If your copy of Happiest Baby on the Block is in tatters from all the late-night reading, it might be time to refresh your nightstand. We’ve collected our favorite new releases on the topic of parenting, from laugh-out-loud funny memoirs to new disciplinary methods. Check them out below.
1. Is That The Shirt You’re Wearing? A Memoir in Essays
Over the course of two summers, Kristen Hansen Brakeman decided to journal the details of the small moments as a mom and writer. This memoir is both relatable and funny as if you’re sitting on a porch and shooting the breeze with a best friend. Kristen reminds us of the complications that come along with being a mom, wife, and woman in today’s society. The results? Much like motherhood, it’s a funny and beautiful mess.
Available at amazon.com, $18.
2. The Collapse of Parenting: How We Hurt Our Kids When We Treat Them Like Grown-Ups
Today all parents struggle with how to raise our kids in a fast-changing, increasingly anti-social society (Raise your hand if you’ve let your toddler play with your iPhone in exchange for five minutes peace.). Leonard Sax’s latest tome is a reminder on how to be an authority figure at home while encouraging kids to stay, well, kids. It’s a must-read for any fans of Sax’s books Boys Adrift and Girls on the Edge.
Available at amazon.com, $12.
3. Man vs. Child: One Dad’s Guide to the Weirdness of Parenting
Warning: Do not read this book in public if you’re prone to snorting. From comedian and actor Doug Moe, this is a laugh-out-loud take on being a new Dad and juggling all that comes with it, from navigating restaurants with a baby to handling full toddler meltdowns. It’s a fun read for any parent but is especially poignant for new Dads.
Available at amazon.com, $10.80.
4. Gentle Discipline: Using Emotional Connection-Not Punishment-To Raise Confident, Capable Kids
When it comes to raising obedient, disciplined kids, shouting and shaming are unnecessary parts of the practice. Sarah Ockwell-Smith introduces new approaches to setting boundaries that instead focus on emotional respect and on building connections between kids and adults of all ages. Bonus: You may never use a “time out” chair again.
Available at amazon.com, $9.90.
5. Raising Royalty: 1000 Years of Royal Parenting
We can’t all have a baby nurse or nanny to handle every dirty nappy unless you’re raising your brood in a castle. Carolyn Harris gives us an intriguing look at over 1,000 years of raising monarchs, and how it has changed over time. One key takeaway? Not even the royals have it figured out.
Available at amazon.com, $23.
6. The Awakened Family: How to Raise Empowered, Resilient, and Conscious Children
Parents that have read this guide call it transformative (just check out the Amazon reviews). Author Shefali Tsabary, P.h.D. reminds us that parenting is as much about ourselves as it is about our children. This manual to modern parenting has a focus on parents and how our expectations on our kids can cause more harm than help. It’s a book filled with “a-ha” moments and guaranteed to be chock full of highlighter-worthy passages that might just change how you parent.
Available at amazon.com, $14.
7. Sleepless Nights and Kisses for Breakfast
This Italian bestseller is finally available in the U.S. market, and nothing is lost in translation. A micro-anthology of moments and memories from a work-from-home father raising his three daughters in Verona, Italy, it’s also a beautiful homage to marriage and raising children together. Regardless of what country you’re raising a family in, this memoir by Matteo Bussola reminds us that all the struggles and moments of beauty are universal.
Available at amazon.com, $12.
8. Being There: Why Prioritizing Motherhood in the First Three Years Matters
Any parent knows that the struggle between staying home and heading back (so soon!!) to work is real. Erica Komisar, LCSW offers guidance on choosing the right childcare and making the most out of moments with your child during the first three years of life. She also practical approaches for everyone from stay-at-home to career-oriented moms.It’s an excellent read for moms that are constantly juggling a career and parenthood.
Available at amazon.com, $17.
9. The Toddler Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Whiny Unfed
When you think about toddlers, are they really any different than zombies? They all stumble around, drool and generally keep you living in fear. This survival guide from funny husband-wife duo Mike and Heather Spohr covers everything you need to know in case of an invasion, from subduing an angry tot to venturing out in public. A great gift for the stressed out (and slightly terrorized) toddler parent.
Available at amazon.com, $12.
What would you add to the list? Let us know in the Comments below!
— Laura Serino
All photos courtesy of Amazon
Feature photo: Tamarcus Brown on Unsplash
