When I was pregnant, I faithfully read The Girlfriend’s Guide to Pregnancy and What to Expect When You’re Expecting. They were my primary source of information, back in ancient times when the internet was a baby and Mark Zuckerberg was in middle school.
Given my propensity to research a new project to within an inch of its life, one would think that I would have read all of the parenting books available once my daughter was born.
I did not. I bought a few, read a chapter or two, and donated them. I found that for the first time in my life, I preferred to fly by the seat of my pants with this parenting gig. I relied on other moms for advice; they made me feel less alone and reassured me that I was not the world’s worst mother.
Back then, in the 20th century, mothers could read books by experts and talk to their friends. Now, mothers can read books by other mothers who ARE their friends.
My blogging buddies Bev and Nina have small kids. When I had small kids, it was all I could do to get dressed and brush my teeth. If I had been blogging back then, you would read about my field trip to Target and my recap of the latest episode of Dragon Tales.
Not so for Bev and Nina. Not only do they maintain good personal hygiene, but they each wrote a book that can help other mothers.
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- Nina – fully dressed and teeth brushed!
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- Bev with her adorable daughter. She even found time to don a cute hat!
Nina’s book is called Parenting with Purpose, and it is a practical, eye-opening and action-oriented book that explains how to use connection to raise well-behaved kids and strengthen your parent-child relationship.
The parenting books I bought collected dust because they didn’t GET me anywhere. I had questions, and I wanted answers that I could put into practice immediately.
Parenting with Purpose gives those answers. While it’s a bit late for me to learn these things, Nina’s book is a fabulous resource for parents of younger kids. It reminded me of how much easier it is to develop good habits than to unlearn bad ones.
*****
Bev’s e-book is The Busy Mom’s Guide to Creativity. I’m about as creative as a cliché – or at least that’s what I assumed before I read Bev’s 65 page, interactive e-book.
My biggest takeaway is that creativity is a form of self-care. You don’t need to be crafty or artistic to be creative; you just need to use your mind to think in new and different ways that excite you.
Cutting food into bite-sized pieces and searching for sippy cup lids are NOT examples of using your mind in exciting ways.
This e-book can help you figure out what works for you. As I stated in my review of Bev’s book:
It’s easy for a mom of young children to get lost in the haze of parenting. Asserting that creativity is a form of self-care, Bev provides moms with specific and goal-directed exercises to find ways to infuse it into their busy lives. Her e-book reads like a conversation with a friend who has been there, and the advice and resources can be used immediately. I wish this book had been around when I was in the trenches of young parenthood, although I know that Bev’s tips and perspective can help any mom find a creative outlet. Easily read in one sitting or split into five minute chunks of time, this book will change the way you think about what creativity means.
Grab one book, or both – because the experts aren’t the old guys sitting in big leather chairs behind desks. The experts are the moms who are living it, everyday, and still finding time to brush their teeth.
LOVE the concept of creativity being a form of self care. I’m always thinking back to Nina’s advice when our kids act up…even if I’m failing most of the time.
I”m a much better mom when I take the time to nurture my creative side! Took me entirely too long to figure that out!
At least you did figure it out, Rabia – and while your kids were still young!
I remember reading What to Expect When You’re Expecting, but I had to wait until the second trimester because it talked too much about barfing, which I wasn’t doing!
Such an exciting post and two books I hold dear myself.
Both books look wonderful – good for those mamas. As a writer and writer I know how hard it is to start and actually finish anything!
Both of these books sound wonderful! I’ll need to keep them in mind for later 🙂
I think both of these books look great. I think the creativity one would be more my speed since mine went out the window once I had kids!
I know what you mean, Kirsten!
Ooooh- both of those books sounds fabulous!!! I knew about Bev’s but didn’t know anything about Nina’s book. So glad you gave me a heads up!! I’m off to read your interview!!!
Thanks, Chris!
I never read many parenting books or magazines either, Dana. They often made me feel guilty (esp the magazines!) I like getting advice from live people – the exchange and personal connection is good for my psyche. The creativity book looks interesting – I’ll have to enter the giveaway. Thanks for sharing!
Oh, I see that by commenting I did enter the giveaway! Even better. 😉
I prefer live people, too. I like to know the person who is giving the advice!
That is a critical point- it’s good to know the perspective and actions of the person dispensing advice!
Dana, you did a great job with this. I want to read both books (and I don’t read parenting books, either).
Thanks, Allie. I’m so impressed that these moms of young kids have their acts together enough to write books!
I read Bev’s to review and truly enjoyed hers as you know. But Nina’s I was turned onto by Rea and just downloaded and am reading now to be honest. So, loved hearing your take, as well here and thank you for sharing both, Dana 😉
Always happy to share fellow bloggers’ excellent work!
Nina’s book sounds awesome! I’m going to download it now. And the other book…well, I’m a bit biased 😉
It’s funny, besides Happiest Baby on the Block, which I skimmed, I didn’t end up reading any baby books when I was pregnant with Eve. I guess the internet has changed things! I’m in a Facebook group for moms in the area and that has been invaluable to me.
Thanks so much for sharing, Dana!
I bet the Facebook group is fabulous! I can think of quite a few days when my kids were little that I would have loved to have that group for support.
It really is a great book, Bev. Congratulations!
The one which gets creativity into the everyday sounds good 🙂
It is – I love the idea of creativity as a form of self-care. That’s important for anyone.
I suppose that’s why I write and doodle and po my -ems…they must all count. But as self-care…I see that, because somewhere in the writing is a whole bunch of untangling, which really helps.
FRIST! 😀
You have the advantage 😉
I know, but it’s still nice to get it 😉