i am glad that i read so many great parenting books in the latter half of my pregnancy. they all added tools to my brain's tool box to help mebetter parent my child which benefited my marriage and ultimately me.
honestly, i do not, in any way, understand why people wouldn't. prepare themselves as much as possible. there seems to be a lot of negative thoughts about reading books about child rearing. in an chat room i frequent, when i mentioned them , i got a lot of defensive replies like "every child is different," "mothering is instinctive." a sort of "ignorance is the best way."
when i found myself doing the 5 step sleep method espoused in this book the first night after i gave birth, swaddling, shushing, rocking, etc...i thanked the author in my head. he was right it knocked her out immediately and does to this day. within minutes.
this book rocks for breastfeeding mothers who return to work. it talks about pumping milk, how to freeze milk, etc. but most importantly it is a personal account of the women who lived it. who pumped at work, in a tiny room, while their children were in someone else's' care. too many breastfeeding books don't touch pumping, or if they do, they parade out a list of horribles that happen when you do or (((GASP)) return to work.
i love "momma zen." it helps you attempt to find peace in motherhood and serves as a reminder to cherish these moments even in the madness that is parenthood.
shows you how to effectively communicate with your baby. she tells you to tell your child what you are doing with them when you are doing it. as in, tell them when you are change their diaper. and to introduce them to people. it makes sense. i mean, studies show that infants as young as three months recognize sign language signs. so little ones are most definitely can communicate. i am sure that eventually this will help her remember our friends and family and to be a little more calm when we are putting her in a car seat or changing her diaper. i think it already has, but who knows.
lastly, i freaking' LOVE and i mean LOVE this magazine. i get all excited when i get a new issue and read the articles slowly as if i am savoring every bite. it is the one parenting magazine i have found that doesn't assume that i stay at home....or read on a seventh grade level (as is the grade level most newspapers--popular media are). this magazine makes me remember that i have a brain. that i am not only a vessel of milk that oftentimes smells sour.
** for the record when i post parenting posts i often feel guilt because i feel like i have left so many of you out. who were with me and my alleged crap eggs for three years. before i randomly won the greatest. lottery. know that i HATE that you aren't with me. and know that although you may not--i didn't for myself-me and my crap eggs hold out so much hope for you. it will happen. i pray with God speed.
xoxo

