Reading
My friend Meg recently asked me what parenting books I’d recommend. I’ve been trying to come up with a list, and failing. Perhaps most of my parenting advice has come from the internet? From Ask Moxie and good blogs by moms I’d like to emulate? I can only guess. The only book that really impacted the way I try to live is Heaven on Earth, by Sharifa Oppenheimer, which I read when I was pregnant with Rosy and heavy into Waldorf philosophy. It’s a great book that touches on all aspects of a child’s life and has some wonderful ideas for toys, celebrations, daily routines, etc. Meg, you’d love it. I also think Tim Seldin’s Montessori book has some nice ideas for living simply and organizing your home, as well as for simple games and toys. The enormous tupperware sandbox from the Oppenheimer book, and the touch basket from Seldin’s book have been big hits with my kids.
I have read Siblings Without Rivalry and think the Farber/Mazlish way of communicating has a lot of merit. If only I could remember it in the moment. Buddhism for Mothers. The Creative Family, and Amanda Soule’s blog- though not necessarily advice-driven, I like the way she lives her life with her kids.
I am a big Mothering Magazine reader (duh) and soak up the stuff that reinforces what we’re already doing. Because four years of sleep deprivation and sleeping with babies is perhaps starting to get to me? How people have three and four children, I salute your stamina. I haven’t read a ton since the babes were born- I’m finally getting back to it now. I can get easily overwhelmed with the advice and should-be/could-be of parenting books. The internet is a blessing in the way it lets me find what I need, when I need it. It connects me with like-minded people even when I’m feeling a bit alone on the island here. Truly? I can’t imagine parenting without it.
Also on our shelves these days?
Sophie is heavy into The Tomten, a Valentine’s Day gift from us. She loves that story to no end. It’s a sweet one.
Rosy? Trucks, trucks, trucks. I love this Byron Barton book. We read it tonight, along with a fairly technical book about equipment. She looked up at me as she was nursing to sleeping and said, “Jackhammers, Mama. Jackhammers.”
