Inspirational books about motherhood/parenting you have read

[Tatties]

What are they and why?

Gina Ford.

The Parents survival guide. PMSL but soo true! Was lent it whilst PG - best book I ever read on any baby subject.

"How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk" - a bit overly american in places which can jar to a brit's ear, but otherwise really thought provoking and has certainly changed how I communicate with ds1 in particular.

Through most of my childhood, communication was mostly in the negative and I do feel that I had to work hard to change my attitudes towards the world to being more positive. I hope that by watching HOW I communicate to my children that they'll avoid all that.

Oh the really nifty bit is the summary in cartoon format so you can flip through quickly as a reminder.

Bubble

Go wash your mouth out

Awwww, bubble beat me to it! Snot fair!

there is only one book that i've read (and god i've read most of them) that i can wholeheartedly recommend as having turned around ds's behaviour or more to the point allowed me to be with him in such a way as to bring out the best in him....it ROCKS! and is called 'how to talk so kids will listen and listen so kids will talk'. absolute gold.

am eternally grateful to cristina7 for recommending it to me when i was at a v low ebb about my inability to handle ds.

wonder if that would work on toddlers possessed by demons?

What Mothers Do - even when it looks like nothing (or whatever it is called)

I love Dr Sears, for looking after little babies, very reassuring and refreshing.

The Social Toddler - turns your view of 'bad' behaviour around.

And possessed parents too rhubarb......

Jools Oliver's book.

George and Sam by Charlotte Moore because I thought it was funny,and real. Also because one line has stayed with me, and has been the most helpful single line I have read in the last 5 years "I can;t imagine an independent existence for George or Sam, This doesn't mean it won't happen; it means exactly what it says- that I am not able to imagine it". I like it because I can think it and it gives hope without being so unrealistic that you can't take yourself seriously.

My Mum is reading something at the moment (Making Peace with Autism: One Family's Story of Struggle, Discovery, and Unexpected Gifts Susan Senator) which she says describes a family exactly like ours- apparently her 3 boys are carbon copies of our 3- so I will have to borrow that and see. She said it may be too close to our family to be comfortable reading. So of course now I am completely curious.

rhubarb, given that ds was 2 and possessed by demons: YES!

Libby Purves, How Not To Be a Perfect Mother.

Not "inspirational" at all, instead honest, hilarious, down to earth, 100-whatever pages of sheer relief.

There is a bit about a conversation between new parents, out (at a race meeting, I think it is) where the dad wants to stay on and the mum is trying to get him to see what the consequences will be if they stay so long that the milk will run out ... I nearly cried. But instead I put it in front of dh.

Gina Ford - so very NOT inspirational - I nearly burned it after I had read bits of it but then was in capitalist mode and decided to flog it back on Amazon to get my money back

I love Dr Sears' books. Totally human and humane.

This is great...think I will be expanding my library with some of these Maybe not CLBB though eh?

Rachel Cusk, can't remember the title, but it's about being a mother and what a culture shock it is. Brilliant.

I found the Sibling Rivalry one really good. Also Toddler Taming. The other great books are the ones about the Mothers Group...there are two. Can't remember the names but they are a factual account of these four mums who meet at a mothers group and become great friends. It follows the experiences of motherhood and is very funny and very sad in parts.

"How not to be a perfect mother" - love the bit about never letting a toddler know smarties come in packets

'buddhism for mothers' by Sarah Napthali

made me a lot calmer!

"How to talk..." (Thanks for your kind words, Sophable).

"Letting go as children grow" by Deborah Jackson.

"Unconditional parenting" by Alfie Kohn.

Robin - I know the ones you mean, i read the second one and quite enjoyed it. V middle class and probably of its time (now), I wonder how it would read in a different culture.

"Playful Parenting", by Lawrence Cohen
Also second the "How to Talk ..." book
Like Sears for babies but don't actually agree with his discipline techniques for toddlers and older.

I liked the What Mothers Do - the beginning only, got a bit bored with it by the end, a bit repetitive.

I have one of the Sears books (The Baby Book) and although I grant him he knows his stuff I don't like the style at all. I find it too paternalistic, almost patronising.

robin3, do you mean the Fat Ladies' Club? I would recommend "A Woman of No Importance" by Kate Konopicky for a wry look at parenthood. Cristina7, Sears does grate (hate to say it, but rather American) but found his style initially reassuring in the context of my "High Need Baby". Balanced out the Gina Ford and Tracy Hogg rhetoric.

Libby Purves - Nature's Masterpieces. Brilliant, starts at about 4 years old, makes you really look forward to your kids growing up and the journey they're going to take you on. V. funny too.