare book collection. If you've read any great books in the genre lately, let me know in the comments section!

Comments

  1. Wow, I bet you have some crazy stories from being a nanny. That would certainly be challenging to discipline a child without saying "no." Thanks for stopping by my blog!

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    1. I definitely have some crazy stories. My sister keeps telling me that I should write a book about it!

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  2. I haven't read any parenting books although I do have some on my TBR list. I just find that I push nonfiction reads to the side easier than I do fiction. It's something that I really mean to work on. I can only imagine those stories that you have from being nanny as well :)

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    1. I've been the opposite lately - reading a ton of non-fiction and having to talk myself into reading fiction!

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  3. No is necessary sometimes I cannot imagine Nannying children who aren't taught boundaries. Diversion is always helpful. I will share this with my daughter. She is a young Mom.

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    1. That nannying job was quite a challenge. I hope your daughter finds these books helpful!

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  4. Not a mom, but I'm an aunt and I love my little nieces! So yes, these books do sound very interesting & I'm sure I would learn a lot from them. :)

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    1. Thanks for stopping by. I hope you find the books helpful!

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  5. Howdy would you mind sharing which blog platform you're working with?
    I'm looking to start my own blog in the near future but I'm having a tough time choosing between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal.
    The reason I ask is because your design and style seems different then most blogs and I'm looking for something unique.
    P.S Sorry for being off-topic but I had to ask!

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    1. I'm sorry, your comment didn't show up until today, even though you left it a few days ago. I use Blogger. I tried Wordpress once in the past. But Blogger was the easiest one to use. Then I went into the Blogger dashboard and changed it to a different background.

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  6. I love that the books you’ve highlighted aren’t the typical. I’ve added a couple to my read list. :)

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    1. Thank you so much for stopping by my blog! I hope you enjoy the books!

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  7. The Three Martini Playdate cover is fabulous! I love vintage illustrations. I don't have children but we do have some little ones in our family and I'll be able to recommend some books to my cousins!

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    1. I love vintage illustrations as well. And when I saw the cover of the book, I knew I was going to love it. I'll be doing a blog post in the next week or so featuring retro books that have a lot of vintage illustrations in them!

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  8. The kid you nannied sounds insane! lol. I need to read a parenting book about a 10 year old who still has tantrums...suggestions?

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    1. No-Drama Discipline has a whole chapter on dealing with tantrums, and unlike a lot of parenting books, the advice isn't aimed just towards parents of really young children. It covers older children as well.

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  9. That little snippet from Afterbirth is hilarious... and makes me glad that I don't have kids or nanny because I am not ready for all that!

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    1. The entire book was filled with really funny essays!

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  10. Wow! I've been a nanny and can't imagine watching a kid you couldn't say no to! I don't think I could do that! Although it sounds like that kid might end up on Dateline or something someday lol. It's amazing how many different opinions and ideas people have towards parenting!

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  11. I could have used the No Drama book this morning. LOL Seriously though, I will have to look into it.

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  12. Oh I need to read that essay collection! And I loved The Whole Brain Child by the same authors of No Drama Discipline -- that has been on my shelf waiting for me and I really do need to read it soon. And How to Talk.... was a recent Book Outlet purchase -- now to only convince myself to read parenting books when I have a break and the choice to read something else!

    And YES we need that solidarity signal desperately!

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  13. Wonderful site. Plenty of helpful info here. I am sending it to a few friends ans also sharing in delicious.
    And naturally, thank you in your effort!

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