Books Aplenty, Books Galore!

Parenting books are everywhere!  Which ones do you recommend for this Katy parent?

I love to read.  I have to limit myself to the amount of “for pleasure” reading that I do because I tend to get so involved with the book that I neglect my house, my children and my husband until the last word on the last page.  I’ve found that self-help books are a bit easier to pull myself away from; the information takes a while to digest and if I read too much too quickly I tend to forget what I’ve read.  

I have a pile of no less than 8 books and magazines sitting next to my bedside right now, and all of them are self-help, books for better living, or parenting related.  I am in the middle of all 8 of them, and I really do love them all.   

When it comes to parenting books, there are the highly touted (and highly controversial) baby sleep books, but I am talking about so much more than that.  I love anything inspirational, funny, or helpful about raising children or activities I can do with my children.  What follows is a list of my favorite 10 parenting books and magazines from my reading over the last year or so. 

• The Bathtub is Overflowing but I Feel Drained by Lysa TerKeurst – the chapters are short and offer practical advice, but more than that, I love the fact that just in the title, I feel understood.  It is so comforting to read another mom’s honest account of loving (but also being drained by) her life as a mom.
• Boundaries with Kids by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend – I loved their original book, Boundaries, and was recently recommended this one by a friend.  I am in the middle of it and love the way the book clearly outlines how to maintain healthy boundaries while showing unconditional love to our children.
• Discover Your Child’s DQ Factor by Dr. Greg Cynaumon – This book changed everything about how I viewed my oldest daughter and how I approach her.  It is an important book for anyone with a uniquely wired (read: difficult) child.
• Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp – This book I’ve read twice: once as a new mom and again recently.  It talks about the motive behind the correction with children. 
• Raising Confident Girls (also: Raising Confident Boys) by Elizabeth Hartley-Brewer – 100 quick tips for raising confident children.  Practical and easy to read!
• The Happiest Baby on the Block by Dr. Harvey Karp – Dr. Karp shares the 5 “S”s which really worked with my fussy baby.
• The Girlfriend’s Guide to the First Year by Vicki Iovine – I love her other book, The Girlfriend’s Guide to Pregnancy, as well.  When I read her books, I laugh, am educated and feel understood at the same time – a great combination!
• Katy Magazine – I scour it for ideas for activities around Katy.  I also love to send in pictures of my kids for the Cute Kids contest!
• The Toddler’s Busy Book by Trish Kuffner – Such an important book to have in the house for the “I’m bored!” days.  There are 365 ideas for activities to do with your child. 

What books do you recommend to an avid Parenting-Book-Reader?  I can’t wait to get started on more great reads!  Post a comment below with your recommendations!

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