50 Best Parenting Books
Once upon a time, we parented in communities, with the accumulated wisdom of generations of family members at our disposal. Now parents are more isolated, but the fact remains that we aren't meant to do this job on our own. For many of us, parenting books have helped fill the gap.
They say that kids don't come with an instruction manual - it's true - but if you're like me, you've found parenting books that speak to you. To meet the daunting task of picking and ranking the top 50 parenting books, I've considered a slew of texts in terms of how relevant and popular they are, how scientifically sound, how challenging or fresh their perspective, and how influential they have been to other books in their genre.
Just remember as you stock your library that while we know a lot about psychology and medicine, parenting is not an exact science - it's an art form. - Heather Turgeon
30 / 50
30
The Three-Martini Playdate: A Practical Guide
to Happy Parenting | Christie Mellor
The book: A guide to bringing balance back to your home.
Top tips:
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All children should know how to make a delightful, chilled gin martini and serve it to happy-hour guests with cocktail napkins.
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Protect your magic grownup evening time.
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Listening to insipid children’s music may pose unforeseen mental health risks. Choose the Beatles, Cajun, or bluegrass instead.
Why we picked it: Because we agree mom and dad’s happiness is important too, and being a good parent doesn’t have to mean losing grip on your interests, social life, and personal time. It’s laugh-out-loud (or read-out-loud-to-your-spouse) funny. Every once in a while, put down your serious, child-centered tome and pick this book up for perspective.
Get it from: Amazon, $10.36
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