Being a mother is one of the most important, rewarding, and challenging jobs a person can have, yet there is no formal degree or training for motherhood. Feeling overwhelmed and under-prepared can lead to stress, and there's a growing body of evidence that shows a connection between parents' emotional well-being and their children's ability to cope. Children learn how to handle stress from their parents.
Celebrate Mother's Day all month long by learning more about the demands of motherhood, the impact mothers have on their children, society's expectations and role, and what the experts say moms can do to be more successful and enjoy the experience.
Understanding Motherhood
- I Was a Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids; by Trisha Ashworth and Amy Nobile
A fun and insightful book about modern motherhood. The authors interviewed all kinds of moms-those who stay at home full-time, work outside the home full-time, and those in between-to find out why moms are so guilt-ridden. Visit the author's Web site to learn more. Recommended by Red Tricycle, an local online resource for "hip people who happen to be parents, too."
- The Price of Motherhood; by Ann Crittendon
A respected economics journalist, who used to write for the New York Times, covers the inequalities in our system and the practices and policies that need to change if we want to truly increase the value we place on motherhood.
- The Truth Behind the Mommy Wars: Who Decides What Makes a Good Mother?; by Miriam Peskowitz
One-third of all moms work outside the home part-time, and they are sick of the debate between working and stay-at-home moms about what's best for kids. This book takes a closer look at the choices parents have and asks how we might expand become a society with more real options.
- Mommy Guilt: Learn To Worry Less, Focus On What Matters Most, And Raise Happier Kids; by Julie Bort, Aviva Pflock, and Devra Renner
A kind of guide book to help moms accept that they will not always be perfect. It includes experiences and tips from real moms who responded to the authors' survey, which is included in the back of the book.
- The Mother Dance: How Children Change Your Life; by Harriet Lerner, PhD
A psychologist's perspective and practical tips on how to cope with the life-changing transitions of motherhood.
- Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son's First Year; by Anne Lamott
A humorous, honest look at what it's like to be a single mom by a talented magazine columnist and novelist. Lamott shares her personal experiences about her maternal emotions dealing with everything from being a recovering alcoholic to the bliss of loving her son.
Becoming a Better Mother
- Kids, Parents, and Power Struggles: Winning for a Lifetime; by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka
Learn how to turn difficult situations into opportunities for better understanding and more productive relationships.
- How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk; by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish
Based on a series of workshops, these authors provide a step-by-step approach to improving relationships and your ability as a parent to problem-solve with your children.
- Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child: The Heart of Parenting; by John Gottman, Ph.D.
This well-known local expert-professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Washington, author of several books, and co-founder of the Gottman Institute-writes in the this book about how to help children identify, understand and effectively manage their emotions.
- Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood: Practical Parenting from Birth to Six Years; by Jim Fay and Charles Fay
Filled with fun, practical tips for parenting young children, this book gives you effective techniques for bedtime, potty training, and more that you can put to use immediately.
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