Inspirational books about motherhood/parenting you have read

[Tatties]

What are they and why?

I liked hideous kinky by Esther Freud

Acnebride - I read it when pg with my second - and I keept going back to it again and again, as it seemed to me that I just had to be able to do better than that second time round (first time round I was much the same, maybe not quite so clueless - I had at least read some books, and, crucially, had some friends in the same situation as me). Had to charity shop it in the end, as I kept re-reading.

I actually liked Jools Oliver Diary of an Honest Mum(although bloody awful title Jools if you're reading). It was light, but didn't pretend to be anything else- by the end of 2nd pregnancy I was just looking for something to cheer me up!

Penelope Leach-Your Baby and Child.
Chris Green(?)-Toddler Taming.

I think you have to find the book(s) that suits and supports you.Horses for courses really.

How not to be a perfect mother/family by Libby Purves. Both really made me laugh and full of sensible and realistic advice.
Three in a bed by Deborah Jackson. Read it once ds was firmly ensconsed in my bed and it stopped me feeling guilty and as if I was doing something wrong, and made me enjoy the closeness.

Another vote for Three in a Bed. Also liked Sears' attachment parenting books, Penelope Leach and the two books written by a group of female friends in Herts--The Fat ladies club? Like belonging to a post-natal NCT group but without having to schlep to posh flats which make you feel like a loser...or was that just me?
And also, not strictly speaking a parenting book, but \link{http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0465016405/104-6513268-0578353?v=glance&n=283155\Diary of a Baby}

Trying to bounce this because have just read Buddhism for Mothers of Young Children which although full of very sage advice and highly recommended by wise MNetters i found-well not very inspiring really maybe her writing style? Will try her latest book as well though.

Personally I have wasted much much money which would have been better spent on shoes or some such and many hours reading practically everything.

I think the three things I've taken away, not so much in terms of day to day 'how to' but in adjusting to motherhood are:

1. It is not about you-it is about them.
2. It is mostly down to you though-so you'd better look after yourself.
3. It helps to have an ally -preferably your childrens' other parent-so try to enlist their support rather than whinge constantly and antagonise them. (Am ashamed to relate I have only really got this recently having been married for 5 years with 2 children aged 4 and 1. And yes I am a feminist.)

So what other pithy summaries can MNetters come up with of the acres and acres of parenting advice they have ploughed through? Of course you are all sensibly in bed now so I don't expect any replies but will bounce tomorrow.

Oh and Mojo Mom: Nurturing yourself while raising a family by Amy Tiemann is quite good despite dreadful title...

Bump for post school run crowd...

Anyone???

Can I give them back now? by Joanna Simmons and Jay Curtis.

V funny A to Z of all things kids. Especially funny for toddler parents.

Read Gina Ford when dd1 was a baby. Couldn;'t work out when to walk the dog cos she kept falling asleep in the pram (baby in pram not dog..)

Ooooh never even heard of that one girlsyearapart. And respect to you for that girlsyearapart thing

A friend lent it to me has old fashioned babies drawn on the cover,

Thanks for the respect - need it today been up half the night..

I thought that Gina Ford was the number 1 cause of PND ??!!

What mothers do, especially when it looks like nothin, it's so gentle, not a parenting manual at all, just a book about motherhood. And it's not about hating your kids either, just about what a huge thing it is to become a mother, how we have so little said about what mothers actually do that is positive.

Well it must at least be the number one cause of overweight dogs!
(Gina that is)

My all time favourite: Baby Wisdom by Deborah Jackson (not just about babies, but about how different societies "do" babies)

Others I'd recommend: Anything else by DJ, Naomi Stadlen (what mothers do...) Continuum Concept......Kaz Cooke,(for the belly laughs)

Ones I have dipped into when the time has been right: Sears (although very sugary sacchariney sweet and IMO might possibly tip children over the edge as there is a fine line between being an attachement parent and being a doormat....)

Funny stuff: Mel Giedroyc's ones, Fish Finger Years woman.....

Ones I have read and now wouldn't wipe my arse on in an emergency: GF, TH, Miriam bonkers Stoppard, Fat Ladies Club (any MN could have written this, but it would have been better....just because you're having a fecking baby doesn't turn you into a writer)

Raising Boys by Steve Biddulph. Some insights into what little boys need at different stages in their developement.

Is it worth me buying Gina Ford or will Supernanny solve my 3 year olds sleeping rountine? Basically she won't adhere to one and I've tried the bath, bottle, book and bed routine time and time again - with no joy! She only sleeps when exhausted.

Fitmummy - I have books by Gina, Supernanny and Tracy. Far prefer the Tracy Hogg book as it's more of a relaxed style whilst maintaining consistency.

However I would say that reading a book won't help that much, given that you are already doing a routine. Probably far better posting in the Sleep forum and getting suggestions from other parents.

Another one for Libby Purves here. She helped me stay sane and relax.
Also, Toddler Taming (Christopher Green).

Both very "readable."

Rachel Cusk's book on on Becoming a Mother is good.

I also years ago liked Valeri's Groves profiles of successful mothers with large families who were happily married - A Compleat Mother or something - you will get it for very little on Amazon and it's still worth reading.

Also from 26 years ago a book about how to work full time and breastfeed which I found very useful in my first pregnancy.

I remember being bought Brunoe Bettelheim's book about being a parent too - a good enough parent - very good, worth reading.